‘We will make UAE a sci-fi world’
dubai — Within the next seven years, UAE residents would feel as if they are living in a “science fiction world”, a minister has said.
“Imagine every single service that the government provides and everything that you do is tailored to you and given to you right before you ask it. It is something that makes your life so convenient and so good ... I think it will be possible by 2025,” Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State of Artificial Intelligence (AI), said.
In an exclusive interview with
Khaleej Times on Saturday on the sidelines of the pre-event forums of the World Government Summit, the world’s first AI minister said self-driving cars could be on the roads “relatively soon”. “I can’t give a possible date, but I know that it will happen relatively soon. The reason is that the technology is already there and the only thing that’s stopping us from having self-driving cars is probably the old systems,” he said.
The UAE will focus on adopting AI in three lead sectors: Natural resources, tourism and logistics, he said. —
The UAE Minister of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Omar bin Sultan Al Olama on Saturday announced that the UAE will focus on adopting AI in three lead sectors, including natural resources, tourism and logistics. He said the UAE will “lead the world” with fast-developing technologies in AI-Ready sectors. He also said the country will soon adopt AI across the government bodies and will ensure availability of AI-Ready data.
The UAE will also upskill onethird of its IT and engineering graduates each year in AI, which is equivalent to one per cent of AI experts in the industry. And the residents could possibly feel as if they are living in a “science fiction world” by the year 2025, he added. In an exclusive interview with
Khaleej Times on Saturday on the sidelines of the pre-event forums of the World Government Summi, the minister said that self-driving cars could be on the roads “relatively soon”.
“AI in the future, I think, is going to be the most important technology that humans have ever created. It is important today, but the potential of it will be seen in the near future,” said Al Olama, who is the world’s first AI minister.
“Imagine every single service that the government provides and everything that you do, is tailored to you and given to you right before you ask it. It is something that makes your life so convenient and so good. You feel like you’re living in a science fiction world – and I think, it will be possible by 2025.”
He also touched on the muchawaited implementation of the self-driving cars in the UAE. Tesla recently opened a showroom of their autonomous cars in Dubai, however, the self-driving feature cannot be used yet because the legislation around AI has not been is- sued yet. Al though, Al Olama believes that could change sooner than expected.
He said he couldn’t reveal an exact date of when the legislation will be issued, but, the UAE will implement the technology “faster than other countries”. “I can’t give a possible date but I know that it will happen relatively soon. The reason is that the technology is already there and the only thing that’s stopping us from having self-driving cars is probably the old systems. That discussion, we are facilitating and accelerating in the fastest pace we can,” he said.
“I think we will deploy these technologies much faster than other countries. What we’ve seen from our leadership is that, if a target has been put, we will meet them or exceed them.”
A major concern that has been voiced by legislators and safety experts was that which party would be liable in the case of a car accident — the human or the vehicle? Al Olama said many countries are looking to decide that it would be the fault of the manufacturer of the car. “They (the manufacturer) need to make sure the programming is rigorous enough. It’s really something that needs to be taken into consideration. I think when an accident happens, the insurance mechanisms that are in place will govern in the right manner,” he said.
“Today, we know that our cars are a thousand folds better than the cars that were there in the past. And just imagine that potential, when it comes to artificial intelligence, a hundred folds. Because this technology will be able to give you an experience that’s unlike any other. That’s something that has endless potential.”
Imagine every single service and everything that you do is tailored. You feel like you’re living in a science fiction world – and I think, it will be possible by 2025.” Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of Artificial Intelligence