By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Chief Executive Officer of
Smart Africa, Lacina Koné has urged for artificial intelligence to be leveraged
as a catalyst for economic opportunity and inclusive development, rather than a
source of inequality, during the inaugural United Nations Global Dialogue on AI
Governance in Geneva.
Speaking during a high-level
panel on advancing inclusive and responsible AI governance, Koné said Africa's
success in artificial intelligence should be measured by its ability to create
jobs, grow businesses and empower citizens through digital transformation.
He emphasized that the
continent's AI agenda must focus on delivering tangible socio-economic benefits
rather than simply increasing the adoption of AI technologies.
The discussion brought
together global leaders from government, academia, the private sector and civil
society to examine approaches to responsible AI governance. Participants
included Leslie Teo, Jamila Venturini, Yossi Matias of Google and Lan Xue of Tsinghua
University, with the session moderated by former President of Ireland and
former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson.
The panel explored the
importance of building governance frameworks that encourage innovation while
ensuring artificial intelligence is developed and deployed in a manner that is
inclusive, ethical and aligned with sustainable development objectives.
Koné reaffirmed Smart
Africa's commitment to supporting policies and initiatives that enable African
countries to harness AI as a driver of economic growth, entrepreneurship,
digital inclusion and improved public services.
The discussions formed part
of the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, which has convened
governments, international organizations, industry leaders and researchers in
Geneva to shape international approaches to artificial intelligence governance
and strengthen global cooperation on emerging technologies.
