Artificial Intelligence : PM Instructs Drafting Of An Action Plan For Media Sector

“The Prime Minister, Head of Government, His Excellency Joseph Dion Ngute, chaired a Cabinet Meeting on Thursday 28 March 2024 at 10 am in the Auditorium of the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting was attended by Ministers of State, Ministers, Ministers Delegate and Secretaries of State.
The following items featured on the agenda: 
1.    Statement of the Minister of Communication on "prospects of leveraging the conclusions of the international conference on artificial intelligence and the media" 
2.    Statement of the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development on "ongoing and planned actions towards the organisation of the 4th general population and housing census" 
3.    Report on "the implementation of support measures and corrective actions adopted following the landslide that occurred at the Mbankolo neighbourhood on 8 October 2023 " by the Minister of Territorial Administration, 
4.    Other matters.
After the introductory remarks by the Head of Government, the Minister of Communication announced that the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the Media was held in Yaounde from 4 to 6 March 2024, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Cameroon. The event was organized on the initiative of the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB), with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), under the theme "The New Frontiers of African Media: Artificial Intelligence".
At the outset, the Minister defined artificial intelligence as the integration of computer algorithms designed to expand human intelligence, implemented in a dynamic computing environment. The objective is to empower a computer system to think and act akin to humans, resulting in a significant enhancement in service quality.
In the media field, artificial intelligence is poised to play a crucial role in the entire process, from content production to delivery for consumption. The techniques employed in generating information for print, broadcast, and social media are all heavily impacted by the innovative technologies associated with Al.
In addition to the advancements facilitated by these mechanisms, the Minister underscored their associated hazards and potential threats, such as malicious exploitation and the challenges of safeguarding privacy. He also highlighted the social implications, noting that certain jobs may eventually be rendered obsolete.
To fully leverage the potential of artificial intelligence, it is imperative that our media undergo internal transformation and actively engage in raising public awareness regarding the profound changes brought about by this new landscape.
In his statement, the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development indicated that the 4th General Population and Housing Census (GPHC) in Cameroon was established by Presidential Decree No. 2015/397 of 15 September 2015. This operation aims to collect socio-demographic and socio-economic data within a short period throughout the national territory, in compliance with international standards that require completeness and simultaneity of data collection. To optimize the results, Cameroon has chosen a digital approach, with the planning, organization, and management entrusted to the Central Bureau of Population Censuses and Studies (BUCREP).
As of now, all preliminary activities for the 4th General Population and Housing Census in Cameroon have been completed. These include drafting technical documents, training supervisory staff, producing census maps, and conducting a pilot census. Digital data collection applications have  been developed, and digital tablets have been acquired. Furthermore, a strategy has been established for working in risk areas.
Regarding the financial aspect. approximately CFAF 42 billion out of a total budget of CFAF 64 billion have already been secured for the 4th General Population and Housing Census. Given resource availability constraints, it was deemed appropriate to merge the enumeration operations of the 4th GPHC with those of the basic module of the General Agriculture and Livestock Census (GAIT). This consolidation would require an additional funding of around CFAF 22 billion for data collection and post-census activities. Efforts have been initiated to secure contributions from technical and financial partners to constitute the remaining funds.
In conclusion, the Minister of Planning outlined the next stages in the process. which include the  selection and training of enumerators, conducting census communication, and counting...