On Tuesday, dozens of tech enthusiasts, IT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) specialists, educators, representatives of law enforcement agencies and business partners from Saint Lucia and around the globe, gathered here for the inaugural AI Global South Summit.
The event is taking place at the Royalton Resorts, October 29 – 31, 2024.
The AI Global South Summit is the brainchild of Dr. Gale Rigobert and Kem-Laurin Lubin and aims to give a voice to citizens in the global south, using the knowledge and experiences of its people to ensure that their perspectives are central to the conversation about AI.
The “real fears” and trepidation by citizens towards AI, were also acknowledged on Tuesday.
Several participants raised the issue of citizens not being disadvantaged and further marginalised by the extensive use of AI.
Others were optimistic saying that if citizens were empowered; real economic benefits could be derived using AI, while using the technology to advance areas such as education, agriculture, healthcare, the creative sector and others.
Among the officials and dignitaries attending the opening was Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre, Shawn Edward-Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, the leader of the opposition Allen Chastanet, Director General of the OECS Dr. Didacus Jules, Edwin Laurent, Director iDERA, and Michael Anton Dila who was the keynote speaker.
During her presentation, Kem-Laurin Lubin said that there was a shared vision among organisers to harness the immense power of AI and unlock the vast opportunities that lie ahead for the global south. “Opportunities in business, education, healthcare, gastronomy, arts, language, agriculture and so much more,” she explained.
The summit, organisers said, was designed to raise questions and issues while offering solutions and suggestions.
“The questions that will be addressed in the various keynote addresses, panel discussions and workshops, have deep historical roots that can be traced along a genealogy of critical discourse about technology’s role in global inequities,” Dr. Rigobert said.
“This summit highlights how technology is yet another variable through which the global north continues to suppress the development ambitions of the global south or as I prefer to say the global majority,” she expressed.
Rigobert went on to say however that, “our increasing preoccupation with AI and emerging technologies reflects a complex interplay of crippling fears of the unknown and measured optimism about the potential benefits of AI”.
In his address, Minister Shawn Edward stated that for too long those in the global south have been consumers of technology using it in a minimalistic manner, not fully appreciating how technology can improve their global competitiveness.
“The question on everyone’s lips is, can AI offer a pathway to elevate growth for our countries?” He asked.
“As we delve into the potential of AI and emerging technologies we must first appreciate the richness of our own creole culture. Our languages, traditions, art and culinary practices are not merely historical artifacts, they are living breathing expressions of identity that connects us to our past while informing our future,” the education minister expressed. He went on to say that what must also be pondered was how the technology could be used to preserve our culture and monetise it.
For Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre the question was not why AI but what degree of AI.
“The future for us is a united approach using the public private and business sectors, working together, not only in the use and application of AI technologies but to cushion the possible negative effects of AI on the lives and livelihoods of citizens,” Pierre said.
“We need to invest in the technology to make the use of AI possible, accessible and safe. In the final analysis, I believe that the positive use of AI must cause the people of the country to enjoy a better quality of life,” he said.
“But the question remains will the digital divide be reinforced by AI and lead to more inequalities?” Pierre asked.
Day one of the summit also evoked lively discussions on the role of regional and international organizations in AI and the emerging technology for development, among other pertinent topics.
Photo: Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre and Co Founder of the Global South Summit Dr Gale Rigobert.
