Morocco has firmly embraced the era of artificial intelligence, hosting its inaugural National AI Conference in Rabat.
Over two days, more than 2,000 participants, including national and international experts, gathered at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) with a clear ambition: to leverage AI for ethical, sovereign, and sustainable national development. This event underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to becoming a leading regional player in the AI landscape.
Organized by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, the conference at UM6P – a highly symbolic venue for Morocco’s technological advancement – featured plenary sessions, thematic panels, sector-specific workshops, and demonstrations of innovative projects, all showcasing a burgeoning AI ecosystem. In a video address, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch welcomed “a collective desire to make artificial intelligence a lever for sustainable human development,” urging the creation of a national strategy rooted in ethics, technological sovereignty, and social impact.
Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition, stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive and proactive vision. “Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future. It is already profoundly transforming our present,” she stated. “It must become a pillar for modernizing public services and strengthening the bond between the state and citizens.”
Moroccan authorities acknowledge the inherent risks associated with the rise of AI, including algorithmic bias, opaque systems, skills deficits within public administration, and complex governance mechanisms. To address these concerns, a draft legislative framework is currently in preparation, aiming to ensure ethical and transparent regulation. This framework will encompass principles such as the right to explanation, traceability of algorithmic decisions, and the primacy of human conscience.
UM6P President Hicham Habti advocated for inclusive AI governance, asserting that countries in the Global South should not merely consume technologies imposed by major industrial powers. Instead, he argued, they must become active contributors in defining global standards. “We want to enrich existing standards, with scientific rigor, interdisciplinarity, and fair partnership,” he emphasized.
As the geopolitics of technology continue to reshape global power dynamics, Morocco is positioning AI as a tool for sustainable development, firmly anchored in its national priorities while remaining open to global collaboration. The recent conference sends a strong signal: artificial intelligence is now a fundamental component of Moroccan public policy.
MK/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA