Ben Guerir – As world-leading experts gathered yesterday for the second day of UM6P’s Science Week fifth edition, Morocco World News (MWN) sat down with UM6P’s College of Computing’s director Ali Kettani to discuss Morocco’s evolving artificial intelligence (AI) landscape and its potential to drive both regional and global innovation.
Throughout the conversation, Kettani spoke emphatically of the crucial role of education and entrepreneurship in positioning Morocco as an emerging hub for AI development.
At the heart of the rapidly evolving AI conversation in Morocco and across Africa is the significance of channeling local expertise to devise AI models capable of resolving the most pressing local, national, and continental concerns, he argued.
MWN’s conversation with Kettani further touched on recent global AI developments, including breakthroughs by companies like OpenAI and DeepSeek.
Morocco has “everything that it takes to develop our own technology to address our own challenges,” especially in areas such as health, mobility, energy, and climate change, he insisted.
UM6P’s College of Computing is significantly contributing to this technological transformation.
The institute has successfully attracted outstanding professors and researchers in computer sciences, AI, and cybersecurity; an academic excellence that, in turn, draws excellent students from Morocco and beyond.
Kettani talked of the rapid evolution of AI and how “it is going to be a key disruption beyond even the inception of the Internet.”
On a domestic level, he mentioned the transformative potential of AI, focusing on the necessity of building local AI capabilities and investing in education to ensure Morocco’s competitive position in the global tech landscape.
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The College of Computing at UM6P represents Morocco’s bold step in this direction, Kettani suggested, noting how its overarching mission is to serve as an educational hub that nurtures the next generation of tech innovators.
Kettani also spoke of the growing significance and relevance of entrepreneurship in the emerging global market.
“I deeply believe[s] that if there is one field where young Moroccan talent, young African talent […] could thrive is through start-ups in launching their own companies, addressing challenges all around us,” he said.
Kettani envisions a future where local entrepreneurs, Moroccans and Africans, tackle not only regional issues but also contribute to solving global challenges in health, mobility, energy, and climate change.
With this investment in education and focus on entrepreneurship, UM6P ultimately hopes to position itself as an indispensable player in the future of AI development and implementation in Morocco and across Africa.
A flagship event that brings together leading minds in technology and innovation, UM6P’s Science features a diverse program focusing on artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and technological entrepreneurship, among others.
As it becomes a platform for knowledge exchange and networking, the week-long conference is reinforcing UM6P’s commitment to fostering science, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Morocco’s rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.
