AI Living Lab for Innovative and Viable Ethical Policies and Systems (ALIVE Lab)

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to achieve sustainable development goals and boost economic growth means that mastering it is increasingly crucial for every country to ensure its technological, economic, social and political sovereignty. To this end, an AI Continental White Paper and Roadmap, a strategic blueprint leading to the development of the African Union Continental AI Strategy, was recently launched. Several African countries, including Senegal, have also published national AI strategies. The Government of Senegal has also published a national data strategy and seeks to pool the two strategies in their implementation.

This project supports the AI Living Labs for Innovative and Viable Ethical Policies and Systems (AI Living Lab), based in Dakar, Senegal, which is building an AI innovation ecosystem around three major axes: (i) a collaborative technological platform integrating powerful AI algorithms and a large database; (ii) cutting-edge and inclusive scientific work on responsible AI, inter- and multi-disciplinary, focused on achieving sustainable development goals; and (iii) popularization and promotion of AI, particularly with regard to young people, decision-makers and socio-economic stakeholders.

This project is a part of the AI4D program, a five-year partnership between IDRC and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to support policy, innovations and expanded leadership to spur safe and responsible AI development and use in Africa. The vision of the new partnership is to support an inclusive, responsible AI ecosystem that improves quality of life for all in Africa and beyond.