MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, has been appointed as a founding commissioner of the AI for Good Global Commission, a landmark United Nations-backed initiative aimed at harnessing artificial intelligence to drive sustainable development, bridge digital inequalities and unlock economic opportunities across the globe.
The commission, established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency responsible for digital technologies, brings together more than 40 influential leaders from governments, multinational corporations and international organisations to shape the future of artificial intelligence and ensure its benefits are shared globally.
Mupita’s appointment places Africa at the centre of international discussions on one of the world’s fastest-growing technologies and highlights MTN Group’s growing influence in global digital transformation.
Expressing his appreciation after being named a founding commissioner, Mupita said it was a privilege to contribute to a global initiative focused on ensuring artificial intelligence serves humanity responsibly.
“It is an honour to be one of the founding commissioners of the AI for Good Global Commission,” he said.
“At MTN Group, we believe that the developments in AI have the potential to advance health, education, food security and industrial productivity.”
According to him, artificial intelligence has the capacity to solve some of the world’s biggest development challenges if deployed responsibly and made accessible to everyone.
“AI must be safe, ethical and globally inclusive, and these perspectives align fully with the work of this Global Commission,” Mupita added.
The AI for Good Global Commission has been established to promote responsible AI development while expanding digital access and accelerating economic growth through innovation. The initiative seeks to encourage collaboration among governments, businesses, academia and international organisations to ensure artificial intelligence contributes meaningfully to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The commission comprises more than 40 founding members representing different sectors and regions of the world. Together, they will provide strategic leadership on AI governance, ethics, innovation, investment and policy while promoting equitable access to emerging technologies.
Among those serving alongside Mupita are some of the world’s most influential technology executives, including Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang, Microsoft President Brad Smith and Amazon Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy.
Their collective expertise is expected to help shape practical policies that encourage innovation while addressing critical concerns surrounding AI safety, transparency, accountability and inclusion.
The commission builds on the success of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, another global initiative that played a key role in expanding internet connectivity and promoting digital inclusion around the world.
While the Broadband Commission focused primarily on increasing internet access and closing the digital divide, the AI for Good Global Commission will concentrate on ensuring artificial intelligence becomes a powerful tool for economic transformation, innovation and sustainable development.
The inaugural meeting of the commission will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, where members will begin discussions on priorities, governance frameworks and collaborative initiatives that can maximise AI’s positive impact across developed and developing economies.
The commission will be co-chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Salesforce Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff, both of whom have consistently championed digital innovation and technology-driven development.
Their leadership is expected to steer conversations around how governments and private sector institutions can work together to create policies that encourage innovation while protecting citizens and ensuring no region is left behind in the rapidly evolving AI revolution.
Artificial intelligence has become one of the defining technologies of the modern era, transforming industries ranging from healthcare and agriculture to education, finance, manufacturing and telecommunications.
Healthcare providers are increasingly using AI to improve disease diagnosis and patient care. Educational institutions are adopting AI-powered learning tools to personalise teaching and improve student outcomes. Farmers are leveraging AI-driven technologies to increase productivity, predict weather patterns and improve food security, while businesses are using intelligent systems to automate operations, strengthen cybersecurity and enhance customer experiences.
Despite these opportunities, experts continue to warn about challenges including misinformation, algorithmic bias, cybersecurity threats, data privacy concerns and the possible displacement of certain categories of jobs.
The AI for Good Global Commission has therefore been tasked with ensuring that innovation progresses alongside strong ethical standards, transparent governance and responsible regulation.
For MTN Group, Mupita’s appointment reflects the company’s commitment to embracing emerging technologies that improve lives and support economic development across Africa and the Middle East.
Over the past few years, MTN has expanded beyond its traditional telecommunications business to become a leading digital platform, investing heavily in fintech, digital services, cloud technologies and artificial intelligence.
The company believes AI will play a central role in improving customer service, strengthening network performance, increasing operational efficiency and developing innovative digital products for millions of customers across its markets.
MTN has identified artificial intelligence as one of its strategic growth priorities, with the company targeting approximately R30 billion in value-creation opportunities over the next three to five years through AI-enabled innovations and operational improvements.
The investment forms part of MTN’s long-term strategy to become Africa’s leading digital solutions provider while contributing to inclusive economic growth across the continent.
Mupita’s appointment also represents an important opportunity for African voices to contribute to global conversations about the future of artificial intelligence. As countries increasingly adopt AI technologies, ensuring that the perspectives and development priorities of emerging markets are reflected in international policy discussions will be critical.
The work of the AI for Good Global Commission is expected to influence future global AI policies, encourage international cooperation and help create an innovation ecosystem where artificial intelligence is deployed responsibly for the benefit of people, businesses and communities worldwide.
For MTN, the appointment is not only a recognition of the company’s growing global influence but also a testament to its commitment to ensuring technology becomes a catalyst for sustainable development, digital inclusion and shared prosperity.
