Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only here to stay, but it will be among the main transformational engines of change and development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Indeed, AI will be a major deconstructor of the aging canonical development model and a crafter of a new world. In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere [AI] will become the ruler of the world.”

The international AI race is on, led by the USA and China and followed by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The rest of the countries are following behind each according to its AI readiness, capabilities, and political engagement. As the premonition of the Russian President states, the winner of the AI race will rule the world, but the close followers will most probably have their say, but the lagger will be relegated at best to a consumer role.

In this competitive and uncertain context, Tunisia is joining the AI race to secure a respectable place and a proactive role commensurate with its capabilities, ambitions, and vision of AI as knowledge-intensive sector and a lever of sustainable and equitable development without forgetting about the ethical and challenges posed by this emerging technology.

To conceive its National AI Strategy, the Secretary of State for Research created a Task Force to oversee the project and a Steering Committee to devise a methodology and an action plan to produce the strategy.

To launch this national process, the UNESCO Chair on Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, in partnership with the National Agency for Scientific Research Promotion-ANPR, will organize a workshop titled “National AI Strategy: Unlocking Tunisia’s capabilities potential.” The main objective of the gathering is to share and discuss the Steering Committee proposed framework, methodology, and action plan for the design of the strategy. The Event will be on April 20th, 2018 at 3:00 pm, in Mokhtar Latiri Amphitheater, ENIT.

Program:

15:00 Opening address by the Secretary of State for Research

15:30 Plenary talk by Prof. Fakhri Karray, University of Waterloo, Canada

16:15 Framework, Methodology, and Action Plan, Pr. Jelel Ezzine

16:45 Open discussion and debate.