Digitalization of the new development model: digital technology is a beast that must be tamed

Speaking at OCP’s “45 Minutes Chrono” event, Rachid Guerraoui, professor of computer science at the Federal Polytechnic University of Lausanne and member of the special commission on the new development model defined digital technology as “a combination of two components, algorithms, and the machine.”

45 Minutes Chrono was organized by the OCP Group with the aim of discussing the digitalization of the New Development Model.

“Algorithms have always existed, and are made by humans for humans, which has led engineers to think of creating universal machines that can run algorithms,” Guerraoui added.

The member of the special commission on this new development model gave the example of heavy industry, and how robots assemble Renault cars in Morocco.

According to the professor, this could represent a threat to humans in terms of employment, as is the case for Amazon, which opts for artificial intelligence techniques.

“Digital technologies, therefore, are both an opportunity and a threat, and the border is quite thin,” he said, describing it as a beast that must be managed and used to our advantage.

“Morocco has been able to exploit digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic, by adopting remote education as well as managing vaccinations by creating a Moroccan digital platform that requires only the ID card and the QR code of each citizen,” he added.

Guerraoui said Moroccans living abroad should contribute to this innovation, by sharing their know-how and expertise.

The main suggestions were about adopting cryptocurrency in order to fight corruption in society. The new government could also integrate digital technology in its electoral promises in different fields, including industry, agriculture, health, and education.

Guerraoui concluded by saying there is a robot club and a workers’ club, and Moroccans should invest in digital technology so that they won’t be replaced by robots in the long term.