The Artificial Intelligence for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (AI4PEP) initiative proudly celebrates a significant milestone in its mission to promote inclusive, ethical, and interdisciplinary approaches to AI. We are delighted to announce that one of AI4PEP’s core leaders, our Executive Director, Dr Jude Kong, has been appointed to the Scientific Council of the newly launched Responsible Artificial Intelligence multidisciplinary Laboratory at the University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon (RAI-MULTILAB UYII).
Pioneering Ethical AI Across Borders
The University of Yaoundé II’s Responsible AI Lab was created as a multidisciplinary hub to explore the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of artificial intelligence in Africa. Its vision aligns deeply with AI4PEP’s values: ensuring that AI is not only a tool for innovation but a force for equity, inclusion, and resilience, especially in the face of global challenges such as pandemics and public health emergencies.
As a member of the lab’s Scientific Council, AI4PEP’s Executive Director will contribute expertise in participatory policy design, ethical AI governance, and transnational knowledge sharing. This role also reinforces AI4PEP’s broader mandate: building bridges across continents to co-design AI systems that serve people first. Dr Kong expresses this even further as he says; “It is a signal that African and Canadian experts can lead together, not just in times of crisis, but in shaping the future of responsible AI.”
A Collective Vision for Responsible Innovation
At its core, this appointment reflects what AI4PEP stands for: partnerships rooted in mutual respect, co-leadership, and a vision of technology that uplifts rather than divides.
We look forward to working alongside the University of Yaoundé II and the broader RAI-MULTILAB UYII team to drive bold, ethical, and community-based AI solutions. Together, we can build a future where technology reflects the wisdom, resilience, and creativity of the communities it aims to serve.
