Organised on 12 and 13 September 2023 in Dakar by Gaindé 2000, the «Rentrée Numérique» aimed to provide public and private sector stakeholders and technical partners with a forum for discussion, policy formulation and mobilisation around key digital challenges.

Dr Laure Tall, Director of Research at IPAR, took part in this roundtable discussion focusing on the theme «Artificial intelligence: opportunities and threats to economies, businesses and society – what approach should we take?». Speaking on the panel «AI and Society» (How will AI shape our daily lives? What are the social challenges associated with its development?«), Dr Tall, when asked about the meaning of »better AI‘, stated that «better AI» is «inclusive», «responsible» and «capable of producing sustainable solutions». She also emphasised the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into the responsible use of AI in order to reduce the digital divide between men and women. Citing UN data which highlights that women account for two-thirds of the 796 million illiterate people and of the 2.9 billion people without internet access – the majority of whom are women – worldwide, Dr Tall argues that “this section of the global population should not be left behind”. In the same vein, she believes that the inclusive and responsible use of AI would help bridge this gap and provide solutions to the various inequalities observed across different segments of society.

In her presentation, the IPAR’s research director was keen to emphasise the importance of data because, in her view, the digital divide has implications for the use of AI, which is perceived as being «data-intensive» – most of which, moreover, comes from elsewhere.

She also pointed out that education – particularly access to infrastructure, etc. – helps to improve access to this new technology. «Investing in AI education enables its more effective use in Africa,» she said. Finally, she called for action to tackle the challenges surrounding investment, which depend on the political will of decision-makers.

It should be noted that the ‘AI and Society’ panel included, in addition to Dr Tall, Mr Abdallah Cissé, a digital expert, and Dr Alex Louis Gabriel Corenthin, a lecturer, researcher and computer scientist; Dr Isaac Sissokho, an expert in the regulation of digital markets and in telecommunications strategy and development; Professor Sylvain Landry Faye, a full professor of sociology and health anthropology; Mr Jérôme Riberio, Deputy Chair of the EuropIA Institute; Mr Amadou Amath Ndiaye, founder of Oubii Digital; Ms Aissatou Djiba Diallo, Senior Fintech Advisor at Ecobank Transnational; and Mr Talla Ndiaye, Director of the Just Digital Transformation Programme.

Topics such as ‘AI and Organisation’ and ’AI and the Economy’ were also discussed during this digital start to the academic year.