UAE’s AI embrace will enhance quality of life

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds the key to the future, and the UAE knows this best. Countries that fail to foresee trends or refuse to accept technological changes are sure to be left behind in a fast moving world. Thanks to visionary leadership, the UAE is already leading the digitisation race in the region.

The adoption by the UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 is an unmistakable sign of how the UAE aims at positioning itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031.

The idea is to develop an integrated system that employs AI in vital areas.

Sheikh Mohammed has made it clear that the UAE is moving ahead with its vision through a well-defined plan for the UAE Centennial 2071. As he put it, “We have launched a national strategy for artificial intelligence to make an integral part of our business, our lives and our government services. The UAE is ready to embrace technological advances and seeks to employ modern technology to enhance the quality of life.”

The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 includes eight strategic objectives along with a number of initiatives aimed at employing artificial intelligence in areas such as education, government services and the community wellbeing. The strategy implementation is overseen by the Emirates Council for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transactions, in coordination with a number of local and federal entities.

The eight objectives include: Reaffirming UAE’s position as a global hub for artificial intelligence, increasing the competitive edge of the AI sector in the UAE, establishing an incubator for AI innovations, employing AI in the field of customer services to improve the quality of life, attracting and training talents for jobs of the future, attracting leading research capabilities, providing a data-driven infrastructure to support AI experiments, and optimising AI governance and regulations.

The upsurge in patent applications for devices and machines powered by AI in the last five years suggests that it could soon revolutionise all areas of daily life far beyond the tech world, as per a recent UN report.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Technology Trends report, 50 per cent of all patents for AI – the replication of human intelligence by machines for use in industries such as transport and healthcare, for instance – have been published since 2013, adding up to more than 170,000 different patented ideas.

Digital solutions are rapidly transforming lives. For example, there are robots that help the elderly, a mobile phone app identifies crop pests and surgical robots are becoming common in hospitals. These advances are all due to AI.

Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, recently highlighted that in line with the growth of the AI industry, with value estimated to reach $300 billion by the year 2026, and an industry growth of 38.8 per cent in the next seven years, the UAE government aims to be one of the most advanced countries in the adoption and deployment of such technology.

Besides providing better life for all, AI applications will help generate major revenues and bestow fresh opportunities for the national economy. Hence, embracing AI is the best way forward and the UAE deserves kudos for doing so.