At the Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit, Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Presidential Advisor on Digital Transformation, cautioned governments against hastily implementing artificial intelligence (AI) regulations. Thigo emphasized that premature legislation could hinder innovation, particularly in developing economies like Kenya. Drawing from Kenya’s experience, he argued that policy should follow innovation rather than precede it. “You have to let people thrive — you don’t get anywhere without trying,” Thigo stated. He highlighted Kenya’s ability to leverage existing infrastructure and build scalable solutions, even without formal university education among many developers. Thigo also underscored Kenya’s commitment to sustainable AI infrastructure, with 92% of its data centers powered by clean energy. This approach, he believes, positions Africa to leapfrog traditional development models by combining renewable energy, community-driven data, and open innovation. Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), echoed this optimism, noting that 70% of people in developing nations believe AI will improve their lives. Natasha Crampton, Microsoft’s Chief Responsible AI Officer, stressed the importance of embedding responsibility into AI design and engineering, ensuring innovation is not paused but guided by ethical principles.
UAE: Premature AI laws could stifle innovation, warns Kenyan Presidential envoy
