Nahyan bin Mubarak: Innovation, human values must guide AI future
25 Apr 2025 11:26
DUBAI (WAM)Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, emphasised that tolerance, human values, and inclusivity must be central in guiding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring technology enriches human life rather than disrupts it.Speaking at the third edition of the Machines Can See 2025 global summit held at Dubai's Museum of the Future, Sheikh Nahyan highlighted the city's unique positioning as a global hub for innovation, collaboration, and responsible AI development.
The summit is part of the inaugural Dubai AI Week 2025, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). It was organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, an initiative of DFF, from April 21 to 25 across the Museum of the Future, AREA 2071 at Emirates Towers, and multiple other locations across Dubai. Sheikh Nahyan said, "I offer my thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his strong and effective support of all useful initiatives that benefit society and are of value to humanity. It is entirely appropriate that this conference be held in Dubai. This global city's embrace of new technologies is legendary. It is most visible through the many ways that Dubai has welcomed, supported, and grown businesses and organisations that are helping to develop the UAE as a hub for Artificial Intelligence in the region and the world. This is a city that looks to the future with confidence, and this magnificent Museum of the Future is a testament to the city's position as one of the future cities of the world.'He affirmed, 'Our country, the United Arab Emirates, is prominent in the world of Artificial Intelligence. Under the wise leadership of the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we value technological achievement, especially as it supports education, business and finance, a sustainable environment, health care, and an innovative, productive, and prosperous society. Strongly supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed leads a country that is taking full advantage of the possibilities of innovation and technology advancements.'He emphasised, 'We, in the UAE, are well aware of the power of Artificial Intelligence to accelerate and transform human activities. And we agree with the premise of this conference: that the use of these tools to advance human welfare requires careful and thoughtful analysis of all aspects of their great potential. We must be both responsive and visionary as we discover how best to disseminate and apply Artificial Intelligence safely and appropriately, in all aspects of our lives.''First, the dream of most of the world's people is to have peace, stability, economic security, personal dignity, a high quality of life, and opportunities to develop their full potential. Access to Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming a powerful tool for helping make this dream a reality. AI is also showing great potential in helping societies succeed in dealing with various issues and challenges – issues such as global climate change, income disparities between rich and poor nations, protecting the environment, reducing tensions and armed conflicts, and sometimes the misunderstandings and lack of trust between people of different religions and cultures. I hope that your conference, and your work, will help establish an effective role for AI in all these areas.'"Second, some advances in Artificial Intelligence remind us that the capabilities of this technology could be used by criminals, or for harmful purposes. How can we maximise the beneficial opportunities created by Artificial Intelligence, while at the same time, addressing ethical questions, and ensuring the security, safety and well-being of people and their communities? I believe we must reflect on our shared human values as we try to answer this question. Our shared human values, including tolerance, fraternity, compassion, respect and caring for others, and caring for other living things and the environment are needed to make the transition to Artificial Intelligence more helpful, inclusive and less disruptive for everyone.''Third, the issue of human development in the age of AI is important. To get the greatest possible benefits from Artificial Intelligence, a country must move aggressively in implementing major educational and training programmes – programmes that must include promotion of science and technology, development of critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as fostering understanding of one's own traditions and heritage. Workers must be proficient in the use of information and communication technology, as well as being creative risk-takers," Sheikh Nahyan said.He noted, 'Our success in this endeavour will also depend on strong partnerships between educational and research institutions and business and industry, and on the ability to turn research results into applications that drive social and economic progress.'He stressed, 'Fourth, success also depends on strong international collaboration that allows for keeping pace with the latest developments in AI around the world. You, at this conference for example, are seizing the opportunity to share ideas and to build on each other's knowledge and insights, and I hope that you will continue to create and utilize these opportunities for international cooperation.'Sheikh Nahyan concluded, "The work you do together on Artificial Intelligence is in some ways a platform to promote global peace, prosperity, and understanding. I call upon each of you to use the opportunities at this conference not only to advance our understanding of AI, but also to advance our ability to live together in peace and prosperity."Recognised globally as a leading forum for AI, machine learning, computer vision, and robotics, the event convened more than 2,000 international delegates, top researchers, and government leaders. Organised by Polynome Group, the summit was one of the important events of the inaugural Dubai AI Week, reinforcing Dubai's ambitions as the global capital of artificial intelligence.Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, said, "Dubai continues to strengthen its role as a global AI capital, committed to leading groundbreaking innovation that enhances people's lives and supports sustainable economic growth. By hosting world-class gatherings like Machines Can See, we reinforce our dedication to collaboration, talent attraction, and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence. Our vision remains clear: to leverage AI as a transformative force, making Dubai the benchmark for AI-driven prosperity and human-centered technological advancement.'During the two-day event, several significant agreements were signed live on stage, including a regional Memorandum of Understanding among Astana Hub (Kazakhstan), IT-Park Uzbekistan, and Al-Farabi Innovation Hub (UAE), designed to promote cross-border innovation and startup growth. Additionally, Google Cloud introduced its regional initiative for no-cost Gen-AI Leader educational programs.Alexander Khanin, Founder & CEO of Polynome Group, expressed pride in the summit's growth and impact, stating, "In just three years, Machines Can See has become a global platform that bridges groundbreaking scientific research with tangible real-world impact. This year's summit not only united the brightest minds in AI, but also set a new standard for collaboration between science, industry, and government. We are closer than ever to realising transparent, ethical, and human-centered artificial intelligence that genuinely improves people's lives.'The summit featured a robust agenda of panel discussions and technical workshops led by global AI leaders. Sessions such as 'Robots: Are We Ready?' explored practical deployments of humanoid robotics and autonomous systems, while 'Pixels & Palettes: The Canvas of Tomorrow' examined the intersection of generative AI and digital creativity.Workshops from industry leaders AWS and NVIDIA offered attendees hands-on experience with enterprise-grade generative AI solutions, advanced GPU-driven analytics, and strategies for secure deployment, which reinforced the summit's commitment to merging cutting-edge research with practical, market-ready innovation.The summit also featured a high-level ministerial panel entitled 'Wanted: AI to Retain and Attract Talent to the Country,' involving ministers from Egypt, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia. Discussions covered strategies on visa reforms, fostering talent, and enhancing cross-border collaboration to attract top global AI experts.
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