Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, has described artificial intelligence (AI), as the “engine for the future”.
Speaking at a session focused on the potential applications of generative AI, held as part of the 54th World Economic Forum, the minister stressed the UAE’s ambitions to become a responsible AI nation – which he described as “Brain.”
Al Olama remarked on the distrust that some governments place in AI algorithms and pointed out that, in contrast, the UAE has recognised for more than two decades the importance of adopting and developing new technological capabilities to drive innovation and economic growth.
“Governments can learn from how the UAE is implementing AI. We want to deploy AI in oil and gas, increasing the quality of life and reducing the dangers of climate change, while working on reducing the stigma of AI globally,” he said, as reported by Arab News.
During his speech, Al Olama highlighted the importance of international collaboration and dialogue in mapping current and future challenges and opportunities and laying the foundations to address them.
Al Olama emphasised the UAE’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to accelerating the adoption of generative AI, recognising its potential to contribute to the UAE’s ambitious goals and the positive opportunities it holds for large, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
To leverage the potential of AI – and prevent its dangers – the minister stated that the UAE government seeks international collaboration and partnerships with technology companies worldwide.
“No dictionary will tell you the difference between complete and finish, but I will. If you use AI, you will be complete, if you don’t then you will be finished, if you don’t and ignore it, you will be completely finished,” Al Olama was quoted saying by Arab News.
The minister highlighted the UAE’s digital infrastructure and flexible legislative frameworks, as well as the huge diversity of the country’s population, which make it an ideal platform for developing global artificial intelligence applications in various fields such as healthcare and other sectors in need of development and improvement.
Al Olama said that the UAE has taken significant steps in the digital field by graduating over 400 participants from the AI Programme in collaboration with Oxford University, and referenced the UAE Codes Day initiative.
The minister was joined in the discussion by Cristiano Amon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Qualcomm, Julie Sweet, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Accenture, Ireland; Member of Board of Trustee WEF andArvind Krishna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, IBM, USA; International Business Council.
