Berkeley Innovation Forum: AI Investment Fund needed to support developing nations to bridge digital gap – Pres Ali

Emphasising the need for developing nations be financially supported in order to bridge the digital gap that exists globally, President Dr Irfaan Ali has called for the establishment of an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Investment Fund to enabling these countries to leapfrog traditional technological barriers.
The Head of State made these remarks during his feature address at the Spring 2025 Berkeley Innovation Forum in California, United States (US) on Thursday. During the forum, President Ali was presented with the prestigious Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation 2024 from the University of California, Berkeley, in recognition of his visionary leadership in promoting environmental sustainability and inclusive economic development on a global scale.
The forum was held under the theme: “Making AI Sovereign: Bridging Geopolitical Divides for Open Solutions.”
According to the Guyanese Leader, investing in AI for developing countries is a strategic imperative to create a more balanced and technologically empowered global economy.

“To ensure that developing countries can fully participate in the AI revolution and bridge the technology gap, it is imperative to establish a dedicated AI Investment Fund tailored to their needs. This fund would provide crucial financial support for AI projects, enabling developing nations to leapfrog traditional technological barriers,” he stated.
President Ali pointed out that developing countries are significantly lagging in the digital divide and with the rapid pace of AI development, these nations cannot expect to benefit equitably from the transformative technology unless that digital gap is addressed.
However, he noted that waiting for this gap to close before embracing AI would only result in developing countries falling further behind the developed world. To this end, the Head of State underscored that it is essential for these countries to adopt a dual approach, that is, as they work to digitise their economies, they must simultaneously leapfrog to the latest AI technologies.

“By doing so, they can bypass outdated systems, accelerate their development, and harness the full potential of AI to drive progress in key sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” the President added.
According to Ali, AI allows us to invest today to meet tomorrow’s challenge, but in a way that is futuristic in addressing resilience and sustainability. On this note, he encouraged the promotion of open-source AI tools and models.
“By encouraging the development and widespread use of open-source AI solutions, developing countries can access cutting-edge technologies without the prohibitive costs of proprietary software. This approach allows these nations to adapt AI solutions to their specific needs and contexts, whether in healthcare, agriculture, or education, thereby fostering local innovation and reducing dependence on expensive foreign technologies,” the Guyanese Leader explained.

Reimagine approach
Against this backdrop, the Head of State posited that developing countries must now reimagine their approach towards future development such as outlaying an investment portfolio that not only solves today’s problems but advance tomorrow’s opportunities.

To do this, President Ali said a collective approach to AI development is needed to ensure that technology is governed by ethical standards that respect human rights, privacy and fairness, mitigating risks of exploitation, bias, and inequality.
He noted this is where Berkely and other members of the research and academic community must work to put a lot of emphasis on establishing a robust framework for global governance of AI. The President added that such a guiding idea is crucial for technology to truly bridge global divides.
“In a world fractured by geopolitics, wealth disparities, and technological divides, AI holds the power to stitch together what has long been torn apart. AI technology can become a great equaliser if deployed properly. AI can turn the promise of globalisation into a reality for all, not just a privileged few. The future need not be a tale of the technologically rich and the digitally poor; it must be one in which innovation lifts every nation, every community, every individual. AI is not just a tool; it is an opportunity. Let us seize it, shape it, and share it because a future driven by AI should be one where no one is left behind,” President Ali posited.
The Berkeley Innovation Forum was held at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Centre (ARC) in California’s Silicon Valley. During his visit to the forum on Thursday, President Ali was given a tour of part of the facility by the Director of the NASA’s ARC and his team.
One of the key areas of research shown to the Guyanese Head of State was the Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS), which is used by innovators and contractors to develop drone and aviation technology.
Another key area of research seen was NASA’s advanced supercomputer at the Advanced Supercomputer facility, which researchers use to collaborate on solutions to real world challenges through visualisation of research through one-billion-pixel resolution across 128 Light Emitting Diode (LED) screens.
President Ali was accompanied by First Lady Arya Ali, Minister within the Housing & Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Guyana Embassy in Washington Zulfikar Ally during the visit.