The 1st National Artificial Intelligence Conference kicked off successfully on Tuesday, July 1, at the Mohammed 6 Polytechnic University (UM6P) Rabat. Symbolically, the event is being held in the brand-new International Center for AI at UM6P.
AI Movement is Unesco’s first category 2 center for artificial intelligence on the African continent. Placed under the High Patronage of HM the King, at the initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, the Conference are being held under the theme: “An efficient and ethical AI strategy at the service of society ”.
In a video broadcast at the opening of the Conference, the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, pointed out that « the event comes at the right time and marks a major step forward in the direction of building and developing a sovereign AI ecosystem in Morocco. The government is determined to place artificial intelligence at the heart of our public policies «. For the Head of Government, AI is more than just a technology; it is a catalyst for radical transformation in industry, education, health and agriculture. Moreover, AI applications enable early predictions and diagnoses in many fields, such as agriculture, improving crop yields, and innovations in the field of health.
What is more, AI applications enable early predictions and diagnoses in many fields, such as agriculture, improving crop yields, innovations in education... But AI also poses challenges on the job market. « Some companies in Morocco are not yet able to integrate AI into their processes. This threatens their competitiveness in the future, with the risk of job losses «, Akhannouch pointed out. « It is true that today, AI brings many opportunities, but at the same time it also brings risks and threats... Which can be seen everywhere in the form of ethical challenges, biases and errors in algorithms, drifts and fake news...», added the Head of Government.
Mobilisation
Today, it is essential to confront the challenges of AI. This requires a broad mobilization: administration, civil society, businesses, education... «Investments, education, and human resources are the basis and foundation of the new challenges. We are required to reform the education system to better prepare Moroccan youth for the employment challenges of the future « , said Aziz Akhannouch. Obviously, the ethical dimension is fundamental. Today, the entire challenge for Morocco rests on collaborative and inclusive governance, public-private partnerships (PPPs), the mobilization of vital forces... in order to build and consolidate a viable, reliable, efficient, and above all, ethical AI system.
Amin RBOUB
