Dr. Uchenna Jerome Orji, Assistant Professor of Law at the 黑料网 (AUN), was a distinguished panelist at the EU CYBER DIRECT鈥檚 Closing the Gap 2023 conference in The Hague, Netherlands. His presentation titled 鈥淩egionalizing the Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Africa: An Assessment of Developments within the AU Framework鈥�, at Closing the Gap 2023 - Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, Regional Perspectives lauded the African Union鈥檚 (AU) efforts in governing AI systems.
The EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative Conference was a two-day event held from December 6 to 7, 2023, with three primary goals forging collaboration between scholars and practitioners to produce evidence-based policymaking and policy-relevant research; encouraging productive exchanges between different generations of scholars in government, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations; fostering interdisciplinary approaches, and encourage discussion.
Dr. Uchenna鈥檚 paper discussed the regional governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems within the African Union (AU) and highlighted the development of AI governance frameworks at the national level. It considered the prospects and possible limits of the AU鈥檚 regional governance frameworks in enhancing the development of national AI governance regimes in AU member states.
He concluded that AU measures to govern AI systems are highly commendable and reflect the AU鈥檚 increasing awareness to ensure that the development and use of AI systems do not infringe on human rights or raise ethical concerns. And that the AU鈥檚 AI governance measures have the potential to promote the harmonization of national governance measures in member states while also strengthening regional integration and enhancing trade and investments in digital services.
While praising the AU鈥檚 initiatives, Dr. Uchenna underscored the importance of addressing challenges hindering the effective implementation of prior regional ICT governance frameworks within the AU.
Reported by John Abah