Speaking at the opening of the National Artificial Intelligence Forum 2025, held this Monday in Luanda, Meick Afonso, director-general of the Institute for Administrative Modernization (IMA), considered that generative artificial intelligence does not replace human intelligence, but rather becomes a useful tool for expanding horizons.
The official, quoted in a government statement which VerAngola had access to, explained that "artificial intelligence can allow a young entrepreneur to create a professional visual identity without resorting to expensive agencies, a rural school to produce teaching materials tailored to its context, or a ministry to analyze thousands of pages of legislation in minutes."
On the occasion, the IMA director-general stated that the country is "laying the foundations for a robust and sovereign digital economy, capable of competing with agility and generating inclusive value," emphasizing that "Angola is courageously and methodically building the foundations of an intelligent, data-driven state focused on the dignity of its citizens."
Estêvão Zinga, coordinator and spokesperson for the forum, praised the relevance of artificial intelligence and advocated for "promoting digital literacy so that people are educated about this technology."
"For Brazilian expert Vasco Lima, the event also serves to effectively enable this technology to influence the country and position Angola's economy as a focal point for this technology in Africa," the statement reads.
The experts, the statement adds, are expected to contribute to defining concrete goals for implementing a "national Artificial Intelligence strategy, analyzing solutions for attracting investment and partnerships for new projects, and consolidating the national ecosystem."
This forum, which aimed to position Angola "as a continental reference in the reflection and ethical and strategic application of artificial intelligence," brought together more than 300 participants, including national and international experts in Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology Governance.
"Under the aegis of the Business & Innovation Forum and supported by the Institute for Administrative Modernization (IMA) and the Data Protection Agency (APD), the event also aims to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue between the government, businesses, academia, and civil society, which will contribute to the conscious and responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence," the note reads.
The topics discussed included the digital transition in public administration, the impact of generative artificial intelligence on business, "ethical and regulatory challenges, and the integration of cloud computing and big data technologies."
