Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda
By Dickson Bandera
Speaker of Parliament Hon Advocate Jacob Mudenda is in Montevideo, Uruguay, for the 2nd World Summit of the Committees of the Future 2023.
The summit draws about 160 delegates representing the five Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Geo-political groups, namely, Africa, Arab, Eurasia, Grulac, Asia Pacific and Twelve plus 2.
The theme for this year’s Summit is “Bringing the Future to the present: The Democracy of the Future Artificial Intelligence and Parliaments.”
Advocate Mudenda’s attendance at this conference is valuable given the need for Zimbabwe to move with the global technology pace as the nation pursues it’s national vision to be an Upper Middle Income Economy by the year 2030.
On his way to Uruguay, Advocate Mudenda passed through Sao Paulo, Brazil where he met Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the South American bloc, His Excellency Ambassador Meshack Kitchen.
Ambassador Kitchen represents Zimbabwe to the South American bloc which is composed of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Ambassador Kitchen briefed the Speaker on various aspects of the host nation including its preparedness to host the current Summit.
The Summit is set to continue on the trajectory started in Finland in 2022 on the occasion of the First World Summit of the Committees of the Future held in Helsinki.
Participating parliamentarians recognized the fundamental importance of incorporating the Future paradigm in present day use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Accordingly, they reached consensus on the need for sustained inter-parliamentary dialogue in order to address emerging global common AI positive impacts and attendant challenges.
The theme offers an opportunity to reflect on experiences and exchange views on the challenges and opportunities in embracing AI to democracy equity, decision-making and responsible parliamentary digital processes.
The Summit is expected to come up with recommendations on how best to harness AI for the positive good of humankind.
As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in parliamentary processes becomes increasingly prevalent, it is necessary to establish ethical and operational guidelines that ensure accountability, transparency and human autonomy, while promoting sustainable development goals and protecting privacy, security and diversity.
While AI has made significant advancements in recent years, it has raised questions about its potential to replace human being parliamentarians.
AI can analyze complex legislative issues, identify patterns and make predictions based on historical data. This speed allows for faster decision-making in expediting parliamentary processes.
However, human being parliamentarians bring experience, knowledge and the ability to consider ethical and moral aspects that AI may struggle with. They also provide a diverse range of perspectives and values, fostering debate and ensuring multiple viewpoints are considered.
Regarding these Parliamentary processes, the complex relationship between AI and human autonomy needs to be taken into account. Human autonomy is already threatened by existing technologies. The use of AI tools could enhance or decrease human autonomy, depending on how they are designed and which domains they are built to cover.
There is human element is an essential aspect of democracy. Human being parliamentarians possess empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to connect with constituencies on a personal level. These qualities enable them to understand the needs and concerns of the people they represent, making them more relatable and responsive.
AI, while efficient, lacks the ability to empathize or understand complex human emotions, limiting its capacity to fully represent the interests of diverse population. It is thus imperative to promote human autonomy and decision-making, including ensuring that parliamentary AI is used to supplement human capabilities rather than replace them.
However, artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize parliamentary processes by improving efficiency and objectivity. Striking a balance between AI and human parliamentarians is essential to preserve accountability, democratic values and achieve effective and inclusive governance.
Speaker Mudenda is expected to make interventions during the two day Summit, ensconcing the extent to which Parliament of Zimbabwe is embracing the trailblazing age of AI, as well as proffering solutions for anticipated challenges.
