Global Network of Centers

??We are excited to announce the release of our new policy brief, "Shaping the Future of AI in Africa" This policy brief provides a comprehensive analysis of the key challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for AI governance and capacity building in Africa. It is a product of the Africa AI Stakeholder Meeting convened in Kigali, Rwanda, in October 2024, which brought together leading experts and stakeholders from across the continent to discuss the critical issues surrounding AI in Africa. It builds on our recent report, "State of AI Regulation in Africa: Trends and Developments," and offers actionable recommendations for governments, policymakers, the private sector, and civil society to ensure responsible AI development and deployment across the continent. The brief highlights the significant strides made by African countries in advancing AI at both continental and national levels, demonstrating a growing commitment to harnessing AI for socio-economic development. However, it also identifies key challenges that need to be addressed to ensure responsible and inclusive AI development, such as limited infrastructure, skills gaps, outdated legal frameworks, and the need for greater stakeholder engagement. With the African Union's Continental AI Strategy set for implementation, this brief provides timely guidance for stakeholders to navigate the evolving AI landscape and harness its potential for Africa's growth. A big thank you to our co-convenor Global Network of Centers and our partners Microsoft Meta Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Smart Africa Rwanda ICT Chamber The African Leadership University and the contributors for their invaluable input to this document. We look forward to discussing these issues further at the Global AI Summit in Kigali this April! Read full Policy brief: https://lnkd.in/dVYtvtkf #AI #Africa #AIgovernance #ResponsibleAI #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #PolicyBrief Rwanda Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

We are sharing key insights from the Africa AI Stakeholder Meeting on Innovative Governance and Capacity Building, held in Kigali, Rwanda, in October 2024. This meeting was convened by the Certa Foundation’s Center for Law and Innovation and the Global Network of Centers Secretariat, in partnership with Microsoft, Meta, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Smart Africa, the International Trade Centre, the Rwanda ICT Chamber, and The African Leadership University. The discussions underscored Africa’s pivotal role in shaping the future of AI on a global scale. The meeting emphasized the need for a pan-African approach to AI governance—one that fosters collaboration, innovation, and ethical AI development to drive economic growth, job creation, and social inclusion. To address these issues, the report offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, governments, industry leaders, regulators, and researchers, focusing on: ? Strengthening AI governance ? Fostering innovation ? Ensuring ethical and responsible AI development This brief serves as a call to action for collaborative efforts to unlock AI’s transformative power for Africa’s sustainable and inclusive development.

Proud to be part of and support this important conversation at TUM Think Tank during the Munich Security Conference (MSC): What does #PublicInterestAI mean, and how do we make it a reality? Next steps include regional consultations, co-designing frameworks, and developing financing models to make AI work for all. Thanks to Nicole Manger and Markus B. Siewert for organizing such an inspiring discussion!

Last week in Houston, a major launch took place for the future of NoC’s work in North America ??. We had the opportunity to be at Rice University and attend the inaugural event for the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico’s new line of research on AI Policy and Governance. Advancing a collaborative agenda on AI Governance is essential given the strong ties between both countries, and without a doubt, the Baker Institute is well-positioned as a key player in this project. It was a pleasure to engage with colleagues from various companies, universities, the U.S. AI National Committee (NAIAC), and institutions like Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco, CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- and the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo.

??“The Evolving Role of AI Safety Institutes in Uncertain Times: A New Wave Ahead?”?? The NoC Side Meeting in Paris was a great success! We gathered with colleagues representing different institutions in this hybrid event to discuss the current state of AI Safety Institutes and the road ahead, including if the NoC should have a role in this landscape, and what would this look like: Some highlights from the discussion include: ?? NoC colleagues will begin forming a working group on AI Safety Institutes to research and support AI safety action. ??Representation from Majority World perspectives will be invaluable, as countries in regions like South America lack the infrastructure for their own Safety Institutes.? ??Instead of an international network of safety institutes, which already exists, the working group would look to fill gaps in the current ecosystem and aim for a structure adaptable to the current geopolitical landscape. We want to especially thank our colleagues from Instituto de Tecnologia e Sociedade (ITS Rio) Rio and Rice University for making this meeting possible. We will share more information about the working group soon! CC: César A. Uribe, Fabro Steibel, Elisabeth Sylvan Nagla Rizk, ???Kyung Sin Park, Urs Gasser, Armando Guio Espa?ol, Beatriz Botero Arcila, Elena Estavillo, Lorrayne Porciuncula, Ana María Castillo

While all eyes in the AI space are on Paris this week, we‘re preparing a follow up conversation on *AI policy learning and cooperation* in Singapore. ???? Please join Nicole Manger and me in a conversation moderated by Noha Lea Halim at Technical University of Munich Asia - TUM Asia on February 19, details below. cc: TUM Think Tank, Technical University of Munich, Hochschule für Politik München, Global Network of Centers, in collaboration with Christian Fieseler and Markus Waechter

MENA Observatory on Responsible AI is among those 50 projects! Nagla Rizk Access to Knowledge for Development Center AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business International Development Research Centre (IDRC) IDRC in the Middle East and North Africa | ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ???????

Join Us for the interactive Soft Launch of the #GlobalDigitalFutureArchitects & the Public-Interest AI Initiative ?????? I'm excited to launch this research-to-action initiative and global community next week at the TUM Think Tank at the margins of the Munich Security Conference and as an official Side Event of the #AIActionSummit (Paris). It is excellent to have with us such a fantastic line-up of panel speakers and partner organizations to kickstart this event: Mehdi Snene, Ph.D., Armando Guio Espa?ol, Vidisha Mishra Jan Gerlach and Dalia Yousif. ??? Date: February 13th ?? Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ?? Location: TUM Think Tank, Richard-Wagner-Str. 1 , 80333 Munich (hybrid) ?? REGISTER HERE ??: https://lnkd.in/deEcuVTh Why Attend? ?? Engage with leaders and experts in AI governance, public policy, and technology. ?? Join an expert panel discussion on “Advancing Public-Interest AI for Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Societies.” ?? Participate in interactive breakout sessions to shape the future of context-sensitive and rights-based AI for the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs). ?? Be part of a global conversation linking AI innovation to the Global Digital Compact, AI Action Summit, and upcoming key convenings. About the Initiative: The #GlobalDigitalFuturesArchitects is a cross-regional research-to-action community and an incubation platform to scale public-interest technology and skills programs. The Public Interest AI Initiative (PI-AI-I) is its first initiative and blueprint, and aims to advance ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI for the #SustainableDevelopmentGoals (SDGs). I will advance the PI-AI-Initiative in collaboration with the Global Network of Centers and diverse global partners. We will focus on: ? Co-designing context-sensitive AI use cases for the SDGs ? Developing best practices for AI risk mitigation ? Building AI competency through education & research ? Exploring sustainable business models and investment incentives for Public Interest AI Markus B. Siewert, Armando Guio Espa?ol, Urs Gasser, Sabina Leonelli, Felix Beer, Costanza Sciubba Caniglia, Rebecca MacKinnon, Christian Kastrop, Noha Lea Halim, Sofie Sch?nborn, Helene v. Schwichow, Yannic Plumpe, Fernanda Sauca, Rahel Roloff. Global Network of Centers, Hochschule für Politik München, Technische Universit?t München, Global Solutions Initiative, Wikimedia Foundation, United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies.

Join Us for the Soft Launch of the Global Digital Futures Architects & PI-AI Initiative ?? Led by Nicole Manger (German Federal Foreign Office & TUM Think Tank Fellow of Practice), this interactive Soft Launch Event marks the start of the Public Interest AI Initiative (PI-AI-I) under the #GlobalDigitalFuturesArchitects. Hosted by the TUM Think Tank, the event will take place at the margins of the Munich Security Conference and as an official Side Event of the #AIActionSummit (Paris). ??? Date: February 13th ?? Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM ?? Location: TUM Think Tank, Richard-Wagner-Str. 1 , 80333 Munich (hybrid) ?? RSVP: https://lnkd.in/deEcuVTh Why Attend? ?? Engage with leaders and experts in AI governance, public policy, and technology. ?? Join an expert panel discussion on “Advancing Public-Interest AI for Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Societies.” ?? Participate in interactive breakout sessions to shape the future of context-sensitive and rights-based AI for the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs). ?? Be part of a global conversation linking AI innovation to the Global Digital Compact, AI Action Summit, and upcoming key convenings. About the Initiative The Global Digital Futures Architects is a cross-regional science-to-action community dedicated to advancing Public Interest AI (PI-AI) as a blueprint for ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI adoption. Led by Nicole Manger and in collaboration with the Global Network of Centers and other global partners, the PI-AI Initiative focuses on: ? Co-designing AI use cases for the SDGs ? Developing best practices for AI risk mitigation ? Building AI competency through education & research ? Exploring sustainable business models for Public Interest AI Nicole Manger, Markus B. Siewert, Armando Guio Espa?ol, Global Network of Centers, Hochschule für Politik München, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich

?? Join the Conversation: The Evolving Role of AI Safety Institutes in Uncertain Times – A New Wave Ahead? ?? As the world navigates the complexities of AI governance, how can AI safety institutes adapt and lead in these uncertain times? In collaboration with Instituto de Tecnologia e Sociedade (ITS Rio) and Rice University, we’re thrilled to invite you to this hybrid event, setting the stage for the AI Action Summit in Paris, France ????. ??? WHEN: Sunday, February 9th, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. CET. ??WHERE: In person, Rice University Global Paris Center: 5 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris, France? ??Remote connection will be available via Zoom. Registration is required to participate. ? To attend in person, please register using this form: https://lnkd.in/eX36SG3X ? Please keep in mind that we have limited spots and you will not be allowed in the venue without prior registration. Instructions on how to access the venue will be sent to those registered on the day of the event. ?? Remote connection to the event will also be available. Please register here to join the event on Zoom: https://lnkd.in/ePQFFD9S