AI Governance Workshop: Exploring Regulatory Futures for Emerging Technologies
In an afternoon workshop attended by over 40 participants, including public sector legal professionals from the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Ministry of Justice, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, Rwanda Information Society Authority, and lawyers in the technology sector, experts Ridwan Oloyede and Isobel Acquah led a deep dive into the evolving regulatory landscape for emerging technologies. The session unpacked Lessig’s “pathetic dot” theory and prompted discussions on traditional versus innovative regulatory tools, asking whether it’s the technology or its applications that should be regulated. Through collaborative group work, attendees explored the Collingridge dilemma, the pacing problem, and other unique challenges posed by AI, while learning about regulatory sandboxes, principles-based frameworks, and risk-oriented governance approaches.
Michael Butera followed with a discussion on Africa’s historic and current struggles with staying ahead of technological revolutions. He urged policymakers to move beyond anticipatory regulation and focus more on enabling local innovation and production. Reflecting on past missed opportunities, from the agricultural and industrial revolutions to the digital era, he emphasized the danger of becoming preoccupied with regulation at the expense of practical development and accountability. He advocated for frameworks informed by real use cases and a culture of continuous dialogue with innovators.
The session concluded with a strong call for adaptive, learning-based regulation. Drawing lessons from the EU AI Act and contrasting national approaches, Butera stressed that binding legislation should remain flexible and subject to amendment. Rwanda’s efforts to revisit outdated laws were cited as a step in the right direction. Ultimately, participants agreed that effective AI governance demands not only legal expertise but also regulatory proximity to innovation, ensuring that those crafting the rules are learning directly from the technologies they aim to shape.