Govt to develop policy to regulate AI amid its use in 2023 WASSCE

A comprehensive policy document is underway to regulate the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) in the country, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekufful disclosed at this year’s New Year School event

Speaking at the 75th edition of the event, she said a draft of the new technology is currently ready and waiting to be tabled before the cabinet for consideration and suggestions.

When completed and approved, the Digitalisation and Communications Minister indicated that the policy is expected to ensure better conditions for the development and use of this innovative technology for the benefit of the citizens.

Citing improved healthcare, safe and clean transport, efficient manufacturing, and cheaper and more sustainable energy as benefits of the AI technology she said the draft policy was developed with a lot of consultation from stakeholders.

“I can happily announce that we have worked on a draft AI policy and ethical guidelines for the country and it is now going to Cabinet for consideration.

“It was developed with a lot of stakeholder consultations and we can clearly state that the inputs of all stakeholders were considered before the document was put together and so, we are optimistic that many of the concerns have been addressed in the draft,” She stated.

The government’s decision to regulate Artificial Intelligence follows a revelation by the West African Examinations Council that some candidates who sat for the 2023 WASSCE resorted to AI to answer questions of the examination.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News Show monitored by Thisterm.com, a spokesman for WAEC, John Kapi said they realized that answers given by some candidates were not humane and thus suspected the use of Artificial Intelligence.

“One candidate typed in the question, and the response was that ‘I’m not familiar with the term you have used,’ and the candidate wrote the same response in the answer booklet.

Another candidate wrote, ‘I cannot detect the term you have used.’ This is a clear indication of the use of Artificial Intelligence.” the official of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) told the host of Citi FM’s Eyewitness News.

Regarding the investigation into the use of mobile phones, Artificial Intelligence, or intercepted questions, he said they are investigating the issue. He added that those suspected of using AI are expected to be invited for a fair hearing

“We’ve monitored all the rogue websites that were publishing the questions we had put out there. Our investigations and some reports that were received from national security indicated that all the questions that were found online were put out there after the commencement of the examination.

The suspicion is that these questions were out there after the supervisors or invigilators or even candidates had taken snapshots and put them out there seeking assistance,” the Public Relations Officer told the Accra-based radio station.