The Kenyan government and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have collaborated to launch a project to develop a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union are backing this initiative, “FAIR Forward – Artificial Intelligence for All.”
While recognising the obstacles this cutting-edge technology presents, it also acknowledges how AI has the potential to lead Kenya’s digital transformation and help the country achieve the SDGs.
This move comes a month after the Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society reportedly proposed a prison sentence of up to 24 months, a fine of up to $6,250, or both for unlicensed AI and robotic entities.
The bill seeks to create the Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society, whose mandate includes IoT, robotics, and AI regulation. It will enforce compliance and advise the government on AI trends, promoting responsible and ethical development and fostering collaboration among practitioners and stakeholders.
A physical meeting with 70 key stakeholders from various sectors, including industry, academia, government, and civil society, was held on April 8, at the Mercure Hotel in Nairobi to prepare for the launch of this new initiative.
The meeting aimed to identify gaps and opportunities in Kenya’s AI ecosystem, discuss ongoing initiatives and partnerships, define priorities for the National AI Strategy, and solicit feedback on the strategy development process.
Bodo Immink, GIZ Country Director, said, “This project is a significant step forward for Kenya in harnessing the power of AI for sustainable development and social inclusion.”
Furthermore, stakeholders discussed Research and Development (R&D) challenges, data sets, and collection methods, as well as determining who should be involved in developing the National AI Strategy.
In recent times, the need for Artificial intelligence has been on the rise. The University of Johannesburg, ranked sixth among African universities for its research performance in AI, announced in December 2022 that it would make artificial intelligence courses mandatory for all qualifications offered at the learning institution.
According to research, artificial intelligence could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with Africa potentially generating $1.2 trillion, representing a 5.6% increase in the continent’s GDP by 2030.
In the case of Nigeria, experts maintained that the country still has a long way to go due to reasons like a lack of needed infrastructure and education.
