On 16 August 2024, the Commonwealth Secretariat and Intel Corporation, in collaboration, launched StrategusAI, an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) toolkit designed to transform the way member governments develop and implement policies. This tool aims to help governments across the Commonwealth by addressing challenges and leveraging the opportunities that AI presents. StrategusAI represents a significant advancement in policy development, enabling governments to create data-driven, informed strategies that integrate global best practices while addressing local needs.
The launch of StrategusAI solidifies the Commonwealth’s commitment to closing the digital divide and fostering economic resilience among its member states. By equipping policymakers of member states with this cutting-edge technology, the Commonwealth Secretariat and Intel Corporation are ensuring that governments can effectively harness the power of AI to drive progress and innovation, making this an important milestone in the digital transformation of the Commonwealth. StrategusAI is a significant development for Commonwealth AI Consortium’s Policy Development Working Group, spearheaded by the Government of Rwanda. The launch follows an extensive period of development, testing, and refinement so that the tool can effectively bridge the digital divide and strengthen economic resilience across the Commonwealth’s diverse nations.
The tool allows policymakers to draw on global best practices while tailoring strategies to meet local needs. StrategusAI will first be piloted in Fiji and Brunei Darussalam before being made available to all 56 Commonwealth countries, offering a unique opportunity for these nations to develop AI-informed policies that are both globally informed and locally relevant.
The introduction of StrategusAI is set to empower public sector leaders significantly. The cost of developing a single government policy or strategy can range from US$250,000 to US$1.5 million in consulting fees, with development timelines stretching from six months to a year, not including implementation phases. StrategusAI promises to make this investment more cost-effective and efficient by harnessing AI’s vast potential to process and analyze immense amounts of data far beyond human capacity.
Intel, already a partner with the Secretariat on a digital learning program designed to demystify AI for senior officials across the Commonwealth, sees StrategusAI as a further step in empowering public sector leaders.
The launch event featured prominent speakers, including HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK; HE Jovilisi Suveinakama, High Commissioner of Fiji to the UK; Dr. Norfarizal Othman, Director-General, Public Service Department, Prime Minister’s Office, Brunei Darussalam; and Intel’s Shweta Khurana, Director APJ – Government Partnerships and Initiatives. From the Commonwealth Secretariat, Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Arjoon Suddhoo, Assistant Secretary-General Prof. Luis Franceschi, and Senior Director of Trade, Oceans, and Natural Resources Suresh Yadav, whose team developed the toolkit, all provided insights on its relevance and importance for the Commonwealth.
Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, emphasized the need for countries to develop strategies that harness the potential of AI while managing its risks. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, highlighted that AI should support and enhance human work, especially in areas like creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. She also pointed out the transformative potential of AI in delivering personalized services, such as healthcare and education, to remote communities. Sarah Kemp, Vice President of International Government Affairs at Intel, highlighted AI’s capacity to process and analyze vast amounts of data, enabling the creation of tailored and informed policy outcomes through the StrategusAI toolkit.
To advance this goal, the Commonwealth Artificial Intelligence Consortium (CAIC) was formed in 2023, including representatives from global tech firms, world-leading research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Ten Commonwealth member countries, including Rwanda, are part of the CAIC and will champion AI innovation within their nations and throughout the union.
The toolkit also benefited from guidance from Oxford Insights, Sustainable Living Lab, and policymakers from several other Commonwealth countries, who contributed to the design and development of the tool. StrategusAI will first be piloted in Fiji and Brunei Darussalam before being made available to all 56 Commonwealth countries, offering a unique opportunity for these nations to develop AI-informed policies that are both globally informed and locally relevant.
