By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Secretary General of the
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has highlighted the
importance of digital infrastructure, strong institutions, skilled workforces
and effective regulatory frameworks in enabling Small Island Developing States
(SIDS) and emerging economies to adopt and benefit from artificial intelligence
(AI).
She made the remarks while
participating as a panellist at the Agentic AI Summit during MWC26 Doha,
organised by the GSMA, where experts discussed the challenges and opportunities
associated with AI adoption in smaller and emerging economies.
The CTO Secretary General
emphasised three essential foundations for effective AI adoption, beginning
with digital infrastructure, particularly the need for reliable and accessible
connectivity.
She also highlighted the
importance of strong institutions and a skilled workforce to build the capacity
required to adopt and leverage AI, alongside regulatory and governance
frameworks to ensure responsible and effective deployment of the technology.
According to the CTO, these
foundations are critical as AI continues to reshape the digital landscape,
particularly in ensuring that smaller and emerging economies can participate
in, benefit from and contribute to the AI revolution.
Her remarks underscore the
need for countries to strengthen their digital capabilities and institutional
readiness to ensure that the opportunities presented by AI are accessible
beyond the world's most technologically advanced economies.
