At the end of a two-day Action Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which held in France early in the week, French government said participants from over 100 countries, have identified priorities and consequently, launched concrete actions to advance public interest as well as bridge digital divides by accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

France, Nigeria and six other countries of the world, comprised the eight founding members of Public Interest AI Platform and Incubator.

“The platform will serve to support, amplify, decrease fragmentation between existing public and private initiatives on Public Interest AI and address digital divides”, a statement issued by the French government read.

It added that the Public interest AI Initiative will help to sustain and support digital public goods, technical assistance and capacity building projects in data, model development, openness and transparency, audit, computer, talent, financing and collaboration, to support and co-create a trustworthy AI ecosystem advancing the public interest of all, for all and by all”, it added.

The summit, which was co-chaired by France and India, deliberated on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet.

Noting that rapid development of AI technologies impacts citizens and societies in various ways, the summit, in line with the Paris Pact for People and the Planet, and the principles that countries must have ownership of their transition strategies, launched concrete actions anchored on science, solutions and policy standards.

The statement released Thursday by the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier, informed that the summit highlighted the importance of reinforcing the diversity of AI ecosystem and opened a multi-stakeholder and inclusive approach that will enable AI to be human rights based, human-centric, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy.

It also stressed the need and urgency to narrow the inequalities and assist developing countries in artificial intelligence capacity-building so that they can build AI capacities.

“The summit affirmed several priorities, including AI accessibility to reduce digital divides; ensuring inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure and trustworthy AI operations; making innovation in AI thrive by enabling conditions for its development and avoiding market concentration.

It also affirmed means of encouraging AI deployment that positively shapes the future of work and labour markets, and delivers opportunities for sustainable growth and making AI sustainable for people and the planet.”

Adding: “To deliver on the priorities, founding members have launched a major Public Interest AI Platform and Incubator, to support, amplify, decrease fragmentation between existing public and private initiatives on Public Interest AI, and address digital divides.”