Kenya Hosts Workshop on Responsible AI Use

DEFENCEWEB

Kenya’s Ministry of Defence co-hosted an inaugural workshop on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military in June 2024.

The Netherlands and South Korea co-hosted the two-day event in Nairobi. Delegates and military personnel from more than a dozen countries attended to hear about the opportunities, challenges and risks associated with military applications of AI.

The event came about a month after the Stellenbosch University Military Academy in South Africa launched a defense AI research unit as a center of AI excellence.

The workshop, the first of its kind in East Africa, was titled Regional Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Military.

Those attending heard Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Duale predict that AI will not only strengthen defense capabilities but also will help uphold the “principles of justice, peace and human dignity.”

“Kenya is committed to ethical AI practices in military operations to promote security and stability in Africa and globally,” his keynote address read in part. “I urge you to share your insights and collaborate on solutions that will guide toward responsible and effective use of AI in our military endeavors.”

Gen. Charles Kahariri, chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, said a “comprehensive regulatory framework that governs the use of AI in military operations is essential.”

“Building local capabilities to develop, deploy and regulate AI is crucial,” he said. “These frameworks should address issues such as data privacy, security and ethical use. Policymakers must work closely with technologies, ethicists and military experts to create policies that balance innovation with responsibility.”

Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda attended the event.