Artificial intelligence (AI) opens a new path for Mozambique's cultural and creative economy, said Lourino Chemane, chairman of the board of directors at the National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (INTIC).
The country is assessing the role of the technology, with officials noting that the integration presents a key opportunity to promote sustainable development by encouraging innovation, expanding access to culture, translating content, and preserving cultural heritage.
Chemane said ethical, transparent, and responsible use of AI is essential to safeguard the rights of creators, cultural identity, and the economic value of creative production.
The sentiment follows a national dialogue titled "Culture: Identity, Rights and Economy," held at the Mozambique-China Cultural Centre in Maputo.
Despite the opportunities, Chemane warned that increased usage of AI poses challenges related to copyright, intellectual property, cultural data, and algorithmic transparency.
The dialogue aimed to promote an open reflection on the role of culture in the country's development, with a focus on preserving cultural identity, guaranteeing cultural rights, and valuing culture as an economic sector.
INTIC said the approach aligns with the framework of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which establishes guidelines for the ethical development and adoption of AI in the Southern African country.
With coordinated actions, appropriate technological solutions, and inclusion, it is possible to transform culture into a driving force for innovation, according to Chemane.
He added that collaboration between government, creators, academia, the private sector, and communities will be decisive in building collective responses to challenges and exploiting opportunities offered by AI.
Placing Mozambican identity at the centre of AI development will help build an inclusive digital future, while protecting creators' rights and laying solid foundations for future generations, INTIC said.
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