Tunisia could harness artificial intelligence to forge a renewed social contract, centering on a “national collective intelligence” for the common good. This is the core argument of a pivotal study from the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies (ITES), which frames AI not merely as a technological tool but as a lever for reinventing the state’s social role.
Titled “Artificial Intelligence, a Lever for the Social Role of the State,” the ITES analysis posits AI as a transformative accelerator for socio-economic development. The study defines the state’s social role comprehensively: ensuring collective well-being, reducing inequalities, protecting the vulnerable, and guaranteeing equitable access to essential services like healthcare, education, and transport.
“In vital sectors such as health, agriculture, education, energy, and transport, AI can transform traditional practices, improve service quality, and optimize resource efficiency,” the study asserts. It identifies AI as a “structuring technology” with a dual potential—to either worsen existing social disparities or to correct them if deployed as an instrument of social justice.
The Sovereignty Imperative: Avoiding Digital Dependence
The report issues a stark geopolitical warning. In a world where AI is a key arena for major power competition, Tunisia must avoid becoming a “mere consumer of foreign technologies.” The alternative, it argues, is to assert “cognitive sovereignty” by mastering its own data, investing in computing infrastructure, and developing AI models tailored to its linguistic and cultural context. Failure to do so would risk increased dependence, digital vulnerability, and a loss of influence in shaping global norms.
Despite the risks, the study outlines a unique opportunity. “Tunisia finds itself in a unique position. Its educated youth, scientific tradition, and entrepreneurial environment make it fertile ground for experimenting with human-centered AI models,” the authors contend.
By mobilizing research institutions, startups, and civil society, Tunisia could become a “reference actor” in designing inclusive and ethical AI tools. However, this ambition hinges on developing policies that reverse brain drain and the exodus of startups.
A Human-Centered Transformation
Ultimately, the study presents a nuanced vision. AI, it concludes, “does not replace political will, but it changes the conditions under which it is exercised.” While offering institutions unprecedented analytical power, it simultaneously demands greater public responsibility.
“The transformation it initiates is above all human,” the document states. “It invites us to rethink how we design, debate, and learn together.” For Tunisia, the challenge is twofold: to aggressively integrate AI into public services while rigorously ensuring its accessibility, ethics, and social purpose. The goal is to ensure the nation’s digital future is built by and for its own citizens.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
