The fascination with which governments, entrepreneurs and thought leaders have greeted the rise of artificial intelligence was on show this week as not one, but two high-profile international gatherings focused on this transformational technology. Few attendees at the World Governments Summit in Dubai or the AI Action Summit in Paris doubted AI’s potential to change societies and economies. However – as is often the case – consensus on finding the best way forward is not as definitive.
On Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance delivered a strong rebuke of “excessive regulation” when it comes to shaping AI. Speaking at the AI Action Summit in Paris, Mr Vance said “a new industrial revolution, one on par with the invention of the steam engine” would be at risk “if overregulation deters innovators from taking the risks necessary to advance the ball”.
Meanwhile, Kristalina Georgieva – managing director of the International Monetary Fund – struck a nuanced tone when she told the World Governments Summit that 60 per cent of jobs in advanced economies could be affected, transformed or eliminated owing to the adoption of the emerging technology. “[AI] can be a great story, a world that becomes more productive,” she said. “Or a sad story – a world that is more divided.”
Although it is true that companies and creators need freedom to flourish, the kind of laissez-faire approach championed by Mr Vance comes with its own risks. A failure to guide and control AI responsibly overlooks its transformative nature, its growing ubiquity, and its potential for rapid learning and self-development.
Naysayers predict a future in which the rampant and unfocused use of AI technology makes millions of people redundant. Historically, the introduction of such profound innovations has certainly led to economic and social upheaval – the Industrial Revolution that Mr Vance referred to was a time of intense class conflict as much as it was a new beginning. On the other hand, AI’s enthusiasts believe digital technologies, unimpeded by regulation, have the potential to improve everything from health care to transport and creativity to business. The reality lies somewhere between these two positions.
It is here that the UAE’s experience with AI stands out, for several reasons. The country’s considerable investment in and embrace of AI has been twinned with comprehensive regulatory guardrails. In addition to several digital strategies to oversee the Emirates’ use of AI, the country also works in partnership with the private sector to oversee its development; earlier this month, a foundation to promote responsible AI governance in the Middle East and the Global South was launched by US tech company Microsoft, Emirati AI firm G42 and Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
It is the balanced contribution of tech experts, policymakers, investors and educators that will provide the optimal outcome for adopting this powerful and now-unavoidable technology
The UAE has also convened AI proponents such as Elon Musk, who will speak at the WGS today, as well as others who have a more hestitant approach. By doing so, the Emirates continues to inform the global conversation on AI and looks set to continue on this path; next year’s AI Everything Global Summit and Expo in Abu Dhabi promises to be another valuable contribution to the debate.
Training and equipping people to best use AI is another area in which the UAE has been proactive. Last June, The National reported how Dubai schools were training teachers in AI to reduce workloads. Such initiatives are in concert with strategies such as Dubai’s One Million Arab Coders that aims to develop digital literacy in Arab youth.
Overall, it is the balanced contribution of tech experts, policymakers, investors and educators that will provide the optimal outcome for adopting this powerful and now-unavoidable technology. The road ahead is unclear, 100 per cent agreement will not always be possible, but with the right guardrails, AI could live up to its promise of providing a more prosperous future.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
