Kenya to Host REAIM Summit in 2027, Leading Global AI Diplomacy

Kenya has won the bid to host the fourth Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit in 2027. This announcement, made by Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, at the UN-affiliated AI, Security and Ethics Conference in Geneva, marks a significant moment for the country's involvement in global technology diplomacy. Nairobi will be the first African city to host this summit, following previous editions in the Netherlands, South Korea, and Spain.

The REAIM Summit serves as a critical platform for discussions on the ethical and responsible application of artificial intelligence in military contexts. It gathers governments, defense institutions, tech companies, researchers, and legal experts to tackle issues like autonomous weapons systems, machine learning in defense, algorithmic decision-making in warfare, and establishing international standards for military AI. The Nairobi summit aims to translate these discussions into concrete actions, with a focus on regional capacity building and institutional preparedness.

Kenya’s selection to host REAIM 2027 positions Nairobi as a neutral ground for nations with divergent strategic interests to engage constructively on AI governance. This comes at a time of increasing global debate and challenges in achieving international consensus on military AI, as highlighted by the limited endorsement of the 'Pathways to Action' framework at the previous summit in Spain. A key objective for Kenya is ensuring developing countries gain access to expertise and tools for auditing military AI systems, protecting digital sovereignty, and preventing their territories from becoming testing grounds for foreign defense technologies. Hosting the summit is expected to solidify Nairobi's role as a leading hub for technology policy, innovation, and international diplomacy.