The AU Executive session held in Ghana for meditation of the “Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy” and “African Digital Compact”

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

Great Africa
Photo Credit: AU

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- The strategy was equally approved by the African ICT and Communications Ministers of the AU, last month, amongst others. This was revealed by the AU via its X page on Tuesday, July 17th, 2024,
onwards of the final adoption of the strategy.

The strategy strives to rev “Africa’s digital transformation” by keeping ajar the prospect of new digital technologies in Nigeria and other African nations.

Nairametrics earlier noted that, over 130 African ministers and experts virtually convened between June 11th to 13th, 2024 for the AU 2nd Extraordinary session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Communication and ICT.

The discussion was sought at torching digital transformation across the mainland amidst immediate evolutions in the sector fueled by artificial intelligence (AI) technology and applications. They eventually supported a Continental AI Strategy that will guide African nations to harness artificial intelligence to meet the continent’s growth aspirations and the well-being of its people.

Pivotal proposals of the strategy were endorsed in a bid to generate Africa-owned AI infrastructure: An AI infrastructure is an integrated environment of hardware and software designed specifically for AI and machine learning workloads, paving the way for data processing and deployment.

The strategy suggests policies that will mediate the perimeters of AI usage in the continent. Funding for And the strategy buzzes for financial support intended to enhance the knowledge base of Africans on AI capabilities and functionalities. The AU divulged on past Tuesday that its executive session will deliberate on these new developments preceding to final adoption.

It expressed that, the motion is desired to identify essential preferences and actions to confirm that Africa fully benefits from the tremendous chances AI offers. In addendum, the strategy calls for an Africa-owned, people-centered, development-oriented, and inclusive approach to speed up African countries’ AI capabilities in infrastructure, talent, datasets, innovation, and partnerships while also ensuring adequate safeguards and protection from threats.

“At the conclusion of each Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, a Declaration will be adopted, ” AU noted.

The meeting is a follow-up on the AU’s call for developing nations to have increased representation and influence within international Artificial Intelligence(AI) governance structures. Nairametrics formerly briefed that the AU Mission to the United Nations (UN), had disclosed this during a Special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), two months ago.

This approved strategy is anticipated to make up Africa’s assistance to the Global Digital Compact and the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024. The committee will submit the strategy to the African Union Executive Council in July 2024, for consideration and final adoption in line with AU rules and regulations.

The development is coming after a pan-African telecom company, MTN Group, and Huawei Technologies collaborated to create a technology innovation lab desired to speed up digital transformation and sustainable development across Africa.

For New Africa Business News (NABN) Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent