By Manal El Warraky
The Kingdom of Morocco, in partnership with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, will host, from October 22 to 24 in Rabat, the first major global conference dedicated to the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad.
This event, which will be co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Fernando Arias, will bring together more than 140 foreign participants, including representatives of more than 40 States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, as well as international experts in the fields of science, industry, civil society and academics.
The conference will provide a platform for discussion to examine the challenges and opportunities offered by artificial intelligence in the context of chemical disarmament and chemical security.
This conference embodies the Kingdom of Morocco’s commitment to strengthening international peace and security, through the responsible use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in critical areas such as chemical security and non-proliferation.
Over the course of three days, participants will have the opportunity to discuss various topics such as applications of artificial intelligence in chemistry, challenges related to the ethical governance of artificial intelligence, and its role in combating chemical terrorism.
Morocco has proven itself as a key player in the governance of artificial intelligence at the international level. Morocco is the first African and Arab country to implement the UNESCO recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence. The Kingdom also co-sponsored the first United Nations resolutions on artificial intelligence and, in partnership with the United States, launched the “Group of Friends of Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development”, which aims to mobilize efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, where artificial intelligence, alongside chemistry, can play a fundamental role.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, established in 1997 to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention, works towards a world free of chemical weapons. The organization, which has 193 member states, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for its exceptional efforts in the field of disarmament. Today, the OPCW continues to play a pivotal role in preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons and promoting the peaceful use of chemistry.
