Former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur G.O. Mutambara has urged governments, lawmakers and regulators to urgently develop legal and governance frameworks to keep pace with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the technology will reshape every sector of society.
Speaking at the AI and the Law Conference in Kruger National Park, South Africa, Prof. Mutambara said AI is already transforming economies by boosting productivity, improving efficiency, driving innovation and significantly reducing costs.
He said the technology is enhancing human capabilities, accelerating scientific research and helping solve complex problems that have long remained beyond human reach.
However, Prof. Mutambara warned that AI is a “friend and a foe.” While it can help countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he said the expansion of AI data centres and the manufacturing of advanced computer chips will increase pressure on energy, land and water resources.
“As AI capabilities are growing at an exponential rate, in each country there is a need to establish a dynamic, balanced Law Commission tasked with proactively anticipating new regulations, laws, guardrails and governance frameworks,” Prof. Mutambara said.
He said such frameworks should not only govern AI but also prepare countries for other emerging technologies, including quantum computing, synthetic biology, blockchain technology, neurocomputing and biological computing.
Looking further ahead, Prof. Mutambara warned that the eventual development of artificial superintelligence and self-improving AI systems could present unprecedented legal, ethical and governance challenges.
He urged the legal community and policymakers to begin addressing those challenges now, saying waiting until the technology fully matures would be too late.
The Day Star