Kenya has taken a historic step by joining the inaugural International Network of AI Safety Institutes, represented by Special Envoy for Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo.
This was during a meeting, held in San Francisco, USA last week and brought together global leaders to advance AI safety and promote international collaboration in managing artificial intelligence.
As the only African nation in this alliance, Kenya joins the ranks of countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Amb. Thigo highlighted the critical need for global cooperation to address the challenges posed by AI technologies, emphasizing the importance of inclusive innovation.
The United States, serving as the Network’s first Chair, has united experts from member governments, AI developers, academia, and civil society.
During a plenary session, Amb. Thigo stated, “The International Network of AI Safety Institutes aims to create a global platform for technical expertise, fostering shared approaches to AI safety that ensure the benefits of innovation are accessible to all nations.”
Over two days of technical discussions, participants focused on managing risks from synthetic content, testing foundation models, and assessing risks tied to advanced AI systems.
The Network is guided by six principles—action ability, transparency, comprehensiveness, multi-stakeholder involvement and reproducibility in order to establish a scientific basis for AI risk management and foster robust global practices.
Kenya’s participation underscores its commitment to leading on AI safety and leveraging technology for development while mitigating potential risks. The collaboration aims to prevent fragmented governance that could hinder innovation and create vulnerabilities.
The outcomes will inform the AI Action Summit in France, scheduled for February 2025. By gathering leading experts from governments, industry, academia, and civil society, the Network seeks to build a safer and more responsible AI ecosystem for the benefit of all.
By Patience Mabonga
