(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Qatar National Library (QNL), in partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), held its second Cultural Salon yesterday, bringing together prominent academics in computing and ethics to explore the topic,“Artificial Intelligence: Science, Work, and Ethical Challenges”.
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 with the Minister of State and President of QNL H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari in attendance.
Chaired by Dr. Ahmed K. Almagarmid, Executive Director of the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) at HBKU, the panel featured Dr. Ghanim Al Sulaiti, 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, Dr. 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. This success reaffirms the Qatar National Library's role as an influential cultural institution, driving insightful discussions on key trends, developments, and issues spanning various fields of knowledge, both locally and on a regional and global scale.
”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 its vast and wide-ranging prospects. This endeavour aligns with the Library's commitment to educate and raise awareness among society about future advancements that profoundly impact individuals in their professional, academic, and daily lives.”
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:“At its core, artificial intelligence aims to design and actualize systems that are capable of learning and decision-making autonomously. 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, including medicine, law, education, engineering, design, and accounting. He said AI serves as a powerful tool to augment human abilities, not to replace them. For instance, doctors might employ AI to better detect health issues in patients, or teachers might use AI to tailor the learning experience to each student's unique needs.
“This shows that AI doesn't replace employees but enhances their capability to perform their roles more effectively. Current studies and reports reveal that cognitive, repetitive white-collar jobs are more influenced by AI than manual blue-collar roles. 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,” he said.
Dr. Ghaly presented a comprehensive exploration of the ethical dimensions of AI.
He said:“Ethical discourse on AI is still in its infancy, with most responses to date being brief and specific to certain concerns or questions. However, as we look at the current landscape and anticipate future developments, it's apparent that AI technologies are adding complexity to these ethical matters. The universally accepted ethical principles such as justice, transparency, and respect for privacy are often broadly and ambiguously defined, leading to little room for disagreement, even among tech giants."