Building Responsible AI: ESPRIT Tunisia’s Commitment to Innovation and Impact

At ESPRIT in Tunisia, research is not only advancing AI technologies: it’s ensuring they’re ethical, explainable, and ready for real-world application across Africa and beyond.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work, connect, and solve global challenges. But with its growing power comes the need to build systems that are not just intelligent, but also ethical, transparent, and trusted by those who use them.

In early 2025, ESPRIT hosted the WEITA workshop (Explainable, Interpretable, and Trustworthy AI), a high-level academic event dedicated to exploring how AI can become more human-centred. Co-organised with EMSI Morocco, and supported by partners including IBM, NVIDIA, and IEEE Tunisia, the workshop brought together researchers, PhD students, and industry experts for two days of talks, discussions, and collaboration. Topics included algorithmic fairness, model interpretability, and designing AI systems that uphold public trust.

Later that year, ESPRIT also hosted the MASSAI 2025 Summer School: a week-long research training initiative focused on cutting-edge AI technologies including multimodal learning, large language models, and autonomous vehicle design. With a strong hands-on component and international guest speakers, MASSAI aimed to strengthen AI research capacity across Africa and the Mediterranean, while deepening collaboration among universities and tech partners.

Both initiatives highlight ESPRIT’s growing role as a hub for AI research, ethical innovation, and international collaboration, offering students and researchers the opportunity to engage with future-shaping technologies in a way that’s both technically rigorous and socially responsible.

As part of the Honoris United Universities network, ESPRIT is helping lead the way in preparing Africa’s next generation of AI-savvy leaders.