The Third International Symposium “Patria” which was held from March 18 to 20, 2024 in Havana, the Cuban capital, presented a whole new dimension in the media landscape in the spirit of the South-South Cooperation.
The event, which was hosted at the PABEXPO fairs and exhibitions pavilion was organized in the context of Cuba’s Media Day celebrations and sponsored by the Union of Journalists of Cuba.
It provided a veritable ground for communicators, journalists, digital creators, designers and artists to gather in Havana for the three-day discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the legal, economic, narrative and activism challenges in the networks of the Global South.
The event promoted discussion about the current status and future possibilities of a New World Information and Communication Order promoted by UNESCO’s McBride Report in 1980.
It also focused more on the latest innovations in the digital world and enhanced the coordination and co-productions that involved communicators and experts from the different disciplines that are currently having an impact on social communication.
During the event, President of the Republic of Cuba, His Excellency, Miguel Diaz-Canel, urged the nations that gathered that “it has become extremely important for the developing countries to mobilize resources to invest in the digital media especially Artificial Intelligence in order to counter the vicious use of the technology by imperialists to control the narrative in the media space.”
The Cuban leader absolutely captured the essence because the media is deeply involved in the historical forces that shape the circumstances of modern life and the political realities of the current times.
The custodian of the legacies of the Cuban Revolution, entrenched by the irrepressible Fidel Castro, acknowledged the fact that AI has already made significant progress into the lives of people from voice assistants that respond to commands to recommendation algorithms that suggest what people should watch, read, or buy. He noted that AI is driving innovation in healthcare, finance, transportation, and countless other fields.
However, Diaz- Canel warned about the inordinate use of this technology to manipulate and violate ethical standards, stressing that while AI is a great innovation, the developing countries must also grapple with ethical issues to ensure that AI systems are fair and unbiased.
He pointed out that responsible AI means using it in an ethical way throughout its development, deployment and usage in the way that it can be trusted.
The ability to affirm the third world countries in the cut -throat competition of diverse levels depends on its capacity to communicate their ideals and preserve their values in the most profound way within the political landscape of the world using the media in all ramifications.
Nigeria was invited for the first time to participate in the symposium and its presence was immense because of its share size and its unrivalled vibrancy in the digital media in Africa. According to Global Digital Insights, Nigeria is home to 36.7 million social media users as of January 2024, which represents about 16.2% of the total population estimated to be about 220 million.
Participants at the event were unanimous on the need for AI developers to be transparent about the data, algorithms, and models used in AI systems irrespective of people’s background in order prevent biased decisions or discrimination and also to promote inclusivity and equality.
Participants and experts also used the opportunity to express solidarity to the Cuban people over the immoral blockade imposed on the small Island country of 11. 2 million people for decades by the United States of America and other forms of conspiracies to undermine the Cuban Revolution. This blockade has brought enormous hardship to the Cuban people but it has failed to break their spirit and commitments to the ideals of the Cuban Revolution.
Recently, President Diaz-Canel stated that US-based terrorist groups are encouraging actions against his country’s internal order, taking advantage of the harsh situation the island is undergoing.
On X social media the Head of State also informed that some people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the deficit in the national power service and the distribution of food and stated that the country is doing its best to meet the basic needs of its people.
He said “ Enemies of the Cuban revolution are trying to use such context with destabilizing purposes,” Diaz-Canel stressed.
In this regard, the president said that “the willingness of the authorities of the Communist Party of Cuba, the State and the Government is to attend to the demands of our people, listen, talk, and explain the numerous steps being taken to come out of the current hardships, always in an atmosphere of tranquility”.
The President reaffirmed that “in the midst of the conditions of a U.S. blockade that intends to suffocate us, we will continue working in peace to get out of this situation”.
Also in that order, the UN Human Rights Council experts described the blockade against Cuba as a violation of international law and the human rights of the Cuban people including the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs, the principle of sovereign equality of States and the obligation to settle disputes by peaceful means.
It is therefore incumbent on the developing countries to invest massively in digital technology especially the digital media. This will help protect their interest in the new world that uses AI as a new technique of global politics within the context of communication.
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