The first ever-African high-level forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has wrapped up in Sale, northwestern Morocco, after reaching the « Rabat Consensus » on AI application in Africa. The high-level technology gathering brought together representatives from about 30 countries, including 15 from Africa.
Jointly organized by the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of Morocco and UNESCO on the theme of « AI Technology: A Lever for Development in Africa, the first ever high level African conference on Artificial Intelligence, AI came to a close on Wednesday June 5 in the northwestern Moroccan city of Sale. The three-day event that kicked off on Monday, brought together representatives including global leaders, technology experts, policymakers and civil society representatives from about 30 countries and regions, including some 15 African countries.
The representatives, who converge with the aim of laying the groundwork for an African strategy dedicated to AI, discussed the status and prospects of AI technology in Africa. Addressing the forum on Tuesday, King Mohammed VI’s Advisor André Azoulay said, artificial intelligence (AI) will be a historic turning point for Morocco and Africa, allowing them to participate in this “great leap” for Humanity
Delegates noted at the forum that Africa could not miss the opportunities brought by AI, as it plays a huge role in promoting educational equity, preserving African local culture, and realizing the rights of African women. The forum wrapped up with delegates adopting the « Rabat Consensus » on the application of AI technology in Africa, including striving to build a global and inclusive common framework for AI governance; promoting the use of AI technology in the public sector to serve the common interests of Africa; ensuring that AI serves everyone and its development should be based on ethical and human rights standards.
The Forum program featured roundtables, workshops, networking sessions for start-ups and exhibitions with the objectives of discussing strategies and policies for AI in Africa, sharing advances in AI on the continent, debating AI governance on key themes, launching capacity-building initiatives for various groups and facilitating collaborations between African and global AI centers. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, who took part in the closing session, welcomed the partnership between UNESCO and the Ai Movement center of UM6P for the High-Level Forum on AI in Africa.
