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The Ugandan government has launched a taskforce on artificial intelligence (AI) technology, rapidly developing worldwide and transforming many aspects of modern life.
The team will develop a comprehensive concept note addressing various aspects of this technology to inform relevant interventions, according to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
UCC said on X, formerly Twitter, that the task force, launched Friday, July 26, will be chaired by Michael Bamwesigye, an IT professional.
The team is made up of experts from within the government regulatory body of the communications sector and academia.
UCC said the task force, which was launched by its board chairperson Dr Dorothy Okello, is dominated by young people.
“This task force is charged with developing a concept upon which further engagement with other relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, will be established,” UCC said.
The AI team includes UCC’s head of multimedia, Meddy Kaggwa, Prof. Jude Lubega, Dr Drake Mirembe, Dr Joyce Nakatamba Nabende, Dr Hillary Kasedde, Dr Seith Mugume, Dr Abudu-Sallam Waiswa, Ronald Bakakimpa, Geoffrey Sengendo, Eng. Rebecca Mayanja, Joseph Kizito, Arnold Mujuni and Rebecca Mukite.
Dr Okello, who is also the Dean of the School of Engineering at Makerere University, said they recognise the significance of AI in transforming the communications industry.
“We must seize this opportunity to move forward and leverage the potential of AI to drive innovation and growth,” she said.
Nyombi Thembo, the executive director of UCC, said that AI is a tool of transformation once harnessed adequately and the regulator must remain on top of it to advise the government appropriately.
According to the BBC, AI allows computers to learn and solve problems almost like a human.
It says AI systems are trained on huge amounts of information and learn to identify the patterns in it, to carry out tasks such as having human-like conversations or predicting a product an online shopper might buy.
“The technology is behind the voice-controlled virtual assistants Siri and Alexa and helps Facebook and X decide which social media posts to show users,” BBC says.
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