The Web Summit Qatar recently hosted ‘The AI Moment’, a captivating discussion on AI’s current state and its influence across various fields. Julia Sieger of FRANCE 24 introduced the session with two notable figures: Mohamed Al-Hardan of the Qatar Investment Authority and Sachin Dev Duggal, the innovative force behind Builder.ai.
Sachin Dev Duggal shared his insights into AI’s historical journey, citing key developments such as Google’s BERT model from a decade ago. He emphasised that the significant leap in 2022 was not merely technological but also involved design enhancements that made AI more accessible and user-friendly.
Mohamed Al-Hardan spoke on the Qatar Investment Authority’s recent backing of Builder.ai’s Series D funding, outlining the strategic reasons for their support. He lauded Builder.ai’s approach to streamlining the development process and its early adoption of AI, while also highlighting the importance of thorough due diligence to ensure the efficacy of AI applications. Al-Hardan also pointed out the trend among AI startups to proactively tackle the challenges posed by AI and to remain at the forefront of technological innovation.
The discussion then turned to AI’s potential impact on employment, where Duggal and Al-Hardan offered insights that went beyond the common narrative of job losses. Sachin Duggal envisioned a future where individuals are valued for their creative contributions rather than mundane tasks, thereby transforming the traditional job landscape. Al-Hardan supported this view, stressing the need for individuals to continually adapt to the evolving AI landscape.
On the subject of AI governance, both speakers highlighted the complex ethical and regulatory issues surrounding its development. Al-Hardan cautioned against the dangers of over-regulation, which could impede innovation, advocating for a collaborative effort between regulators and technologists to bridge the understanding gap between these crucial parties.
The session concluded with a call for reform in education to better prepare the next generation for success in an AI-dominated future. Sachin Dev Duggal underscored the importance of integrating human-centric skills such as creativity and adaptability into educational curricula to ensure they are well-suited to a variety of situations.
The insights from Sachin and Al-Hardan offered a deep dive into the human aspects, ethical considerations, and responsibilities in the era of AI, highlighting the importance of placing human values at the core of AI innovation.
