Kuidas muudab tehisintellekt rahvusvahelist arengut?

Enabel, ESTDEV ja Tony Blair Institute for Global Change korraldavad 22. veebruaril 2024. aastal  konverentsi, mis keskendub nii "sissepoole" kui ka "väljapoole" suunatud muutustele tehisintellekti eetilises kasutamises. Seejuures keskendutakse sellele, kuidas saaks tehisintellekti kasutada teenuste revolutsiooniliseks muutmiseks nii asutusesiseselt kui ka partnerriikidega tehtava koostöö raames, pöörates erilist tähelepanu valitsemis-, haridus- ja tervishoiusektorile. 

Sündmus viiakse läbi inglise keeles. 

Context

Digital development is an integral facet of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the 2030 Agenda. It serves as the underpinning for many of the objectives, from enhancing the quality of education (SDG 4) to fostering innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9). As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the potential of digital solutions to transcend geographical and socio-economic barriers grows exponentially, offering unparalleled opportunities to tackle global challenges.

Within this digital frontier, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a pivotal force. AI's ability to analyse vast amounts of data, predict outcomes, and automate tasks can accelerate progress towards the SDGs. However, it's imperative that as we harness AI's potential, we also address concerns related to ethics, inclusivity, and governance. Integrating AI into the SDG framework not only bolsters our toolset for sustainable development but also ensures that its deployment is in harmony with global values and objectives.

Furthermore, the European Union’s AI act is expected to take effect in 2026. It introduces a risk-based regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence, categorising AI systems into various risk levels. This regulation bans high-risk applications like social scoring and certain biometric identifications, while imposing stringent regulations on high-risk AI systems used in critical sectors. This Act aims to balance innovation with safety and fundamental rights, which could set a global standard, similar to the influence of GDPR in data protection. Its focus on ethical and risk-based practices could encourage global partners to adopt similar standards, and potentially lead to increasingly unified international guidelines and cooperation in AI development and governance.

Objectives

• The event aims to enhance global agencies' understanding of AI's potential in international cooperation. This involves raising awareness, co-creating knowledge, and identifying the risks and opportunities associated with AI. The focus is on leveraging AI as a transformative tool for strategic and informed global partnerships.
• A significant goal is to engage African and European stakeholders in shaping a new cooperation program. This program will support and govern AI use in sectors like governance, health, and education. Involving diverse regional stakeholders ensures a comprehensive and mutually beneficial approach to AI in international development.
• Identifying key African and European actors in AI for development is another objective. The event will build a network of individuals and organizations leading AI applications in developmental contexts, fostering collaboration and sharing of best practices to enhance AI-driven development initiatives.
  Addressing ethical considerations in AI use in developing countries is crucial. The event focuses on tackling AI biases, data protection, access to technology, and digital rights, ensuring AI deployment is equitable and doesn't exacerbate existing inequalities. Ethical frameworks and guidelines are a priority to guide AI use in vulnerable contexts.
• Lastly, the event aims to map out AI technologies suitable for Africa, considering challenges like data limitations. Technologies such as machine learning, language processing, and computer vision will be explored for their suitability in development cooperation models, ensuring they meet the specific needs of the African context.