Kagame Calls for Inclusive Voices in AI Development as Global Commission Reviews Progress
Kigali — Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Wednesday urged world leaders and technology experts to ensure artificial intelligence delivers broadly shared benefits by giving all countries and communities a meaningful say in shaping its future.
Speaking during a virtual meeting of the AI for Good Global Commission, which he co-chairs, Kagame stressed that the technology’s advantages will expand only through inclusive participation and practical action. “The benefits of A.I. will compound, if we all have a voice in shaping the future of this new technology. As a Commission, our job is to keep asking the hard questions, and commit our time, expertise and resources to find practical solutions,” he said.
The session brought together co-chair Marc Benioff, chair, CEO and co-founder of Salesforce, vice-chair Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, and other commissioners. Participants reviewed progress since the commission’s launch and discussed next steps to expand AI’s contributions to economic growth and social well-being worldwide.
The AI for Good Global Commission was established in July 2026 under the ITU to bring together more than 40 founding members from governments, industry, international organizations and civil society. Its goal is to identify practical pathways that strengthen trust in AI systems, expand access to the technology, and accelerate its use in addressing real-world challenges such as health, education, food security and disaster response.
Kagame and Benioff serve as co-chairs, with Bogdan-Martin as vice-chair. The body builds on earlier efforts focused on digital connectivity and inclusion. Its membership includes heads of state, senior government officials, and leading technology executives, giving developing countries, including a notable African contingent, a platform in global discussions.
Rwanda has positioned itself as an active participant in AI policy and application. The country has established a National AI Office, hosted continental discussions on the technology, and deployed tools such as a Health Intelligence Centre that uses AI to analyze real-time data and help predict disease outbreaks. Kagame has repeatedly emphasized the need for Africa to move beyond consuming technology and instead build and deploy solutions at scale, while investing in infrastructure, skills and accountable governance.
The virtual meeting comes as governments and companies worldwide grapple with rapid advances in AI. Commissioners highlighted the importance of public-private cooperation to ensure the technology reduces rather than widens inequalities, particularly for the more than two billion people still offline and unable to access its benefits.
Participants agreed to continue focusing on concrete actions that turn high-level discussions into measurable progress on access, trust and impact. The commission plans further work to support responsible innovation while enhancing human capabilities across regions.
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