Paris Summit: Morocco among countries committed to ‘Inclusive, Sustainable AI for People & Planet’
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit held in Paris Feb.10-11 was marked by debates and brainstorming sessions attended by global leaders and stakeholders. The event resulted in the adoption of a Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet.
Sixty countries and organizations, including Morocco, agreed on “key priorities” to guide their efforts amid the rapid development of AI, which is bringing about “a major paradigm shift with diverse outcomes for our citizens and societies.”
Participants pledged to promote AI accessibility, reduce the digital divide, and ensure AI is “open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy, taking into account international frameworks for all.”
“Enabling innovation in the field of AI by creating conditions conducive to its development and preventing market concentration, thereby supporting industrial recovery and development,” is also one of the priorities outlined in this document.
The signatories of the Paris Statement agreed to encourage AI deployment that positively impacts the future of work, promotes sustainable growth, and supports both people and the planet.
The Statement emphasizes the need for global reflection on issues like security, human rights, gender equality, linguistic diversity and sustainable development.
“In line with the Paris Pact for People and the Planet and the principle that countries should design their own transition strategies, we have identified priorities and launched concrete actions to serve the public interest and bridge the digital divide by accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals. Our actions follow three key principles: science, solutions (with an emphasis on open AI models that respect national frameworks) in accordance with international frameworks,” the signatories underline.
During the summit, Morocco joined forces with eight countries, industry associations, and technology firms to establish “Current AI,” a partnership focused on promoting AI “of general interest.” Backed by tech executives, the initiative has an initial investment of $400 million and seeks to harness AI’s potential while addressing its risks.
Founding members of “Current AI” include besides Morocco, Chile, Finland, Nigeria, Kenya, Germany, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The initiative seeks to develop tailored, trustworthy AI solutions and alleviate concerns surrounding the technology.
The two-day summit, co-chaired by France and India, gathered global leaders and industry stakeholders to explore ways to maximize AI’s benefits while mitigating its risks.
