The Web Summit Qatar was the backdrop for a riveting session on ‘The AI Moment’, delving into AI’s transformative impact across industries. Julia Sieger from FRANCE 24 steered the conversation, featuring insights from Mohamed Al-Hardan of the Qatar Investment Authority and Sachin Dev Duggal from Builder.ai.
Sachin Dev Duggal reflected on AI’s historical progression, anchored in his experiences with Builder.ai. He pointed to pivotal developments like Google’s BERT model from a decade ago and emphasised that 2022 represented a significant shift, driven not only by technological advances but also by design innovations that enhanced user engagement with AI.
Following the Qatar Investment Authority’s investment in Builder.ai’s Series D funding, Mohamed Al-Hardan elaborated on the strategic rationale behind their decision. He commended Builder.ai for its efficiency in the development process and its anticipatory approach to AI, underscoring the need for thorough due diligence to ensure AI’s effectiveness. Al-Hardan also remarked on the proactive nature of AI startups in addressing AI’s challenges and their eagerness to lead in technological advancements.
The discussion then navigated the implications of AI on employment, with Duggal and Al-Hardan providing perspectives that transcended the common concerns over job redundancy. Sachin Duggal proposed a future where people are recognised for their creative input rather than mundane tasks, offering a novel perspective on employment. Al-Hardan supported this view, highlighting the importance of adaptability in the evolving AI landscape.
The conversation on AI governance touched on the ethical and regulatory hurdles inherent in AI’s progression. Al-Hardan cautioned against the potential pitfalls of excessive regulation that could stifle innovation, calling for a synergistic approach between regulators and technologists to diminish the understanding gap between them.
The session wrapped up with a consensus on the urgent need for educational reform to prepare the youth for an AI-dominated future. Sachin Dev Duggal emphasised the necessity of embedding human-centric skills such as creativity and adaptability into educational curricula, ensuring their relevance in various situations.
The insights from Sachin and Al-Hardan provided a comprehensive overview of the human, ethical, and responsibility dimensions in the AI era, underlining the importance of human-centric approaches in AI innovation.
