TAHA HASEEB (ALETIHAD)
The 19th edition of the annual Aletihad Forum will commence on Monday where technology experts will showcase the UAE’s pioneering steps in artificial intelligence, and explore new horizons in emerging tech to foster growth and sustainability.
Held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence: A Driver for Sustainable Development”, this year’s forum coincides with the 55th anniversary of the launch of Aletihad newspaper, which was founded in 1969.
The forum aims to provide insightful perspectives by gathering experts and thought leaders to discuss key issues of importance to the UAE and the region.
The working papers will emphasise the importance of AI in decision-making based on deeper data analytics. The forum’s themes highlight the centrality of AI in digital transformation and the transition to a knowledge economy.
The sessions will encourage maximising the benefits of generative and predictive AI, while participants will analyse challenges posed by technological advancements, such as the risk of widening the digital divide between countries, bias, misinformation, and deepfakes.
Speakers will also highlight the need for governance standards to prevent the misuse of AI applications in misleading or distorting facts.
The forum aligns with the UAE’s rapid steps to invest in advanced technologies, enhancing their benefits across various sectors to ensure quality of life, accelerate digital transformation, and achieve sustainable development.
This edition of the forum gathers a select group of technology experts and researchers specialising in automation, robotics engineering, and generative AI applications.
The forum will highlight the UAE’s achievements in AI, reflecting its continuous pursuit to enhance its global presence and its prominent role as an innovation hub and a platform for developing AI-enhanced solutions.
The UAE’s focus on AI stems from its leadership’s vision for digital transformation, transitioning to a knowledge economy, diversifying income sources, and achieving economic growth.
Generative and Predictive AI
The forum’s first session will focus on the steps taken by the UAE in the field of AI. Titled “UAE: A Global Leader in Artificial Intelligence”, Dr. Saeed Al-Dhaheri, Director of the Center for Future Studies at Dubai University, will present a paper on “Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Pathways That Are Changing Our World.”
Dr. Al Dhaheri’s paper will offer a quick overview of the opportunities presented by AI, such as improving healthcare, increasing agricultural productivity, reducing waste, implementing smart mobility solutions, and mitigating the negative effects of climate change, particularly through developing predictive models capable of enhancing readiness for climate changes and improving industrial production efficiency through smart robotics.
Challenges of the Digital Divide and Sustainability
Dr. Al Dhaheri’s paper will also address some concerns posed by AI, such as the risk of widening the digital divide between countries, bias, misinformation, deepfakes, and violations of intellectual property rights, as well as challenges related to sustainability, given the massive energy and water consumption by data centres. This situation calls for an increased reliance on renewable energy sources to operate data centres.
The paper will touch on AI governance to ensure its responsible and transparent use, necessitating international cooperation to establish standards and regulations for AI governance, and to develop global standards that ensure human rights and avoid technical biases.
UAE Initiatives in Generative AI ApplicationsAnother session, titled “UAE Initiatives in Generative AI Applications”, features a paper by Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei, Chairperson of UN’s AI for Good Impact initiative, discussing the UAE’s efforts in generative AI programmes, the importance of responsible AI, and the country’s initiatives in developing AI models and applications.
Large Language Models and Quality of LifeDr. Jamal Alsawalhi, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Khalifa University, will present a paper highlighting the significant advancements in AI over the past two years, particularly concerning large language models and their impact on daily lives.
Governance Challenges
The second session of the forum will address the governance challenges posed by the AI boom. Dr. Joao Lima, Artificial Intelligence Advisor to the Brazilian Senate and member of the committee responsible for developing the AI strategy in the Senate, will present a paper discussing the challenges and risks associated with generative AI. He will explore the safe use of generative AI technologies and how these technologies present both opportunities and challenges, including bias, misinformation, and potential job losses and tech monopolies.
Economic Diversification and Innovation
Also participating in the second session is Professor Sami Haddadin, Vice President for Research and Professor of Robotics at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Dr. Professor Tadhg O’Donovan, Professor and Deputy Vice Principal (Academic Leadership) at Heriot-Watt University.
Prof. Haddadin's paper will focus on the role of AI in stimulating economic growth, referencing the UAE Vision 2031, which emphasises economic diversification, technological innovation, and human capital development. It will also discuss the National AI Strategy 2031, which aims to position the UAE as a global leader in AI by integrating it into key sectors like logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing.
In his presentation, O’Donovan will focus on AI and robotics’ crucial role in establishing the UAE as a global leader in knowledge-based industries, contributing to the country’s long-term vision of becoming an innovation hub.
AI in Sustainable Agriculture
O’Donovan’s paper will also highlight AI’s role in sustainable agriculture through monitoring various factors like soil, air, and water. It will present practical models from the UAE, including the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, which launched a world-first initiative using advanced remote sensing technologies with satellites and drones for soil monitoring.