Ethics and AI: Morocco officially aligns with UNESCO recommendations

Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 10:06 PM

Rabat – Morocco announced, Thursday in Rabat, the official implementation of the recommendation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the ethics of artificial intelligence adopted in margin of the 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO held in November 2021 in Paris.

Made public by the Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa, on the sidelines of the signing of an agreement with UNESCO, within the framework of CONFINTEA VII scheduled for Marrakech next June, this decision of Morocco, one of the first countries to align itself with the recommendation of the UN body on the ethics of artificial intelligence.

“Morocco was one of the first countries to be present out of the 193 Member States during the adoption of the recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence”, rejoiced the Director General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, stressing that Morocco is now one of the first countries to implement this recommendation and the processes that allow it to be fully exploited.

The DG of UNESCO said it was “willing to be alongside Morocco” and “accompany it in this dynamic”, welcoming, in this regard, the establishment by the Kingdom of a commission dedicated to this purpose. , as well as its commitment to put AI at the service of the common good.

Mr. Benmoussa indicated that Morocco is committed to implementing the provisions of this recommendation, which aims to take advantage of technology and reduce the risks associated with it, noting that it overlaps substance the strategic axes of the New Development Model (NMD).

The NMD, he continues, emphasizes digital as the main vector of transformation and a real lever for change and development and an effective way to ensure transparency and resilience in management, able to build trust. among citizens, businesses and the public service.

This process, he adds, will reveal a national plan, which will allow the development of a roadmap to monitor the current situation of AI in our country and propose appropriate mechanisms to ensure monitoring and accountability of its systems and their impact on long-term life.

Present at this meeting, Mrs. Ghita Mezzour, Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, welcomed this official announcement which is in line with the dynamic recorded by the Kingdom in terms of of AI.

“A national commission will be set up, under the aegis of the Ministry of Digital Transition, to diagnose and take stock of the situation, with a view to establishing a roadmap to implement the provisions of the recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence,” she underlined.

The Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Salim M. AlMalik took part in this meeting, as well as other Moroccan and UN officials accredited to Morocco.