ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
TRENDS Research and Advisory held its Fourth Annual International Conference under the title “Sustainable Security in 2024 and Beyond: The Role of AI”, in Tokyo in partnership with the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) at the University of Tokyo and with Aletihad News Center as media partner. The conference brought together nearly 34 experts, researchers and academics from approximately 10 countries, along with several high-ranking officials, to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with AI concerning global security.
On the first day of the conference, participating experts, academics and researchers emphasised the importance of establishing a comprehensive global framework for AI governance that addresses ethical, legal and social aspects. They also stressed the need to enhance international cooperation in developing shared standards to ensure the responsible use of this technology.
Speakers pointed out the urgent need to protect data and systems from the increasing threats posed by AI. They also discussed the challenge of bias in AI systems and how to mitigate it to ensure fair and unbiased decision-making.
The impact of AI on the labour market was another hot topic during the conference, where participants discussed the need to retrain the workforce and develop new skills to keep up with rapid technological advances.
Nearly 15 of the 34 speakers on the conference’s first-day sessions emphasised the importance of enhancing international cooperation in the field of AI, investing in research and development, setting global AI standards, building AI capacities, and raising public awareness of the risks and benefits of AI.
The speakers highlighted the intersection of AI and global security, recognising the technology’s immense potential to enhance security while cautioning against the risks if used irresponsibly.
They also stressed the need to harness AI to improve energy efficiency and develop innovative solutions to combat climate change. They called for international collaboration and joint action to build a better future for AI, where it contributes to sustainable development and serves the interests of all humanity.
Opening Session: Building a Safer and More Sustainable Future
The conference’s opening session began with a speech by H.E. Shihab Ahmed Al-Faheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Japan. He emphasised that the UAE had recognised early the profound impact of AI as a crucial driver of sustainable development. He highlighted several UAE initiatives, notably the open-source Falcon AI model, and discussed the pioneering efforts of G42, a leading company in the AI field.
He mentioned that the UAE has formed partnerships with countries such as Japan to enhance research and development in AI and launched a national AI strategy aiming to position the UAE as a global leader in this field.
In a similar vein, Prof. Hiroaki AIHARA, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo, noted that the conference offers an opportunity to expand cooperation between the UAE, the GCC states and Japan. He expressed hope that the Fourth TRENDS conference, in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, would enhance cooperation in new fields such as AI and cybersecurity. He stressed AI’s role in solving global problems, praising the conference’s theme and knowledge-driven objectives.
H.E. Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council, underscored the importance of demonstrating the capability to launch open-source AI systems, which was demonstrated by the UAE with the release of the Falcon model, recognised globally for its high performance.
In his opening remarks, Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research and Advisory, welcomed the conference participants and thanked TRENDS’ partners at the University of Tokyo for their constructive collaboration in organising this edition of the annual conference on sustainable security.
He explained that after organising the previous three editions in partnership with a Western partner, the Atlantic Council, this time TRENDS chose to collaborate with an active research and academic partner in East Asia, indicating that diversification of partners reflects the Center’s vision of being a platform for effective global dialogue on key issues, especially those related to achieving sustainable security and prosperity.
Dr Al-Ali pointed out that the concept of sustainable security has evolved beyond traditional geopolitical concerns, encompassing a complex web of interconnected challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, pandemics, and cybersecurity threats. He stressed that these intertwined threats require a multidimensional approach to address them.
He highlighted AI’s role in building a safer and more sustainable future while warning of the potential risks of its misuse. He called for international cooperation to establish an ethical and legal framework to regulate AI usage.
Prof. Masakazu Sugiyama, Director of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), University of Tokyo, emphasized that AI will serve as a common foundation for integrating diverse disciplines. He called for thinking about how to use AI to address global challenges and threats.
In a speech during the opening session, Mr. Hirofumi Miyake, Deputy Director-General/Deputy Assistant Minister of Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called for enhanced international cooperation in the field of AI. He emphasized the significance of this technology for the future of the world and highlighted the strong partnership between Japan and the United Arab Emirates in AI. Miyake pointed to various joint projects and programs aimed at developing and applying AI across different sectors. He also stressed the importance of establishing an international framework to regulate AI.
In a video message addressed to the participants, Mr. Takehiko Matsuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, welcomed the hosting of the TRENDS Annual International Conference at the University of Tokyo. He emphasised that the conference aims to discuss current global challenges and seek innovative solutions using AI technologies. He expressed his hope that the event would serve as a fruitful opportunity for exchanging ideas and expertise among experts from various countries.
The conference was introduced by Ms. Fatmah Al Yammahi, Researcher and Strategic Partnerships Specialist at TRENDS Research and Advisory. She explained that TRENDS, recognising the transformative potential of AI, organised this conference in partnership with the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology. She added that the event brought together top experts from the Middle East, Asia and other regions to explore the opportunities and challenges offered by AI in building sustainable security for the future.
Session 1: A Global Challenge
The first session of the conference was moderated by Prof. Tatsuoki KONO, Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) and Director of the Initiative for Global Security and Energy Transition, University of Tokyo. It featured contributions by Prof. Tatsuya HARADA, Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), the University of Tokyo; Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Foresight and AI, ICESCO; Dr. Ebtesam Al Mazrouei, CEO and Founder of AIE3, Chairperson of UN AI for Good Impact Initiative, Expert AI Executive & Tech Visionary Leader; and Dr. Mohammed Soliman, Director of Strategic Technologies and Cyber Security Program, Middle East Institute (MEI), Washington D.C.
The session focused on the theme “AI Governance and International Relations: Visions and Real Steps towards the Future”. Speakers highlighted the significant challenges in the global governance of AI, noting that while AI offers powerful tools for combating crime and terrorism and intelligence analysis, it also raises important ethical and legal questions. They discussed issues such as: Who is responsible for mistakes made by AI systems? How can we protect individual privacy in light of increasing surveillance? And how do we ensure these systems are not biased against specific groups?
Session 2: Serving Humanity or Threatening it?
The second session of the conference was moderated by Awadh Al-Breiki, Senior Researcher and Head of Global Sector, TRENDS Research and Advisory. It featured Prof. Masashi SUGIYAMA, Professor of the Department of Complexity Science and Engineering of Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo and Director of RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project; Mr. Bilal Saab, Head of US-Middle East Practice at TRENDS Research and Advisory; Prof. Takehisa YAIRI, Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo; and Dr. Luigi Martino, Director of the Cyber Security Academy, Khalifa University.
The discussions focused on the theme “AI Advancements and Sustainable Global Security - Identifying Multi-Sectoral Risks and Opportunities”. Speakers discussed the rapidly evolving AI landscape, highlighting recent breakthroughs in AI capabilities and their implications for global security. They also extended their discussions beyond national security to explore AI’s role in the humanitarian sector, emphasising the potential of AI to provide humanitarian aid during disasters and crises, such as identifying affected areas, channelling assistance, and accelerating search and rescue operations.
Session 3: A Symbiotic Relationship
Following a short break, the third session of the Fourth Annual International Conference of TRENDS Research and Advisory commenced. It was moderated by Mr. Shuji HOSAKA, Senior Advisor for Research and former Director of the JIME Center of the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan (IEEJ), and featured Prof. Hiroshi ESAKI, Professor at the Department of Electronic and Information Engineering of Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo; Ms. Mouza Al Marzooqi, Researcher and Head of Economic Studies Section, TRENDS Research and Advisory; Dr. Shigeto KONDO, Senior Researcher of the JIME Center of the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan (IEEJ); and Dr. Abdulla Al Abbasi, Director of the Energy and Environment Program (Derasat).
The session focused on the theme of “AI and Energy Security: Emerging Strategies from Private Sector”, where researchers and experts discussed the economic dimensions of AI. They pointed out that this technology is expected to bring about significant transformations in the job market, potentially leading to the loss of many jobs. However, the participants stressed that AI will also create new job opportunities in fields such as software development and data analysis. They further highlighted the importance of investing in education and training to prepare the workforce for future challenges posed by AI.
The Fourth Annual International Conference of TRENDS Research and Advisory on sustainable security will resume on Thursday, with three more sessions and a concluding session to announce the conference’s recommendations and outcomes, followed by an awards ceremony to honour the participants.