QNL Cultural Salon explores impact of AI on Arab societies

PROMINENT academics in the fields of computing and ethics came together to explore the topic, ‘Artificial Intelligence: Science, Work, and Ethical Challenges’, at the second Cultural Salon organised by Qatar National Library (QNL), in partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), on May 29.

The Cultural Salon began with an insightful discussion that delved into the challenges, opportunities, and ethical considerations that arise as AI reshapes our world within the realms of work, society, and culture. The event was attended by guests from the media and the wider community.

Chaired by Dr Ahmed K. Almagarmid, executive director of the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) at HBKU, the panel featured Dr. Ghanim AlSulaiti, a scientist at QCRI and an AI technology expert, and Dr Mohammed Ghaly, professor of Islamic Studies and Bioethics at the College of Islamic Studies, HBKU. *

Commenting on the event, Minister of State and President of QNL HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari said: ”The Cultural Salon at Qatar National Library has made significant strides in its second session, solidifying its position as a prominent platform for intellectual and scholarly dialogue within Qatar’s cultural landscape. Today’s session focused on the compelling subject of artificial intelligence technology, which has garnered widespread attention across media outlets, technology platforms, internet companies, and search engines.

Recognising the significance of this technology, our aim was to explore it is vast and wide-ranging prospects.”

Opening the session with an exciting overview of AI’s evolution in all its complexity, while highlighting its significance and potential impacts, Dr Almagarmid

noted: “Subtly yet profoundly, AI has woven itself into our everyday activities, most notably seen in virtual assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. It is leading revolutions across a vast spectrum of fields, effecting transformations that would have been unimaginable a few years ago.”

Sharing his expertise, Dr. Al-Sulaiti focused on the impact of AI on various professions. He said: “Artificial intelligence, from my perspective, serves as a powerful tool to augment human abilities, not to replace them. As this technology evolves, we see new job roles rising, like AI ethicists, AI system trainers, and AI maintenance specialists - positions that were unheard of just a decade ago. This stands as a testament to AI’s potential to spawn entirely new industries and professions.”