The Government of the Gabonese Republic and ECA Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa are joining forces to boost the contribution of artificial intelligence to the diversification of Gabon's economy.
Under the patronage of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, a sub-regional workshop on the theme “Artificial Intelligence in Africa: challenges and opportunities”, to be held in Libreville on December 5 and 6, 2024, will enable some 100 experts from the sub-region and beyond to accompany the host country towards sustainable growth driven by artificial intelligence.
Topics under discussion will include the economic and social aspects of AI, the ethical issues involved in its deployment, the challenges and prospects in the field of education, as well as financing and investment issues. Particular emphasis will be placed on the United Nations' vision of artificial intelligence as a new societal paradigm, offering a global reflection on the profound transformations that AI could bring about in our societies.
The sub-regional workshop, co-organized with ECA, is a continuation of government initiatives for the virtuous appropriation of AI in Gabon. On December 20, 2023, the Gabonese government, through the Ministry of New Information and Communication Technologies, in collaboration with UNESCO, launched the readiness assessment method for the ethical and responsible implementation of artificial intelligence in Gabon. At the same time, a National Technical Committee (CTN-IA) was set up to coordinate national actions, with a view to drawing up a strategy guaranteeing ethical rules around the use of technologies based on artificial intelligence.
