By
Jenna Ellis
Africa-Press – Eritrea. On May 22nd, the Understanding AI and Robotics Training Program kickoff participants engaged in a dynamic session that exemplified the program’s multidisciplinary, multi-spatial, and true global approach. This program, offered in collaboration between IFIMES (International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies), SilkRoad 4.0, Scientific Magazine European Perspectives, and a consortium of their international partners (such as the D-8, THC, ICCD, LLA, Modern Diplomacy, C4P, and many more) through the forthcoming Global Academy for Geotech Futures, bridges public and private sector implementation in a way that makes this program ideal for all policy-making and executive participants, practitioners, researchers, and postgraduates alike.
The AI Program not only includes many of the great minds in the AI development space today but also contributes a key role to the global understanding of AI from the global north and the global south. Demonstrating a commitment to global accessibility, the directors and this program invested in equity by providing free spaces to the least developed and developing countries of the Global South, which include program participants from the American, African, and Asian continents.
The thorough discussions reflected the program’s overarching objective: to equip policymakers and top executives with a comprehensive (multi-spatial and multidimensional) understanding of AI and robotics from technological, ethical, economic, sociopolitical, security, and cultural perspectives.
The content-super-intensive 2.5-hour session combined keynote presentations, expert-led lectures, and interactive discussions. Guest speakers included leading figures from the public and private sectors, research, and academia, who offered real-world insights into current trends and dilemmas in AI governance. The participants had the privilege of hearing from great leaders and thinkers such as the Development 8 (D8) Secretary General, Isiaka A. Imam; Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General, Adnan Shihab-Eldin; and CEO of the Oppenheimer Project and family trust Charles Oppenheimer, grandson of the late Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb.
Their presentations highlighted the dual-use nature of AI—how these technologies can drive tremendous social benefit while simultaneously posing risks around surveillance, bias, and inequality. Participants examined these tensions through a global lens, exploring how different regions are experiencing and responding to AI’s impacts.
Human-Centric Impacts of AI: Panelist Contribution
A central focus of the session was on human-centric, developmental, and ethical (multi-spatial) design. Discussions emphasized the need for fairness, transparency, and accountability in the development of AI systems. Speakers and participants alike inquired and demonstrated how ethical considerations are being integrated—or neglected—in the deployment of intelligent technologies across various sectors. They also reflected on frameworks that promote responsible innovation, particularly in areas involving sensitive data and critical infrastructure, especially for the Global South.
Secretary General Isiaka Imam shared his experience working with D8, an organization that represents 1.2 billion people in some of the most vibrant demographics and economies of the world, and the importance of AI cooperation for economic development and stability in developing nations.
Secretary General Imam opened his session with a statement acknowledging the reality of our digital world:
“AI is no longer a futuristic concept. It is a way of life, and we must work to harness it responsibly and strategically,” and acknowledged that this can only be done through collaboration between both the international public and private sectors.
He shared the main objectives of the organization: focusing on AI peace-building instead of investment in AI-supported conflict, supporting continued communication instead of confrontation, increasing cooperation instead of exploitation, and promoting justice instead of double standards in international policy, specifically regarding the global south, ensuring equality instead of discrimination, and using AI to promote democracy instead of oppression.
Following this speaker, former Secretary-General of OPEC, Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin, acknowledged that both AI development and the robotic revolution are “quantum steps” for human civilization. He echoed sentiments shared by the previous speaker that with great power comes great responsibility to use these powers for the betterment of humanity. While AI development can seem inaccessible to many, Secretary General Shihab-Eldin stressed the role that AI can play in combating global issues today and supporting development such as the climate crisis, global hunger, and generational poverty within certain regions of the world, specifically the global south.
Now that technology is more available and versatile than ever, his sentiments and thoughts on the need for collaborative development, but also indigenous digital emancipation of the Global South, to ensure access is promoted globally, resonated with the previous speaker: “Technology is now more accessible than ever, and we must work to domesticate it for the greater good.”
The third keynote speaker, Charles Oppenheimer of the Oppenheimer Institute, added his insight on this topic, circling back to the work his late grandfather had done to promote global peace, regardless of the creation of weapons of mass destruction. He illustrated examples from the past and present that nonproliferation measures can only be implemented if there is a global consensus on working together as nations with opposing viewpoints. Using historical context to frame the modern day, he referenced his grandfather’s work to develop nuclear warfare for military purposes during World War Two, and despite large efforts to enforce secrecy surrounding these projects, this mentality and framework only contributed to the large-scale division that was seen during the Cold War and even continues today in 2025.
While states may be inclined to keep technological advancements localized within their domestic sector, both public and private, Oppenheimer contends why that would not be the best option to ensure a more secure digital future.
“AI today is what nuclear physics was in the 1940s. Keeping it (AI development) a secret is not an option; we have to work together on it through open-sourcing science. By doing so, you have a better chance and likelihood of safety.”
The session concluded with a presentation facilitated by the Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam, Philipp Agathonos. As a subject matter expert, Excellency Ambassador provided an insightful perspective on the practical applications of AI. He emphasized that AI is not an all-powerful, intelligent being but rather a trained machine that can assist with specific tasks. Agathonos highlighted several real-world examples from Austria, such as the “Fake Shop Detector” that uses AI to predict the likelihood of an online shop delivering the purchased product.
Another application Agathonos discussed was using AI for cybersecurity, where it can detect anomalies in system behavior and alert human experts to investigate further. He also mentioned text analysis tools that can create “information nutrition labels” to quickly assess the content and potential biases in online articles and documents. Agathonos noted that these tools were developed by DI Helmut Leopold, PhD, and the team at the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT).
Agathonos stressed the importance of maintaining human control over AI systems, noting the risks of data manipulation, censorship, and the potential for misuse. He advocated for the development of AI that is transparent, ethical, and serves to empower and benefit people rather than replace or threaten them. Overall, Agathonos provided a balanced and pragmatic view on the current state and future potential of AI technology, drawing on the expertise of Helmut Leopold, developed under the AIT, and prepared for this occasion.
Cooperation is not optional.
The session and all its speakers explored the growing need for global cooperation and inclusive governance, digital rights, and obligations, too. One of the highlights was a discussion between participants and speakers on how to continue incorporating digital literacy into a rapidly developing digital world and understanding when to depend on AI over human interaction and experience. This led to deeper conversations about how international alliances, including partnerships between the OECD world and the Global South, are essential for building equitable and secure digital ecosystems. The importance of engaging underrepresented regions in AI development was a recurring theme, reinforcing the AI Program’s commitment to democratizing AI and ensuring global participation in setting ethical standards and shaping future technologies.
Throughout the highly attended event, participants were encouraged to challenge assumptions and engage critically with the material. Small group dialogues created space for interdisciplinary exchange, allowing technologists, social scientists, and policy practitioners to learn from each other’s perspectives. The diversity of participants enriched the discussion, underscoring the value of cross-sector collaboration in understanding and shaping the future of AI and robotics.
By the end of the session, participants left with a stronger grasp of how AI technologies and robotics are both shaping and shaped by complex social dynamics. They gained insight into the ethical and geopolitical dimensions of emerging technologies and deepened their understanding of the responsibilities involved in developing, deploying, and governing intelligent systems. The May 22nd session not only advanced the participants’ technical and conceptual knowledge but also reinforced the AI Program’s mission: to foster informed, critical, and inclusive dialogue around one of the most defining challenges—and opportunities—of our time.
This extraordinary journey of knowledge, visions, and ideas continues for its 8 consecutive Thursdays, decorated by the rhythm and colors of AI and its yet uncharted futures.
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