President Paul Kagame has called for artificial intelligence to deliver measurable improvements in people’s lives rather than remain a subject of discussion, as he helped launch the new AI for Good Global Commission.

Speaking during a fireside chat alongside Commission Co-Chair Marc Benioff and Vice-Chair Doreen Bogdan-Martin, President Kagame said the world is entering a new phase in which data and artificial intelligence will become central drivers of development across key sectors.

“Today, connectivity is no longer the end goal. We are now transitioning to the era of data-driven growth. Artificial intelligence is the common denominator that will redefine healthcare, education and energy, among many other sectors,” President Kagame said.

He stressed that the Commission’s responsibility is to ensure AI benefits everyone and does not deepen existing inequalities.

“As a commission, our mission is to ensure this transformation does not widen existing divisions,” he said.

President Kagame also underscored the need for concrete action, saying the Commission’s success would be measured by practical outcomes rather than dialogue alone.

“The task ahead of us is urgent, but we will face challenges. The objective isn’t just to have a conversation. It is to ensure everything we agree to do gets translated into tangible and practical outcomes,” he said.

Following the fireside discussion, President Kagame chaired the inaugural meeting of the AI for Good Global Commission together with Marc Benioff and Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

The Commission brings together 44 global commissioners from government, business, international organizations and academia to identify practical ways of harnessing artificial intelligence to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, with a focus on delivering real-world impact across sectors including healthcare, education and energy.