Leaders and change-makers from across the Global South met in Saint Lucia for their first-ever Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has been welcomed as timely and essential.
From October 29 to 31, 2024, these policymakers, industry leaders, innovators and youth representatives explored how developing countries can harness the power of AI and the transformative potential of emerging technologies to kick-start and revolutionize their economies.
The Summit, whose theme is Empowering Futures: AI for the Global South, is the brainchild of two visionaries who have long championed the integration of technology in shaping the future of the Global South. One of whom is Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert, a former Minister of Education, who has been instrumental in promoting digital transformation and AI as tools for societal development, especially for ensuring that emerging technologies will empower ambitious young people and local economies. Collaborating with her is Kem-Laurin Lubin, a technology strategist and AI expert who has been working on advancing tech innovation in underrepresented regions and facilitating their equitable access to its transformative tools.
Ms Lubin told the Kreol Magazine that the Summit’s deliberations will highlight the critical role of the Global South in tech’ development. Equally important, the Summit will explore strategies and policies to ensure that these developing countries are not left behind. Such work is particularly important at this time when AI is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern economies, and its influence is being felt across industries—from healthcare and education to the creative industries, agriculture and financial services.
Dr Rigobert stressed that the ubiquity of AI and its profound ability to reshape economies have made it imperative for countries in the Global South to keep up with the wave of technological advances. She warned that failure to do so could mean that they will slip even further behind in an increasingly digital and interconnected global economy.
Elaborating on the idea, Ms Lubin explained that while advanced economies benefit from AI’s rapid integration into their technological and productive operations and growth strategies, small island developing states (SIDS) and other Creole countries are latecomers and face unique challenges. Nonetheless, she sounded a note of optimism, expressing confidence that once these countries are strategic and astute, they will be able to harness the opportunities that will help them leapfrog the hurdles to their technological development and then embrace the transformative potential of AI. This can ultimately offer real benefits to help them expand and optimize productivity in all sectors, including tourism, agriculture, education etc.
She expected that the discussions at the Summit would specifically explore how AI can be applied to maximize productivity, improve efficiency, and develop new industries in countries of the Global South, particularly SIDS. She was confident that, by embracing AI, they would be empowered to transform their performance and productivity dramatically. In tourism, AI can enhance visitor experiences through personalized services and help devise smart infrastructure. In agriculture, it can optimize production practices and outcomes, reduce waste, and increase resilience to climate change. In the financial sector, AI-driven fintech solutions can democratize access to banking services for underserved communities.
Wearing her hat of a former minister of Education, Dr Rigobert promised that education and workforce development will be key themes at the Summit, as will be the need for getting priority attention to be paid to upgrading digital skills and AI literacy throughout the Caribbean and the wider Global South.
In discussing AI’s advantages and opportunities, Dr Rigobert stressed that it offers significant potential in the creative industries’ realm, where it can revolutionize content creation, support local talent in reaching global markets, and drive innovation in areas such as digital media, music, and art. She thought it particularly noteworthy that participants will be drawn from regions rich in creativity, talent, and human potential, even if they have historically been underserved by technological infrastructure and investment.
The choices of both the Summit venue and its timing are quite symbolic. Convening in Saint Lucia shines a spotlight on the necessity for SIDS to work together and with other developing countries. This is imperative if they hope to secure equitable access to AI technologies and are to remain in step with the rapid pace of global technological developments. Individually, they would not be able to achieve this.
Staging the Summit as the international Creole month comes to a climax, will ensure that deliberations will also focus on exploring how Creole culture can harness the opportunities of AI.
Both Rigobert and Lubin agreed that the Summit is an opportunity for the Global South to assert its place as a credible contributor to AI innovation. It would do so while hopefully adopting collaborative strategies aimed at ensuring that the evolution of AI applications is aligned with the unique cultural, economic, and social contexts and interests of the regions from which participants will be drawn.
Speaking to the Kreol magazine, they explained that as AI becomes more integrated into the global economy, it is essential for small and developing nations not only to have equal access to consume AI technologies but also be able to innovate and contribute to its progress so as to ensure that the trajectory of its development is in line with their needs and ambitions.
The Summit will consist of keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops designed to equip governments, businesses, and civil society with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate and thrive in the AI-powered world. But it will also be open to members of the public who wish to participate in the ambitious effort to ensure that SIDS, Creole countries and other developing countries will not be left behind in the global technological revolution but will be empowered to harness AI capacity to shape a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future.
For more information visit www.aiglobalsouthsummit.com