Defence organizations are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for achieving tactical and strategic advantages over their adversaries. The growing sophistication of AI technologies has accelerated their adoption for a number of tasks and functions, allowing different stakeholders to plan and accommodate their respective military operations.
Reading of the Week: Artificial Intelligence, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament: A Compendium on the State of the Art
Cluster for Natural and Technical Science Arms Control Research
This essay examines how emerging technologies can address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, including economic, environmental, social, and governance issues, and be a game changer for Africa’s development.
Leveraging AI and emerging technologies to unlock Africas potential
Brookings Institution
This brief discusses the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in meeting Africa’s development goals and argues that, for tech to make a real contribution to human development in the continent, the process of technology development should enable African agency.
The Role of AI and Digital Tools in Africas Development
Observer Research Foundation
The year 2024 has been dubbed ‘the election superbowl’ due to the higher number of elections taking place in different parts of the world, including in the United States and in the European Union. In Africa alone, over 20 countries have held or are approaching elections. South Africa and Rwanda already elected their presidents, while Ghana is preparing for its presidential election in December 2024
Artificial intelligence for electoral administration and management: A pathway for Africa-EU partnership
European Think Tanks Group
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a promising solution to the challenges of inefficiency and high compliance costs in the fight against money laundering. This brief examines the capabilities, benefits, and challenges of AI in the context of detecting and preventing financial crime. The brief explores the ways in which AI can aid anti-money laundering efforts, particularly by reducing compliance costs and enhancing efficiency. The findings offer insights for policymakers, regulators, and financial institutions seeking to leverage AI to combat money laundering more effectively and efficiently.
Reading of the Week: The Use of AI in Arresting Financial Crime
Observer Research Foundation
During the past decade, there has been a significant focus on autonomous weapon systems (AWS) in legal and policy discussions on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military domain. In recent years, however, awareness has been increasing of the fact that the military applications of AI are much broader.
Reading of the Week: Artificial intelligence and related technologies in military decision-making on the use of force in armed conflicts
International Committee of the Red Cross
L'intégration de l'Intelligence Artificielle (IA) en Afrique laisse entrevoir des perspectives prometteuses et pose des défis substantiels. Si certains pays du continent se distinguent par leur engagement et eurs avancées dans la préparation à l'adoption de l'IA, d'autres font face à des obstacles majeurs, tels que les inégalités structurelles et les fractures numériques.
LIntelligence Artificielle en Afrique: defis et opportunites
Policy Center
Since the release of ChatGPT3.5 roughly a year and a half ago, the promises and perils of artificial intelligence (AI) have captured the world’s attention. We are currently in the midst of a vigorous debate about which AI harms to focus on—those occurring now or more speculative harms that might happen in the future.
Reading of the Week: The False Choice in the Debate Over Artificial Intelligence Regulation
Lawfare
In 1970, at the Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Head of States and the government of the Organization of African Union (O.A.U) now AU, the then President of Tanzania, the Late Julius Kambarage Nyerere stood at the podium and deliver his views about the direction of the African economy.
AI in Africa: The Last Battle Lost Before the War Begun
Modern Diplomacy
On November 16, the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Summit convened over 200 global leaders, tech experts, academics, innovators, and policymakers to address the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) governance and shape its responsible future
Reading of the Week: The future of the world is intelligent. Insights from the World Economic Forums AI Governance Summit
Brookings
Possession of legal identity is a link between citizens and the myriad government services and social, economic and legal rights available to them. However, around 50% of Africa’s population do not have a legal identity, making it increasingly difficult for people to access vital government services such as healthcare and social grants, and to set up bank accounts, register SIM cards, and apply for other important documents such as passports.
Digital Identification and Biometrics In East Africa: Opportunities and Concerns
South African Institute of International Affairs
The Typology of Online Harms aims to provide a foundational common language, facilitating multistakeholder and cross-jurisdictional
discussions to advance digital safety. Developed by a working group of the Global Coalition for Digital Safety, comprising representatives from industry, governments, civil society and academia, this typology serves as a foundation for facilitating multistakeholder discussions and cross-jurisdictional dialogues to find a common terminology and shared understanding of online safety.
Toolkit for Digital Safety Design Interventions and Innovations: Typology of Online Harms
World Economic Forum
Israel has by far the largest AI ecosystem in the Middle East as measured in AI companies and financial investments, and foreign investors play a critical role in Israel’s AI market growth. This issue brief finds that AI investments in Israel have mostly originated from the United States. To date, Chinese investors have played a limited role in funding Israel’s dynamic AI companies. But understanding the risk of Chinese investments into the Israeli AI ecosystem will be important for the national security of both the United States and Israel.
Financing The New Oil. Assessing AI Investment in Israel and the Broader Middle East
Center for Security and Emerging Technology
Artificial intelligence systems are rapidly being deployed in all sectors of the economy, yet significant research has demonstrated that these systems can be vulnerable to a wide array of attacks. How different are these problems from more common cybersecurity vulnerabilities? What legal ambiguities do they create, and how can organizations ameliorate them? This report, produced in collaboration with the Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance at the Stanford Cyber Policy Center, presents the recommendations of a July 2022 workshop of experts to help answer these questions.
Adversarial Machine Learning and Cybersecurity. Risks, Challenges, and Legal Implications
Center for Security and Emerging Technology
Militaries seek to harness artificial intelligence for decision advantage. Yet AI systems introduce a new source of uncertainty in the likelihood of technical failures. Such failures could interact with strategic and human factors in ways that lead to miscalculation and escalation in a crisis or conflict. Harnessing AI effectively requires managing these risk trade-offs by reducing the likelihood, and containing the consequences of, AI failures.
Reducing the Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Military Decision Advantage
Center for Security and Emerging Technology
Deceit and media manipulation have always been a part of wartime communications, but never before has it been possible for nearly any actor in a conflict to generate realistic audio, video, and text of their opponent’s political officials and military leaders. As artificial intelligence (AI) grows more sophisticated and the cost of computing continues to drop, the challenge deepfakes pose to online information environments during armed conflict will only grow.
Reading of the week: DeepFakes and international conflict
Brookings
Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning present both challenges and opportunities for terrorism and counterterrorism efforts. Violent extremists and other hostile actors can increasingly exploit emerging AI technologies to sow disinformation and exacerbate polarization, target humans and their information systems, manipulate data sets, and attack critical infrastructure.
Counterterrorism and Violence Prevention Safeguarding Against the Misuse and Abuse of Artificial Intelligence
Global Center of Cooperative Security
Kenyan elections are often high-stakes affairs, with the politicians concerned eager to protect both their careers and their significant business interests. While social tensions are now at a low ebb, in past elections, claims of electoral malfeasance have triggered violence that killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands.
Kenyas 2022 Election: High Stakes
International Crisis Group