Page 91 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

ITU Statement on the Closing of the 2023 AI for Good Global Summit

For two days, governments, policy-makers,
industry leaders, academics, scientists,
technology innovators, civil society and
the UN community met at ITU's AI for Good
Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland. As
the convenor of the event, ITU is pleased
to have been able to bring these parties
together to find practical applications
of artificial intelligence to advance the
UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Recognizing the urgency brought on by
the emergence of generative AI and the
challenges posed by AI, participants also
discussed the need for guardrails and
global AI governance frameworks. A variety
of ideas related to the future of AI were and long terms. Leveraging its expertise, our digital transformation offerings, and we
presented at the AI for Good Global Summit. the UN group on AI led by ITU and UNESCO will undertake sector-focused AI readiness
These include setting up a registry of new is geared up to help move forward efforts work in critical areas such as health, smart
or anticipated AI applications, a global on these. ITU is committed to AI standards mobility and smart cities, and advance
observatory on AI and new institutional development and capacity building, universal health. From here on, our work on
bodies, as well as proposals to empower supporting responsible AI development AI at ITU, the UN system and society as a
existing organizations that may already and deployment, and driving strong whole should only grow in intensity. While
have the expertise and structures to tackle collaboration with all stakeholders. We need ITU focuses on ensuring that the 2.7 billion
challenges brought on by AI. It is important to show the world what an inclusive, safe people that are offline around the world get
to analyses what's feasible, what's already and responsible AI can do for humanity. connected to digital technologies, we are
available and what can be done so that a Together with our UN partners, ITU will also committed to ensuring that AI serves
roadmap is created for the short, medium work to integrate AI capacity support into everyone, everywhere for the greater good.

Bahrain’s TRA Signs MoU to Strengthen Cooperation with the US Federal

Communications Commission

The Telecommunications Regulatory telecommunications. The TRA held bilateral Commission (FCC) to formalize bilateral
Authority (TRA) represented the Kingdom meetings with a number of international relations between the two organizations.
of Bahrain at the ITU Global Symposium for telecommunications regulators and ITU The agreement was signed by and FCC’s
Regulators (GSR-23). Participating in the officials. On the side-lines of the 2023 Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and the
Head of Regulators roundtable discussion ITU GSR-23, during the Bahrain’s signed a TRA’s General Director Philip Marnick. The
the TRA’s General Director, Philip Marnick Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoU will increase coordination between
showcased Bahrain’s leading position in the United States Federal Communications the TRA and FCC, enabling discussions and
the exchange of best practices on issues
such as fifth generation technologies
(5G), spectrum licensing, broadband
deployment, accessible and inclusive
communications, robocalls, and secure
networks. General Director of TRA, Philip
Marnick stated: “In our ever increasingly
interconnected world it is important for
regulators to collaborate, to share ideas
and best practice and work together to
enhance protection for consumers. The
collaboration will also support our efforts
to further enhance services in Bahrain.

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