The emergence of more affordable artificial intelligence platform DeepSeek has reshaped the world view of the cost of developing AI, and overshadows the greater need to address real-world challenges, the chief researcher at Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute said on Wednesday.
While pricing is a factor governing which tier of service users get, more focus is needed on developing AI applications that solve problems, rather than merely identifying them, Hakim Hacid said during a session at the AI Everything summit in Dubai.
While acknowledging that DeepSeek – which is, depending on the user tier, free or significantly lower priced than established models such as ChatGPT – gives more people AI access, he cautioned that the situation may be “a little bit exaggerated”.
“When it comes to the cost, we need to be careful on what we are actually looking at so we understand that this cost is not the cost of the model as a whole – it's [just] part of the model,” he said.
DeepSeek's recent arrival has upended the market. The significantly more affordable model has heightened the competition in the generative AI scene. However, its appeal will fade quickly if its more practical uses, especially to solve problems, do not receive sufficient attention.
“We believe that, in a couple of years, these things will become a commodity,” Mr Hacid said. “The AI that we have today is good on the leaderboards, but it's not necessarily good when it comes to the applications [to problem-solve].”
In terms of the types of solutions, Mr Hacid said attention should be directed to advanced-use cases such as in key industries that serve people and businesses.
“We are used to seeing these chatbots; everybody is excited about them. But I think we have passed that period. Now we are focusing on more complex problems,” he said.
Among the sectors poised to harness AI innovations are food security, biotechnology, health, engineering and several science fields, which could all contribute to developing a full-fledged smart city, as the UAE envisions.
The Technological Innovation Institute is working on “a lot” more AI projects, Mr Hacid said. One of them is the creation of a start-up focused on agriculture using satellite imaging, desertification methods and rain patterns, among others, to address food security.
“We're able to predict a certain amount of phenomena that were not able to predict before,” he said.
The initiatives in AI are helping propel the UAE higher on the global stage, Mr Hacid said.
“The UAE was among the first countries that put a bet on AI. We are not yet at the level of [other economies], probably because of the [difference between economic] sizes, but there is clearly a very good position and very important role that UAE is playing,” he said.
“The region and the UAE don't want to be a consumer of AI any more, but they want to be an active player where they can contribute and where they can have their voice as … an adviser and active participant in the domain.”
The region and the UAE don't want to be a consumer of AI anymore, but they want to be an active player where they can contribute and where they can have their voice as an adviser and active participant in the domain
Hakim Hacid,
chief researcher at Abu Dhabi's Technological Innovation Institute
Mr Hacid also said the institute is ramping up its readiness on quantum computing, which he believes will be a critical part of technology's future and would complement AI. However, there are several issues to address before it becomes mainstream.
“There is a lot of work that is currently done … around generative AI and quantum computing in terms of risks and … security aspects,” he said.
“We see signals coming from this current AI [technology], but we still have some work to be done to be able to make sure that we are really contributing to solving the problems instead of just surfacing those problems.”
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
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