The Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights, sitting on Tuesday as part of the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), deliberated on the broader implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on human beings. Members of the committee welcomed the progress achieved in innovation and technology but remained sceptical about how successful humans will be in regulating and monitoring the use of AI.
Experts in the field addressed the committee, emphasising the geopolitical competition at work in technological innovation. Decisions made today will affect the ways in which technology develops and the direction the world is travelling. They encouraged innovators and developers around the world to work collaboratively, cooperatively and inclusively to maximise AI’s effectiveness.
Ms Jane Mananiso, a member of the South African delegation to the IPU, sought guidance on which country’s technology governance frameworks South Africa should use to craft its own regulatory framework. “In South Africa, at least, we do have legislative frameworks, however, we lack a policy that actually guides on the internet of things.”
In reply, it was noted that South Africa should seek to collaborate with those that would work best for innovation on the African continent. For AI to be inclusive, South Africa needs to find those countries with policy regulations in place and which are enforced.
A member from the Pakistani delegation pondered whether, in the future, humans will be in control of AI or AI will control humans. One of the experts replied that human innovations shape our lives and we have to accept this but at the same time we must strive to maintain agency and oversight over innovation through regulation. They noted that humans will always be paramount and through regulation will be able to innovation and technological development.
The IPU Assembly also deliberated on the role of parliaments in tackling the effects of armed conflict on children. This is in line with the broader theme of the 150th IPU Conference – parliamentary action for social development and justice. The conference concludes on Wednesday.
The IPU is a global organisation of national parliaments that facilitates parliamentary diplomacy and empowers parliaments and parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy and sustainable development worldwide. The IPU’s work is concerned with building strong democratic parliaments; advancing gender equality and respect for women’s rights; protecting and promoting human rights; contributing to peace-building, conflict resolution and security; fostering inter-parliamentary dialogue and cooperation, promoting youth empowerment; mobilising parliaments around the global development agenda; and bridging the democracy gap in global governance.
Sibongile Maputi
8 April 2025
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