Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda have become the first African countries to sign the Bletchley Declaration, a joint commitment to tackling the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) alongside 25 other countries including the US and UK.
The declaration was signed at the AI Safety Summit hosted by the UK government at Bletchley Park in England. It calls on countries to work together to develop international norms and standards for the safe and ethical development and use of AI.
In a speech at the summit, Nigeria's minister for digital economy, Bosun Tijani, said that AI offers a "historical opportunity" to create global development. However, he warned that it is important to ensure that AI is developed and used safely and ethically.
Rwanda has already taken steps to lead the way in AI development in Africa. In April 2023, the country launched a national AI policy and earmarked $76.5 million for its implementation over the next five years.
Kenya is also taking steps to develop its AI ecosystem. In October 2023, the government barred the eyeball-scanning Worldcoin cryptocurrency project from recruiting new customers due to data privacy and security concerns.
The Bletchley Declaration is a significant step forward in the global effort to ensure the safe and ethical development of AI. By working together, countries can create a future where AI is used to benefit all of humanity.
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