Speaking at the opening of the Conference, placed under the High Patronage of His Majesy King Mohammed VI, Akhannouch underlined that this event goes hand in hand with the government’s ambition to implement an effective and ethical national strategy, at the service of inclusive and sustainable human development.
“A technological revolution is currently redefining economies and reinventing lifestyles,” he stressed, praising the enormous opportunities AI offers, while also warning against the challenges it poses, particularly in terms of digital sovereignty, social justice, data protection and ethics.”
Morocco has embarked on the path of digital modernization with the “Maroc Digital 2030” strategy, he said in a speech by videoconference, recalling that the government has allocated a budget of MAD 11 billion to implement this strategy.
The goals are expected to give a new impetus to the digital economy, promote employment and support emerging talent in the digital field through the training of 100,000 young people and the creation of 240,000 job opportunities by 2030, he pledged.
According to the Head of Government, the national digital system has undergone a significant evolution, reaching a new phase where AI has become a strategic lever to create a radical transformation at the level of the economy and society as a whole.
This technology, he observed, has largely contributed to the transformation of the healthcare sector by strengthening the early diagnosis of diseases, developing means of prevention, improving the treatment and recovery process and, hence, enhancing the efficiency of the entire system.
In the agricultural sector, Akhannouch reported improved management of water resources and better agricultural production, while in education, he pointed out that AI offers innovative pedagogical mechanisms that help reduce drop-out rates and improve the quality of learning.
On the other hand, the government official felt that AI poses a number of challenges for the job market, insofar as companies not integrating this technology into their processes, particularly those relating to IT development and logistics services, risk being overtaken by competitors with more experience in the field.
In contrast, he warned that AI, capable of surpassing the human element in the accomplishment of certain tasks, directly threatens the viability of certain professions.
“Ignoring this technology means missing out on promising economic opportunities, while integrating it means restructuring the job market and adapting to the accelerating changes the world is undergoing.”
Over and above the ethical challenges linked to the risks of using AI for disinformation and data manipulation, the Head of Government pointed to the rapid spread of fake news and misleading content, likely to have a negative impact on public opinion and undermine societal values.
The inaugural session of the Conference was attended by André Azoulay, Advisor to His Majesty the King; the Upper House Speaker, Mohamed Ould Errachid, several members of the government, presidents of institutions and constitutional bodies, and ambassadors accredited to Rabat.
Organized by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform under the theme “An efficient and ethical AI strategy to serve our society,” the conference aims to outline a national strategy for sovereign AI, one that is tailored to the needs of the population and strategic sectors, and aligned with the High Royal Guidelines.
The first day of the conference focuses on sector-specific technical sessions and demonstrations by innovative AI-driven startups, while the second is set to address the political dimensions and international cooperation related to AI.
Editorial team/le7tv