Commonwealth Secretariat and Intel launch StrategusAI — an AI-powered policy toolkit for Commonwealth policy makers

The tool will be piloted in Fiji and Brunei Darussalam and then rolled out to all 56 Commonwealth countries.

HE Paula Ingabire, ICT and Innovation Minister of Rwanda, who attended the meeting remotely, said:

“Artificial intelligence is now recognized as a critical technology that will have a significant impact on societies. For this, all countries need to start equipping themselves with the right strategies to enable them to harness the potential of AI while addressing the potential risks. “

The Commonwealth Secretary General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, said in her speech:

“Our aim in this whirlwind, in this time of change, is to help Commonwealth member states implement the strategies and programs that can enable AI to help people in the workplace – not replace them – and we release to unleash the qualities that AI has. no substitute for the likes of human creativity, emotional intelligence, and complex problem solving.

“AI can help rural communities in small states, which have traditionally been prevented from accessing high-quality medical expertise or personalized education, and enjoy truly personalized personalized services in a way we’ve never seen before now. And this is transformative.”

Empowering public sector leaders

The cost of developing a government policy or strategy can range from $250,000 to $1.5 million in consulting fees, and development can take anywhere from six months to a year, not including implementation phases. This investment will be more profitable and efficient with StrategisAI.

Intel is already working with the Secretariat on a joint digital learning program to demystify AI among senior Commonwealth officials and raise awareness of its potential applications across sectors. The StrategisAI toolkit is an additional step in empowering public sector leaders.

Sarah Kemp, vice president of international government affairs at Intel, said:

“We know that the great potential of artificial intelligence lies in its ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data far beyond human capacity. StrategusAI leverages this capability to synthesize and evaluate extensive data from shortlisted documents.

The algorithm has been trained so that users can evaluate high-quality perspectives and existing frameworks and add country-specific documents to generate their own personalized result.”

Other speakers were HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom; HE Jovilisi Suveinakama, High Commissioner of Fiji to the United Kingdom; and Dr. Norfarizal Othman, Director General, Department of Public Service, Office of the Prime Minister, Brunei Darussalam; and Intel’s Shweta Khurana, APJ Director – Partnerships and Government Initiatives.

From the Secretariat, the Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Arjoon Suddhoo; deputy general secretary, Prof. Luis Franceschi; and Senior Director of Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources, Suresh Yadav – whose team developed the toolkit – provided their perspectives on the relevance and importance of the toolkit for the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Artificial Intelligence Consortium

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has made a strong case for increased use of the technology in all member states. To advance this goal, the Commonwealth Artificial Intelligence Consortium (CAIC) was established in 2023 and includes representatives from global technology firms, world-leading research institutions and non-profit organizations. Ten Commonwealth member countries, including Rwanda, are part of the CAIC and will promote AI innovation in their own nations and across the Union.

The toolkit also benefited from guidance from Oxford Insights, the Sustainable Living Lab and policy makers from several other Commonwealth countries who contributed to the design and development of the tool.

Watch the launch recording
Follow the closing statements of the Deputy Secretary General, Prof. Luis Franceschi

Media contact

• Kitshoff called Senior Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat

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