By: Nana Appiah
Acquaye
Rwanda's Ministry of ICT and Innovation has officially launched the AI Trust and
Safety Workshop, bringing together experts from finance, telecommunications,
information technology, and cybersecurity to develop trusted and secure
artificial intelligence systems in the country. The event is organized in
partnership with UNDP Rwanda and supported by the Government of Canada.
During
the first day of the workshop, Nana Teiba Chinbuah, Deputy Resident
Representative at UNDP Rwanda, highlighted that AI risks are not a future
concern but are already emerging and evolving rapidly. She stressed that AI
adoption is not solely a technological issue, but one that involves trust, people,
and the confidence citizens place in digital systems and services.
Julie
Crowley, High Commissioner for Canada, noted that even countries with
established AI strategies are still navigating safe and accountable AI use in
the public sector. She emphasized that building trustworthy AI governance is a
shared global responsibility, stating, “AI should never be about speed at the
expense of safety or automation at the expense of accountability.”
Esther
Kunda, Director General of Rwanda’s AI Authority, highlighted the country’s
progress in advancing AI literacy among public servants and emphasized that
responsible AI adoption requires careful consideration of bias, transparency,
and safe deployment across all organizational functions.
The
workshop reflects Rwanda’s commitment to creating a secure and inclusive
digital ecosystem, ensuring that AI technologies are implemented responsibly
and ethically while supporting national development priorities.
