Geneva – Prime Minister Russell Dlamini advised governments to use artificial intelligence (AI) ethically.
The premier supported AI usage that serves the people while protecting human dignity while representing His Majesty King Mswati III at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland.
He advocated for a human-centered approach to AI governance that addresses citizens’ practical requirements, as well as the creation and implementation of strong AI governance frameworks to safeguard children and minors from manipulation, exploitation, dangerous content, and damaging profiling. 
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant innovation. It is already shaping how we learn, how we govern, trade, communicate, heal, produce food, and protect our environment,” he said.
“The question before us is therefore not whether AI will change our societies, but whether we will guide that change in a manner that protects human dignity, strengthens development and preserves the diversity of the human family.”
Dlamini called for the help of developing countries like Eswatini in establishing AI governance solely to benefit the people.
“It must improve daily life, expand opportunity, support the digitisation of essential public services and strengthen the institutions that serve our citizens. It must help us address practical needs, including food security, healthcare, education, public administration, climate resilience, job creation and sustainable economic growth.”
He said responsible AI should not drive humanity towards one homogeneous coalescence but enable diverse, relevant and locally meaningful outcomes.
Dlamini urged support to build sovereign capability, local innovation, digital literacy, research capacity, computing access and trusted data ecosystems, stating that Eswatini was still laying foundations drawn from the National Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy, which promotes responsible human-machine collaboration.
“We are investing in digital skills, including coding, data science and AI training for young people, and in specialised expertise through our national institutions of learning. These efforts are guided by the conviction that automation must enhance human potential without underestimating dignity, employment, social cohesion or cultural identity.”
He also urged for the protection of minors from manipulation, exploitation, unsafe content, harmful profiling and addictive designs.
“No society should outsource childhood, learning or moral formation to machines.”
AI should improve daily life, expand opportunity, and support the digitisation of essential public services, as well as strengthen institutions that serve our citizens, while addressing practical needs such as food security, health care, education, public administration, climate resilience, job creation, and long-term economic growth, he stated.
Its use is most advantageous when it values diversity, relevance, and locally meaningful outcomes.
The Prime Minister advocated for legally enforceable national frameworks in which voluntary principles are supported by auditable rules, remedies, assignable responsibilities, and cross-border cooperation.
