The inaugural AI Global South Summit will take place in Saint Lucia from October 29 – 31, 2024.
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is technology which can simulate human learning to perform various tasks.
The AI Global South Summit, will be held at the Royalton Resort and will draw from a knowledgeable pool of local, regional and international experts.
Speaking at a press launch for the event Wednesday, co-founder Dr. Gale Rigobert said that the impact of AI on our region is profound.
“Many of our countries especially small island developing states have historically been marginalised in the global discourse on technology and development. Often left to navigate the complexities of AI with limited resources and support,” Dr. Rigobert said.
The Dean of Academics at the University of St. Martin went on to explain that the aim of the summit is to change that narrative.
“We believe that the time has come to privilege the knowledge and experiences of our people, citizens of the global south to ensure that our perspectives are not only included but are central to the conversation about AI’s future,” she added.
Rigobert said the summit will see engagements in meaningful conversations on the ethical implications of AI, its potential to drive sustainable development and how the technology can be harnessed to address local issues from education to healthcare, from tourism to agriculture, from the creative sector to youth empowerment and more.
Kem-Laurin Lubin, another co-founder of the summit said that it was born from a need to bring together voices and perspectives often left out of the discussions on AI.
“When we talk about AI, the conversations tends to focus on advancements coming from a few dominant regions but what about the Global South?” she questioned.
According to her; “the Summit will amplify voices from regions such as ours, places that are rich with innovation yet underrepresented in global AI conversations”.
“Our goal is to shift the narrative and demonstrate how AI can be harnessed for sustainable development, address challenges and create solutions that are relevant to the unique needs of our regions,” she said.
One of the partners for the Summit is Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. Representing the College at Wednesday’s launch was Dr. Winston Phulgence, head of Social Science and The Knowledge Society.
“It is something that is in all our lives and we don’t even realise it,” Phulgence said of AI.
“But in education it is going to be a major challenge for us in the Caribbean and at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College we are already facing that challenge and are already starting to put things in place, trying to get those who are the experts in the field to inform us. So we are very happy to have this conversation and to be part of this conference,” he said.
Phulgence said; “We are standing on the cusp of a revolution and one of the most transformative forces of that revolution was AI”.
“And as we look towards the future, it is important to recognise that our heritage, our culture, our traditions and our history must also be a part of this journey. Our cultural heritage is not only a source of national pride but also a significant economic asset,” he pointed out.
Also speaking at the launch were Javed Samuel – IT and Cybersecurity expert, Lenel Malzaire head of the Innovation Unit – Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science and Technology and Kimani Goddard experienced senior Intellectual Property Law and Policy Advisor.
Partners for the upcoming AI Global South Summit include the Ministry of Education, the OECS, UWI Global Campus, University of Waterloo, The Pan African Council, Monroe University, COSTAATT and The University of St. Martin.
Photo: Participants, Presenters and Partners for the upcoming AI Global South Summit.
