Paris: Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, participated in the ministerial coordination meeting of the members of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and interested countries, which was held at the headquarters of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the AI summit taking place in the French capital, Paris.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting discussed the comprehensive approach adopted by GPAI in the global governance of artificial intelligence, aiming to explore opportunities for future cooperation with countries from various regions and to enhance international coordination in this field. Attendees included Ms. Jelena Bogdanovic, Minister of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia; Ms. Aisn Atcheverry, Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation of Chile; Mr. Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digitalisation, Innovation, and Aerospace of Kazakhstan; and Ms. Audrey Blonck, Deputy Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
During his speech, Dr. Amr Talaat confirmed that Egypt launched the second edition of its national artificial intelligence strategy last January, explaining that it is based on six main pillars: governance to ensure the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence while addressing issues of transparency, algorithmic bias, and privacy protection; a data governance pillar aimed at developing robust frameworks to ensure the safe and ethical use of data in AI technologies; an infrastructure pillar through which efforts are being made to expand smart cloud computing services, implement digital transformation projects, and provide high-performance computing applications; an ecosystem pillar to support startups and foster innovation; a technology pillar aimed at developing innovative models and algorithms, such as deep learning applications, to enhance quality of life and improve efficiency across various sectors; and finally, a skills development pillar in artificial intelligence as part of capacity-build
ing programmes offered by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Dr. Amr Talaat clarified Egypt’s keenness to play an active role in international forums concerned with artificial intelligence issues, noting that it is the first African country to commit to the OECD principles for artificial intelligence and actively participates in the AI working group. He affirmed Egypt’s interest in enhancing regional cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence at both the Arab and African levels, through the Arab League and the African Union. He also highlighted Egypt’s commitment to addressing challenges posed by artificial intelligence technologies, such as algorithmic bias, transparency, and accountability, in line with international initiatives in this area.
He also pointed to Egypt’s efforts to address the impact of artificial intelligence on the labour market through training programmes to ensure that workers are equipped with the necessary digital skills to meet the demands of an AI-driven economy.
Dr. Amr Talaat stressed that Egypt places special emphasis on enhancing cybersecurity for artificial intelligence systems, focusing on privacy protection and preventing data breaches. He called for increased global investments in innovation to tackle challenges related to the costs of AI infrastructure and to boost research in this field within Africa and the Arab region.
Dr. Amr Talaat reiterated Egypt’s commitment to international cooperation to promote the global governance of artificial intelligence through collaboration with the Global AI Initiative and the OECD in shaping global AI policies, achieving a balance between innovation and ethical considerations, stemming from its leading role in developing AI policies in Africa and the Arab region.
In conclusion, Dr. Amr Talaat called for the launch of more initiatives that focus on transformative AI applications in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education, expressing Egypt’s eagerness to enhance international cooperation during the International AI Partnership Conference scheduled to be held in Slovakia.
It is worth noting that Dr. Amr Talaat is currently visiting the French capital, Paris, to participate on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in the “AI in Action” summit hosted by Paris from February 10 to 11, with participation from several heads of state, government leaders, ministers, ambassadors, and officials from international institutions.
The visit is set to include meetings with several officials from French companies to explore investment opportunities in the communications and information technology sector, as well as meetings with officials from international institutions to discuss cooperation opportunities in related fields.