Qatar launches strategy to tap AI for future

Qatar's National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy was launched Tuesday at the Qatar Information Technology and Communication Conference and Exhibition 2019 (Qitcom).

The announcement was made by HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti. The National AI Strategy is a blueprint produced by Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).“This strategy is the first of its kind to be developed in collaboration between the government and a research institute. It aims to adopt the artificial intelligence and harness it to secure the economic and strategic future of Qatar as is envisaged by Qatar National Strategy 2030,” noted the minister.“We are honoured to have our blueprint accepted and launched as the Qatar National Artificial Strategy. It is structured around six thematic pillars and covers the areas in which AI contributes,” Dr Ahmed K Elmagarmid, executive director, QCRI, told Gulf Times.Earlier this year, QCRI had produced the blueprint with the aim of informing and advising Qatar’s leadership on the potential opportunities and challenges relating to AI, and to propose a path forward.The six pillars which underpin the new national AI strategy are: Talent; Data Access; Employment; Wealth Creation; Embracing an AI + X Future; and Thought Leadership in AI Ethics."This strategy looks at various aspects such as education, businesses, employment among others. For example, it looks how AI impacts employment. In some cases, you have AI replacing employment but in other ares you find it creating new employment opportunities. The strategy aims to enable Qatar to create higher values and in the end gain considerably from the opportunities created by AI,” explained Dr Ashraf Aboulnga, research director, QCRI.“At QCRI, there is a big spectrum of activities from research to advanced development of products. QCRI will develop new ideas related to AI that will serve local economy,” continued, Dr Aboulnga.Since its inception in 2010, QCRI has been a thought leader in the use of AI in areas of computing research and has been continuing to raise Qatar’s profile as a global technology innovation hub.HBKU is committed to actively contributing to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, and is proud to be supporting the government’s efforts to make Qatar a leading figure in AI. The announcement that its blueprint has been accepted as Qatar’s national AI strategy can only enhance QCRI’s already impressive ability to attract top-tier talent in this field.“Qatar can lead by example and show the rest of the world how to seamlessly embrace an AI+X Future, where almost every activity of importance will be touched by AI,” added, Dr Elmagarmid.