This workshop is part of the capacity development project
Our Digital Future (ODF). It aims to provide developing country representatives and all engaged stakeholders with a nuanced outline of the impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) has and can have on the overall sustainable development – when guided by responsible principles and policies. We will consider the diverse roles each stakeholder group must play in creating a human-centric and principled framework for responsible AI application. Particularly, this dialogue will be facilitated in light of the ongoing African Union consultations to develop a continental strategy for AI in Africa and other potentially relevant best practices to inform this process.
The session will also offer knowledge on the rapidly developing set of AI principles and technologies that have the potential to solve some of the most pressing challenges that impact Sub-Saharan Africa and drive growth and development in core sectors: (i) agriculture will be done more efficiently and effectively, raising yields; (ii) healthcare will be bettered tailored, higher quality, and more accessible, improving outcomes; (iii) public services will be more efficient and more responsive to citizens, enhancing impact; (iv) financial services will be more secure and reach more citizens who need them, expanding access.
It will also identify structural challenges that can hamper the development of a healthy AI ecosystem in Africa: broadband access, legilslation and policy, ethical implications, data access and open data systems, and the adoption of AI across education systems, among others.
Overall, the session is part of the discussion framework driven by the call in the UN Decade of Action to partner for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). It will focus on themes covered in:
- Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Session flow:The expert speakers would provide distinctive arguments to demonstrate the potential AI has for
sustainable development with a strong focus on Africa. It will outline the existing and potential harms AI-based
technology can have on people if not backed by good policy. These arguments will serve to set the foundation for a rich interactive exchange between participants regarding their experiences and ideas on the topic.
Speakers: - Emanuela Girardi, Founder at Pop AI, AI expert at MiSE, Board Member of AIxIA, Board Member of Adra
- Owen Larter, Director of Public Policy, Office of Responsible AI at Microsoft
- Hiwot Tesfaye, Technical Advisor, Office of Responsible AI at Microsoft
Moderators: Anja Gengo from IGF Secretariat and Daniel Akinmade Emejulu from Microsoft UN Affairs team
_______________________________________________________________________________________
About Our Digital Future:Our Digital Future (ODF) is a project the IGF Secretariat runs in collaboration with Microsoft to address the most pressing needs for a safe and secure digital transformation. The project consists of capacity development workshops that have been delivered since 2021.
The capacity development workshop series aims to bring together diverse stakeholders - including government representatives, such as permanent missions to the UN, international and intergovernmental organizations, academic and research communities and civil society overall, the private sector, technical communities and other relevant actors - to share best practices and build capacity in developing countries on the digital transformation and cybersecurity fronts. The participants will discover the prerequisites needed to ensure the sustainability of best practices and the roles different actors can play in advancing national capacity on digital transformation and cybersecurity.
The project is driven by the call in the UN Decade of Action to partner for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and delivered in support of SDGs by focusing on themes covered in Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation and Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. More about the project is available at https://www.igf-odf.org/
Open Zoom
