The inaugural African Regional Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Military (REAIM) workshop has taken place in Nairobi.
The workshop aims to foster open discussions, knowledge sharing, and enhanced regional understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The two-day workshop was co-hosted by the Ministry of Defence, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.
It brought together delegates and military personnel from 14 countries worldwide.
They aimed to collectively address the opportunities, challenges, and risks associated with AI in military applications.
Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Duale, who delivered a keynote address, emphasized the importance of leveraging AI to strengthen defence capabilities while upholding justice and human dignity.
“Kenya is dedicated to ethical AI practices in military operations to enhance security and stability in Africa and globally,” Duale stated.
The Chief of Defense Forces, Charles Kahariri, highlighted AI's profound impact and transformative power in technology, enhancing capabilities, improving decision-making processes, and ensuring national security and sovereignty.
“Developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI in military operations is essential,” Kahariri emphasized.
Korean Ambassador Won Ik Lee and Chief Information Officer of the Netherlands Jorean Van de Vlugt reiterated AI's extraordinary potential as an enabling technology, stressing the need to address its risks to safeguard international security and uphold international law.
African countries participating included Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The second REAIM Summit is scheduled to be held in Korea in September 2024.