The integration of artificial intelligence has shifted from experimentation to operational deployment worldwide.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hosted a Readiness Assessment Methodology Validation Workshop at the UWI St Augustine on Friday.
In his address, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Dominic Smith, outlined this country’s path toward AI integration.
“The transformation that we are about to undertake is not only conceptual, it’s operational. For Trinidad and Tobago, AI adoption is not a question of if, but it is a question of how. How do we leverage tools responsibly, inclusively, and, of course, sustainably? How do we ensure that people remain at the centre of technological progress? It is precisely for this reason that the government has adopted a deliberate, evidence-based and inclusive approach.”
Regional Director and representative from UNESCO’s Caribbean office, Eric Falt, stressed that ethical AI is integral to the process of implementation.
“UNESCO then developed the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology, we use one more acronym, the RAM you’ve already heard mentioned. The RAM now has been implemented in over 70 countries, and it offers an individual framework to assess preparedness for responsibly integrating and deploying AI. It really goes beyond an assessment, I think you were alluding to it earlier. It serves as a guide for strategic planning and informed policymaking.”
Minister Smith also addressed the issue of ethical standards surrounding AI, noting that this is being considered.
“Ethical adoption of AI is high on the agenda. Even when I was in India, a big component of that was how do we enact and integrate AI responsibly. So the ethical component is really, really important. Importantly as well, it’s important that we inculcate what our cultural values and our nuances of the Caribbean and, of course, Trinidad and Tobago. So that is also part of the considerations. More to come, certainly on the legislative side. We are guided by the Attorney General.”
Minister Smith noted that the government intends to bring a number of laws to properly address these issues.