Africa-Press – Botswana. Assistant Minister of Communications and Technology, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile has stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformative potential across multiple sectors including healthcare, agriculture, education, public service delivery, and wildlife conservation.
In his keynote address at an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Validation Workshop in Gaborone yesterday, Mr Ntlhaile said, “for a country like Botswana, with a youthful population, a strong commitment to digital innovation, and an ambition to diversify its economy beyond minerals, AI is not just an option, it is a necessity”.
The workshop aimed to finalise and adopt Botswana’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) report. Mr Ntlhaile noted that over the past several months, a dedicated team had worked to draft frameworks and generate strategic insights for the responsible development and deployment of AI in Botswana.
“The frameworks we are validating today are designed to ensure that our AI technologies are ethical, inclusive, secure, and aligned with our national development aspirations,” he emphasised.
Mr Ntlhaile described the workshop as a significant milestone in Botswana’s journey towards embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly Artificial Intelligence.
Secretary General of the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO, Mr Itseng Kwelagobe, explained that the purpose of the workshop was to validate the RAM report and ensure that it accurately reflected the findings, perspectives, and priorities of Botswana’s national stakeholders.
“AI has a global and positive impact. However, as with all powerful technologies, it also presents significant ethical, legal, social, and economic challenges that must be addressed to fully realise its benefits,” he stated.
He explained that UNESCO developed the RAM as a comprehensive assessment tool built around five key thematic areas; legal, policy and regulatory frameworks, social and cultural dimensions, scientific and educational capacities, economic ecosystems and innovation and technical infrastructure and capabilities.
“This tool is designed to guide countries and stakeholders in evaluating the institutional, regulatory, and technical capacities needed to support ethical AI development and deployment,” he said.
Once finalised, the RAM report is expected to be submitted to UNESCO by June, ahead of the UNESCO General Conference. It will serve as a critical reference for Botswana’s broader digital transformation agenda and inform the development of national AI policies and frameworks that are firmly rooted in ethical principles. The workshop brought together experts in Artificial Intelligence, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and digital transformation from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
Source: DAILYNEWS
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