The second annual 5IR Artificial Intelligence (AI) Conference hosted by The University of the West Indies (UWI), Five Islands Campus (FIC) is underway.
The two-day conference themed **_‘Bridging Digital Frontiers: AI For Caribbean Sustainability_** ’ kicked off on Monday, June 23 with the official opening ceremony featuring remarks from The Honourable Daryll Matthew, Minister of Education, Sports & the Creative Arts, Government of Antigua and Barbuda; Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The UWI FIC, Professor C. Justin Robinson; Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Regional Manager, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and lead conference sponsor; and UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research, Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee.
Later in the day, the Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, attended a conference plenary session on “Smart Farming: AI for a Sustainable Agricultural Future”.
The opening remarks highlighted the timeliness of the conference and emphasized the urgent need to focus on artificial intelligence for sustainable development in the Caribbean.
Minister Matthew noted that the conference theme is both ‘timely and urgent’.
“For many, the concept of artificial intelligence evokes fear of job loss, of surveillance, of alien technologies that have no relevance to their daily struggle.
The disconnect is real and it is dangerous. It is therefore incumbent on all of us — governments, universities, industry, and civil society to demystify artificial intelligence. We must translate its language, humanize its possibilities, and localize its applications.”
Professor Robinson boldly dubbed the conference ‘a declaration’ that the Caribbean will not be mere spectators in the 5th Industrial Revolution.
“We will be co-authors of the next chapter in human advancement. Welcome to UWIFIC 5IR. Let the work of Caribbean digital liberation begin!” he said declaring the conference officially open.
Outlining The UWI’s commitment to do its part, Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee underscored “At The UWI, we are determined to ensure that the Caribbean is not left behind in this new AI revolution.
Our commitment is reflected in our research, teaching, learning and internal policies.” She continued “The question before us is not simply _how_ AI can be used—but _how it can be used wisely_ , _ethically_ , _equitably_ , and _strategically_ for Caribbean sustainability.
That is why this conference and theme are so important.” Professor Henry-Lee highly commended conference organisers noting that the gathering presents a “platform” to go beyond showcasing AI-driven innovations, also allowing stakeholders to “interrogate the deeper questions” about AI’s development in the context of cultural diversity, data sovereignty, data protection and sustainable development in small island developing states.
Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, on behalf of lead sponsor, CAF, called for the theme ‘AI for Caribbean Sustainability’ to be more than a ‘catchphrase’ — “it must be a lived experience” that sees us tackle head-on challenges like persistent inequalities in connectivity; high costs of deploying and maintaining digital infrastructure; regulatory fragmentation and the lack of harmonized digital policies, among others.
The day’s full agenda included the presentation of academic papers on AI and Caribbean Digital Transformation, Healthcare Sustainability and Enhanced Quality Higher Education; thematic panel discussions; and keynote addresses from international experts.
Dr. Sangeet Paul Choudary, Senior Fellow, University of California, Berkley and Co-author of Platform Revolution presented on the topic _Platform Revolution: How AI is Reshaping Caribbean Economic Models_ and Mr. Tianze Zhang, Founder of AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFORD) and CEO, ZAAN.com delivered a keynote on _Empowering the South 2030: AI for Inclusive Digital Sovereignty in the Caribbean._
Conference highlights are available via official Five Islands Campus and conference social media platforms — [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/UWIFICAIConference/); [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/uwiaiconference/); [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/uwificaiconference/).
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