Kagame made the remarks during a virtual meeting of the International AI for Good Commission, which focuses on how artificial intelligence can improve people’s lives and support economic growth around the world.
The Rwandan leader, who co-chairs the commission, attended the meeting alongside Marc Benioff, chief executive officer and co-founder of Salesforce, and Doreen Bogdan-Martin, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and vice-chair of the commission, among other members.
Kagame said AI could contribute more to sustainable development if people were involved in decisions about its future, rather than leaving those decisions to a small group of individuals or institutions.
“The benefits of AI will continue to grow if we all have a say in shaping the future of this emerging technology,” he said, adding that the commission must continue asking difficult questions and using its knowledge and resources to find practical solutions.
The meeting also reviewed the commission’s progress and discussed the next steps towards ensuring that AI delivers benefits that are shared across societies.
As AI continues to transform economies and everyday life, the discussions highlight the importance of making sure its opportunities are accessible to people around the world, including communities that risk being left behind by technological advances.
