By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Zimbabwe has taken steps
towards establishing a national artificial intelligence institute following a
multi-stakeholder co-creation workshop convened by the Postal and
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) through the
National Innovation Acceleration Centre (NIAC).
The three-day workshop, held
in Mazowe brought together representatives from government, academia, industry,
regulatory institutions and the broader innovation ecosystem to contribute to
the development of the proposed Zimbabwe AI Institute.
Discussions focused on
shaping the strategic direction, governance framework, operating model and
implementation roadmap for the proposed institution.
The Zimbabwe AI Institute is
expected to operate as a specialised component within the NIAC ecosystem, with
a mandate centred on promoting responsible, inclusive and locally relevant
artificial intelligence innovation.
The initiative is intended
to create a coordinated platform for advancing AI development in Zimbabwe while
ensuring that emerging technologies respond to national priorities and the
needs of local communities.
The participation of
stakeholders from across government, academia, industry and the innovation
ecosystem is expected to help establish an institutional framework that
reflects diverse expertise and perspectives on the country's AI development.
POTRAZ said the
collaborative approach is aimed at shaping an AI ecosystem that understands
Zimbabwe's population, reflects the country's values and addresses its
development needs.
