NAIROBI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has rallied other African countries to embrace the power of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to drive the continent's development agenda, an official said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Connected Africa Summit, a continent-wide information and communications technology (ICT) forum held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, John Tanui, Kenya's principal secretary in the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, said digital technologies, particularly AI, will promote social inclusion across the continent.

"We are deeply committed as Kenyans to harnessing the transformative power of AI technology to drive the development agenda forward," Tanui said, adding that this is in line with the ambitious aspirations set forth in the African Union's 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063. The blueprint captures Africa's vision for a prosperous, integrated, and peaceful continent driven by its citizens.

Tanui noted that as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, spreads across the globe, AI has emerged as a driver of innovation, increasing efficiency across industries and unlocking new potential for inclusive prosperity.

According to him, the future of AI holds immense promise for Africa, from revolutionizing healthcare and education to improving agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.

However, he acknowledged that cybercrime remains a challenge as countries embrace digital technologies. "As we witness the exponential growth of digital connectivity, we must also address the corresponding increase in cyber risks. Investing in cybersecurity is a strategic imperative to protect our critical assets and maintain the trust of our citizens and partners." Enditem

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