فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Morocco has called for the development of an ethical, responsible, and sovereign African artificial intelligence (AI) that serves the continent’s development and stability. This appeal was made by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita during the 1266th ministerial meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, which Morocco chaired in March.
Bourita emphasized the need for collective action to ensure AI benefits Africa, rather than becoming a source of instability or misinformation. He highlighted the challenges posed by AI, including a 900% increase in AI-manipulated videos since 2019 and a 300% rise in AI-driven cyberattacks between 2019 and 2022. Additionally, 40% of global terrorist groups have used AI tools, and 47 countries were affected by disinformation campaigns in 2023.
Despite these challenges, Bourita noted that AI can be a significant driver of economic growth, potentially injecting $15.7 trillion into the global economy by 2030 and boosting agricultural production by 10 to 20%. However, Africa faces significant barriers, including a 60% internet access gap and less than 2% of global AI data being located in the region.
To address these gaps, Morocco proposed creating an African AI Fund, a pan-African data strategy, and training programs to build an African elite in AI. Morocco has also played a key role in UN resolutions on AI and co-founded the Group of Friends of AI for Sustainable Development, which includes over 70 countries.
Bourita stressed the importance of African leadership in global AI governance and called for coordinated action to ensure AI serves the continent’s interests. Morocco has initiated several domestic initiatives, including the “Morocco Digital 2030” strategy, which aims to train 100,000 people annually in digital and AI skills. The country also hosts the first UNESCO-affiliated AI center in Africa, based in Rabat.
