The U.S. Department of State and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy will convene more than 200 stakeholders for the “Global Inclusivity and AI: Africa” conference in Lagos, Nigeria, from September 10 to 11. Participants will include senior officials from the United States and Africa, private sector executives, civil society members, and academia. The conference aims to discuss opportunities and challenges in the responsible development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, it seeks to identify and harmonize AI governance strategies between the United States and African nations to ensure safe, secure, transparent, and trustworthy AI deployments in Africa.
The event builds on several key initiatives: the U.S. Secretary of State’s trip to Nigeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Angola in January 2024; the adoption by 18 sub-Saharan African countries of a United Nations resolution on safe AI systems for sustainable development in March; and Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s visit to Abuja for the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. The conference supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Digital Transformation with Africa initiative aimed at expanding digital access and literacy while strengthening the digital business environment across the continent.
The U.S. delegation will be led by Acting Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology Dr. Seth Center and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Joy Basu. Recorded remarks from Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will also be featured.
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