I sit to write this after rewatching Ex-Machina, a decade-old film about artificial intelligence. Ex machina literally translates to “out of the machine” in Latin. It refers to a plot device in storytelling where a seemingly unsolvable problem is resolved by a sudden, unexpected intervention, typically by a powerful figure or unexpected event. An intervention that largely feels artificial or forced, like a deus (god) being lowered onto the stage by a machine in ancient Greek theater.Like practically any other artificial intelligence sci-fi movie, the AI ultimately wins. But that does not seem to be the conclusion of my interview with Philip Thigo. While optimistic about AI, he also categorically thinks it is, in fact, much misunderstood.Navigating the complex intersection of technology, policy, and international relations, Thigo’s insights reveal a vision where innovation packs a double whammy. It drives economic growth and pushes society’s progress all while making sure no one is left behind. His candid reflections underscore the crux of collaboration and inclusivity in the era of AI.What is this designation or job that has never existed before in Kenya entail until it was created just for you. What does it actually mean, being a Special Envoy for Technology?(Laughs). It’s not the ‘Special’ piece in so much as it is about the ‘Envoy’ piece. A lot of countries started thinking, as far back as 2017, about how they could engage tech companies because they started becoming bigger than countries. Some have GDPs that are greater than certain countries combined. It is the genesis of tech diplomacy. Once you introduce that, you need somebody to manage it, which is where I come in. Other jurisdictions have called it something else. Denmark has the Tech Ambassador; the US has an Ambassador-at-Large. For Kenya, we wanted to do it differently. We have to have two kinds of diplomacy. One is how we integrate technology and engage tech companies and entrepreneurs, while at the same time, engage externally with technology that is driven by countries. This is when a Special Envoy starts to make sense.(Laughs). Ours is a first, and I’m hoping other African countries will follow suit.It figures then that the next thing anyone would like to know is basic, and it is this – what is your typical day like?I’ve hardly started. But how I would imagine is that it is very much around the ecosystem wanting to be understood. I’ve been having a lot of conversations. I’m talking to data centres trying to understand them; talking to specific companies like Oracle and Microsoft – G42 and how they’re looking at the region and why they want to be here to what we can do better to local innovators. It’s about engaging them and documenting my thoughts as I listen and figure out how to include relevant parties on the margins. I’m making sure no one is left out and that they’re understanding the direction the country is taking. No one is left out of the conversation.How do you think your experience in global digital leadership will lead Kenya’s digital transformation agenda especially when it comes to promoting transparency and accountability?Those are values that you cannot disconnect from technology we are in the era of diminished trust. 70 per cent of the world is an autocracy. Aside from that, how do you ensure citizens are active participants, and, how do you ensure governments are listening to citizens using technology? When citizens are on X, they have discussed, judged, and ruled against the government. The citizens demand openness, have access to knowledge and you can’t lie to them. This citizenry are empowered. There is a certain type of service they expect. At some point, the government needs to deliver. And if not, then they need to be engaged with the citizens.How do you make yourself a bridge and maintain contact with the needs of both the government and the citizens?As an envoy, you become someone who helps articulate a lot of these issues. An envoy is a messenger, and the messenger anywhere can’t be shot, so I can be very candid. That’s what I’ve been doing. I’m apolitical. I cannot be political. We operate on the domain of ones and zeros so I can confidently tell you if it’s there or it’s not. We see capacity as a technology capacity. Technology is everywhere and it affects everything including how we interface with the community. It is not just about capacity in tech. It’s also about the leadership. They don’t have to be tech savvy, but they have to be able to budget, to engage, to resource and how to staff. The leaders, and I am surprised when I walk into offices and find this – are not trained and are not in that space.What is the process of advising the President like? Do you do Power Point presentations? Give reports? Is it an informal conversation? How, exactly, does this play out?I haven’t gotten there yet! But the President has a council of advisors so there’s definitely a format. I can only tell you what I’ve done now and in most cases. I’m engaged in the ICT sector reforms and there are things you cannot write on paper. I’ve been doing a lot of PPTs especially when it comes to working with the sector I’m in because not everybody talks technical so it’s just easy to be visual.
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