Digitisation, AI must be included in areas for constitutional reform – Pres Ali

– says clearly defined framework will be developed by next year

As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitisation grows around the world, President Dr Irfaan Ali noted that a clearly defined framework will have to be developed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government within the next 12 months.
The Head of State explained this during a brunch held at State House on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day under the theme ‘Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media’.
The theme is a particularly relevant one, with Guyana undergoing its own digitisation process. President Ali gave as an example the United Kingdom (UK) which he noted has a higher degree of responsibility placed on digital and AI news, which has a faster and wider reach. President Ali noted that reforms reflecting this reality are needed right in Guyana.
“AI and digitisation. We as a country must have, within the next 12 months, a clearly defined framework for AI and digitisation in every sphere of national life. Every sphere of public life. Because it is going to drive national and public life, in ways that we have never seen before,” Ali said.
According to the President, it is important that the general population be responsible consumers of information put out by the media. When it comes to AI and digitisation, he noted that Guyana’s constitution currently does not cater for this. According to him, this means that in the constitutional reform process, AI and digitisation must be among the areas dealt with.
“In Guyana, freedom of expression including the freedom of the press, is enshrined in our constitution. It is the cornerstone of our democracy, society and a fundamental human right, that allows our citizens to speak freely, access information and engage in public discourse without fear of reprisal.”
“This was enshrined in our constitution at a time when digitisation and AI was not there. That is why in the reform process, we will have to pay attention to these new areas,” President Ali further said.
Sovereign AI refers to a nation’s or region’s ability to control, create, and deploy AI models using its own infrastructure, data, and workforce. Recently Dr Toussant Boyce of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), while speaking at a Guyana Press Association (GPA) organised lecture, had highlighted the need for Guyana’s policy makers to leverage AI.
“My recommendation for policymakers is to ensure—or at least be aware—that we can achieve a balanced regulatory environment that ensures transparency and accountability without limiting to our detriment, the use of technologies like AI.”
“And now is the time, I believe, to establish sovereign AI. I think countries like Guyana are very well poised. As I said, we have a treasury of data that’s indigenous to us, which requires not only protection but also very sensitive and careful use by all concerned,” he had said.
Last month, President Ali, while addressing the Spring 2025 Berkeley Innovation Forum in California, had noted the need for developing nations to be financially supported in order to bridge the digital gap that exists globally. With this in mind, President Ali had called for the establishment of an AI Investment Fund to enabling these countries to leapfrog traditional technological barriers.
He had also noted that a collective approach to AI development was needed to ensure that technology is governed by ethical standards that respect human rights, privacy and fairness, mitigating risks of exploitation, bias, and inequality.
Efforts have also been made to digitise more Government services. One such service is immigration, with the PPP/C Government installing several electronic gates (e-Gates) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) back in October, to streamline the processing of incoming and outgoing passengers.