'AI is a blessing that can bring great benefits'

The Sultanate of Oman reaffirmed it's keenness in incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in all spheres in the future march of renewed Renaissance at the concluding session of the regional workshop for the Artificial Intelligence Charter in the Islamic World in the Asia and Middle East regions on Wednesday.

"The digital economy programmes designed as part of the Vision 2040 and the distinctive privacy of the artificial intelligence strategy in the Sultanate will be spread across all spheres of life," said Hassan Fidaa al Lawati, Head of the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT).

Dr Salem al Malik, Director General of ISESCO said that AI is a blessing that can bring great benefits in various fields. "But at the same time it may be a curse when it is exploited unethically," he said pointing to the use of AI in preparing research and studies to obtain academic degrees.

Professor Saleh al Nasyan, strategic partnerships expert at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority in Saudi Arabia presented an intervention in which he highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts in the field of data and artificial intelligence, as part of its ambitious vision 2030, to enhance innovation and raise the level of awareness in this field.

Khaled al Nuaimi, Project Manager, Artificial Intelligence Office, in the Prime Minister’s Office, in the United Arab Emirates, explained in detail the strategy in the field of Artificial Intelligence, which adopts innovative programmes and trains talented youth to build their capabilities in order to keep up with tomorrow's professions.

Dr Pierre Baz, Advisor to the Minister of Social Affairs in Lebanon touched on the country’s use of technological development and artificial intelligence in the medical sector, health care, education and public services in a simplified and comprehensive manner.

Nour Yousef Nassar, Director General of Government Information Technology at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology from Palestine indicated the keenness to graduate 300 specialists in artificial intelligence, and that 30 per cent of companies aim to adopt solutions based on artificial intelligence.

Hamid Shamal, Director General of Information and Communications Technology in the Iraqi Ministry of Science and Technology presented recommendations aimed at establishing colleges specialised in AI in Iraqi universities, and modernizing the curricula, highlighting that the vision of Iraq focuses on economic development, education, scientific research, and security, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.