DECLARATION OF THE YAOUNDÉ SUMMIT ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE MEDIA IN AFRICA, Presented by Prof Gervais Mbarga, (President of the Summit SC.Co)

 INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT

AFRICAN UNION OF BROADCASTING / UNESCO

THE NEW FRONTIERS OF AFRICAN MEDIA: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Yaoundé, 06 March 2024

We, Member Organizations of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB);

We, Media Professionals,

We, national and international Partners of the AUB Member Organizations.

Aware of the tremendous present and future impact of intelligence

artificial on society on a universal scale as much for its benefits, its assets, its arguments as for the questions and reflection that accompany it,

Aware of the power, of the transformation possible in all areas, but especially in the field of mass media, both traditional and socio-digital,

Aware that the challenge of artificial intelligence has particular accents for Africa in full change and its growing media,

Warned of the powerful expected effects of this new situation on the media in terms of opportunities for content, but also in terms of risks and concerns.

After assessing the current state of media preparedness on the continent and establishing the basis for advocacy in favor of coherent regional policies,

Knowing that, under the leadership of the AU, some countries on the continent are striving to design AI strategies, but that many challenges persist, notably taking into account the specificities of the media.

Concerned with imagining the transformation of the media context, the sustainability of ethics and the quality of content, the credibility of productions, particularly information.

Attentive to the transformation of skills and the preservation of intellectual property.

Attentive to the development of democracy in Africa, to the preservation and promotion of African values and the profound testimonies of our cultural and ancestral land.

Aware that Africa should not fall behind in the artificial intelligence train, rather than its genius predisposing it to be at the forefront of this revolution of thought.

Recognizing that AI can be an engine of growth, development and democratization, advancement of thought, re-foundation of knowledge, renewal of professional practices.

Having at heart the risks of marginalization of the contributions of the countries of the South and concerned about digital inclusion, the reduction of the technological divide and ensuring that emerging technologies do not widen social disparities.

DECLARE THAT:

1)Our desire to fully participate in the development of responsible artificial intelligence in African media, and the need for our countries to provide appropriate resources are unequivocal.

2)Artificial intelligence constitutes a decisive lever for the transformation of African media.

3) This transformation must take place taking into account the realities of the continent, in particular its values, its history and its ambitions in order to serve as a sounding board, a tool for the dissemination of African culture and languages.

4) Its integration into our media involves in-depth and bold reflection on ethics, skills, creativity and transparency.

5) An African strategy and a monitoring center for artificial intelligence in the media are necessary to enable the continent to monitor the environment, capture opportunities, identify risks, document fracture points, and contribute to reflection.

6) AI must be a tool for the integral development of the human being and as such, the African media are calling for full participation of their human resources, taking into account the data of their regions and the concerns of their public in terms of moral qualities.

7)Artificial intelligence should unleash innovation and serve as an effect multiplier for the creative industries in Africa so that the continent's young people are, equally, eligible to submit the fruit of their know-how in the development and modeling of this new technical-civilizational wave.

8)artificial intelligence is a common heritage and humanity must implement transparent and democratic AI, i.e. explainable, rectifiable, inclusive, equitable, secure, responsible and sustainable.

9) That there is therefore a need for both national and global regulation to establish standards, preserve identities and ensure the triumph of a certain human ethic.

10) That international collaboration is necessary and that investments for the development of this technology must be accompanied by substantial means to take its effects into account.

11) There is an imperative to bring African media closer to scientific research and to embrace the principle of open science to guarantee the ethical application of this technology. This approach will make it possible to strengthen the quality of information disseminated by the media, thus contributing to the social and economic progress of the continent.

Done in Yaoundé on March 6, 2024

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