IGF 2023 Town Hall #122 Governing AI in Developing Countries: Issues and Challenges

The session titled "Governing AI in Developing Countries: Issues and Challenges" aims to bring together policymakers, academics, civil society, and industry representatives to discuss the challenges of governing artificial intelligence (AI) in developing countries, and to identify potential solutions that can enable these countries to benefit from AI while minimizing its risks. The session will focus on the subtheme of AI & Emerging Technologies, which is one of the eight subthemes of IGF 2023

AI is transforming various sectors in developing countries, such as healthcare, finance, and education, and is increasingly being adopted to improve their economic growth and development. However, governing AI presents several challenges, particularly in developing countries that may not have the necessary legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks in place to manage the risks associated with AI. This session will address these issues and discuss strategies for building capacity and developing legal and regulatory frameworks for governing AI in developing countries.

The session will consist of a panel discussion and a Q&A sessions that will enable participants to exchange ideas and identify potential solutions. The outcomes of the sesssion will be shared with the broader IGF community to inform discussions on AI governance. The session will be an opportunity to engage with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and to learn from their experiences, perspectives, and insights.

Objective: The objective of thissession is to discuss the issues and challenges related to governing artificial intelligence (AI) in developing countries and identify potential solutions that can enable these countries to benefit from AI while minimizing its risks.

This session will bring together policymakers, academics, civil society, and industry representatives to discuss the following topics:
-The challenges of governing AI in developing countries
-The role of stakeholders in developing ethical and responsible AI
-Strategies for building capacity and developing legal and regulatory frameworks for governing AI in developing countries


To ensure active participation and interaction between onsite and online participants, the following measures will be implemented:
a) Hybrid Session Format: The workshop will be designed as a hybrid session, allowing both onsite and online speakers and attendees to participate. This will be achieved by leveraging video conferencing technology that enables seamless communication and collaboration between the two groups.

b) Dedicated Moderator (onsite and online): Two skilled moderators online and onsite will facilitate the discussion and ensure that both onsite and online participants have equal opportunities to contribute. The moderator will manage the flow of the session, coordinate questions, and ensure that all perspectives are heard.
c) Q&A Sessions: Online participants will be encouraged to ask questions or share their comments through a designated Q&A platform or chat feature. The moderator will then incorporate these questions into the discussion, allowing both onsite and online speakers to respond.