Atlantic Council GeoTech Center

France’s invitation to India to co-chair the #ParisAIActionSummit benchmarked both the evolving scope of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership, as well as increasing alignment at the European Union (EU) level on digital regulation. The summit also demonstrated that nations from the Global South should not just be participants but architects of the emerging #AI order. My latest for Atlantic Council cc: Atlantic Council GeoTech Center. https://lnkd.in/eM-Bkm92

This week I traveled to Dubai for the World Governments Summit, a convening of public and private sector leaders from all over the world to discuss the future of governments and governance. Having never been to this event before, I was struck by the diversity of participants and the breadth of topics — a dizzying reminder of the challenges faced by governments in the 21st century, and the role of the private sector in helping to solve them. I was honored to join the leaders of the UAE space program and fellow international space executives to discuss the future of space policy, technology, and international cooperation. I spoke on familiar topics for me — the importance of space sustainability and the need for governments to leverage commercially-developed technology for government space initiatives. And yet it felt very fresh today, where it seemed that many governments are for the first time recognizing the role space can play in all facets of their society — hard power, soft power, economic development, inspiring the next generation, and everything in between. As a career space professional, it is exciting to see space take center stage — literally and figuratively. Thank you to the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center for inviting me to represent Slingshot Aerospace in this exciting moment.

Maiden voyage to Dubai this week for the World Governments Summit. The Atlantic Council GeoTech Center is hosting our Geotechnology and Policy Forum on February 12, featuring pioneers in the space sector ?? Come catch us if you are around!

To ensure the benefits of AI are realized while minimizing the anticipated evils, Kieron O’Hara and Wendy Hall outline five different ways to approach AI governance:

Delighted to share my first published article contribution as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. Writing exclusively and solely with this affiliation,* I joined forces with Atlantic Council AI Connect Fellow, Gunay Kazimzade Ph.D., to (1) discuss the global megatrend of aging, (2) critically highlight its absence or passing mention in the recent flurry of global consensus documents, pacts, and agreements touching on the societal ramifications of emerging technologies, and (3) posit why little mention of aging populations may limit efforts towards the important goal of the social inclusion of aging populations. My thanks to the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center team including Raul Brens Jr, PhD, Trisha R., and Will LaRivee for their critical feedback and review. You can access the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eFdfppgw *Views reflected in the article are the author’s views and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers. #AI #GlobalAging #EmergingTechnology #Governance #GlobalDevelopment #OlderAdults #PopulationAging

???Harnessing AI for a Better Planet: A Humbling Experience??? This evening, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the?AI Connect II Webinar?on "AI Use Cases for Tackling Climate Change." It was inspiring to hear thought leaders like Andrew Zolli of Planet Labs and esteemed panellists Swetha Kolluri (World Bank), Elizabeth Barnes (Colorado State University), and Maria Jo?o Sousa (Climate Change AI) share insights on leveraging cutting-edge technology to address one of the greatest challenges of our time. From satellite-driven climate action to AI models enhancing renewable energy transitions, the conversations were innovative and deeply relevant to nations in the Global South, including Sri Lanka. As we navigate the intersection of technology, policy, and sustainable development, ensuring inclusivity and equitable access to these solutions is more critical than ever. Special thanks to Caroline Thompson and the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center for facilitating such a rich dialogue. I am reminded yet again of the immense potential collaboration holds in creating meaningful global change. While there is much work ahead, I remain hopeful and committed to advocating for policies and practices that empower small states to leverage AI responsibly and effectively. ??? #AIforClimate #GlobalSouth #Cybersecurity #SustainableDevelopment #HumilityInAction

What a way to end 2024! I am honored to be part of the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center AI Connect II program and to have met my fellow participants from Africa in Cape Town last week. Africa is definitely reimagining AI, and I loved hearing about some of the projects taking place. I presented and participated in a panel on AI Literacy: Training a New Generation, during which I showcased our work at Open Spaces (OS) in Zambia. Research is key; we need to understand the needs of communities before we can exchange knowledge. Working with local partners is also a crucial foundation for any literacy methods and I am glad that our OS project embodies these traits. Thank you to the GeoTech Center team (Trisha R. Emily Sespico Caroline Thompson and Raul Brens Jr, PhD) and the U.S. Department of State for inviting me. I am also glad to have met such amazing people and to be part of this network: Dr. Makaziwe Makamba Francois Joseph Nnemete Beyeme Dr. Olivia Matshabane?Olayinka David-West (she/her/hers) Loise M. Abigail Oppong Thoko Miya Zara Schroeder Michael Zimba Upendo Fatukubonye Bashira Hassan, PMP, Malcolm Kijirah Pierrinne Leukes Bongani Maseko Michael Zimba Jonathan Shock ?

Last week, I was in Cape Town for the AIConnect II Regional Workshop, and what an incredible experience it was! The lineup of talks, the inspiring speakers, and the collaborative energy among participants made it truly outstanding. From the workshops to the networking sessions, one thing stood out: our challenges, triumphs, and successes as a continent are strikingly similar—a reminder of the shared vision we can achieve together. A huge thanks to Atlantic Council GeoTech Center and the U.S. Department of State for bringing such diverse groups under one roof and facilitating these critical conversations. In my talk, I highlighted how AI literacy can—and is—shaping the way we train the new generation. The insights from Amazon and Microsoft were particularly eye-opening. A significant challenge hindering AI innovation in Africa is the fragmented and siloed approach to our initiatives. Too often, efforts are duplicated because stakeholders lack visibility into ongoing projects across the continent. The solutions we aim to develop may already be in progress elsewhere. To fully harness AI's transformative potential in Africa, we must prioritise knowledge sharing, align our efforts, and foster collaboration. By working together, we can accelerate progress and achieve greater impact. Fun Fact: Did you know that the development of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)—a major milestone in cloud computing—was led by Chris Pinkham and Willem van Biljon, from Cape Town, South Africa? ?? #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIConnectII #Innovation #Collaboration #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #AIRegulation #AIAfrica

???Empowering Healthcare with AI??? I had the privilege of participating in the?AI Connect II Webinar?hosted by the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center, where we explored groundbreaking?AI use cases in healthcare. Engaging with such brilliant minds from diverse fields of expertise was both inspiring and thought-provoking. ?? The panel discussion delved into: ??AI innovation?in diagnostics with insights from Helena Binetskaya (ChestPal Ltd). ??Equity in AI?from Dr. Maia Hightower, MD, MPH, MBA (Equality AI). ??Sustainability and scalability?of AI in healthcare, led by Rajroshan Sawhney (Google Research). Special thanks to?Trisha R. for skillfully moderating this insightful dialogue and fellow AI Connect cohort Ovais Hussain Qureshi for sharing practical perspectives on advancing healthcare with AI. The future of healthcare is being reshaped by technology, and it is forums like these that spark collaborations and bold ideas to ensure equitable, sustainable, and effective solutions for all. #AI #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalTransformation #Collaboration

The upcoming International Network of AI Safety Institutes meeting in San Francisco is a critical opportunity to establish a clear direction for AI safety research that is bigger than any one country, writes Will LaRivee.