Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The UAE’s advancements in artificial intelligence took centre stage at the 19th Aletihad Forum on Monday. Held under the theme “AI: A Driver for Sustainable Development", the event gathered experts to explore AI’s role in decision-making digital transformation, as well as addressing challenges like misinformation and bias.
Held at the Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi, the forum coincided with Aletihad newspaper’s 55th anniversary and highlighted the UAE’s commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable growth and enhancing its global innovation presence.
AI and Economic Growth
During a session discussing the AI’s potential in accelerating economic growth, Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the Cybersecurity Council of the UAE Government, delved into the transformative impact of emerging technologies in the UAE's development.
“Artificial intelligence today serves as the primary driver behind numerous technologies across various sectors, including economic, social, security, and political domains,” he said.
“The UAE is at the forefront of this movement,” Dr. Al Kuwaiti continued, drawing attention to the country's proactive approach, which includes the appointment of a Minister of Artificial Intelligence and the establishment of governance and ethical frameworks.
He elaborated on the UAE's commitment to AI, stating that the nation is “actively directing our focus towards the essential aspects of artificial intelligence to advance our national agenda”.
This commitment is especially evident in cybersecurity, where AI poses both challenges and opportunities.
“While it has led to an increase in cyberattacks utilising AI systems,” Dr. AlKuwaiti explained, “we have also employed artificial intelligence to proactively monitor these threats.”
He also highlighted the contributions of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), which has advanced significantly in research and ranks among the top 10 universities globally in this field.
Personalised Learning
Also speaking during the session, Dr. Ahmed Sultan Al Shoaibi, Acting Executive Director of the Higher Education Sector at Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), shared insights on AI’s role as a driver for developing education and qualifying human resources for the labour market.
He said that AI facilitates personalised learning experiences for students. “It gives each student a method that suits his way of thinking and academic inclinations.”
Additionally, AI is crucial for analysing data to anticipate future labour market needs, he noted.
Dr Al Shoaibi, also emphasised the need for collaboration to raise awareness, “as learning extends beyond the classroom”.
He mentioned the collaboration with 42 Abu Dhabi, a coding school focused on programming and educational programmes.
This initiative strives to educate young students about career opportunities and skills required in the AI field.
Dr. Al Shoaibi also highlighted the collaboration with MBZUAI in various fields, including arts, where AI is used to create short films and music.
AI in Research
In his turn, Sultan AlRubaei, Senior Researcher and Deputy Head of the Research Sector at TRENDS Research and Advisory, discussed the significant role of research centres in analysing AI applications and the opportunities for investing in data.
“After we learned about the fourth industrial revolution, we learned that it is a communication revolution, so here is how centres can invest in this revolution.”
“What distinguishes this revolution is that it is a revolution of communication between machines and even with humans.”
Among the specific AI applications currently being explored at the centre, AlRubaei mentioned a focus on deepfake videos.
“Currently, the focus is on deepfake videos, how to monitor these videos and raise awareness about them.”
