TRENDS released an economic study on the future of the transition to Artificial Intelligence in the Gulf Countries

The Department of Economic Studies at TRENDS Research and Advisory, released a specialized economic study that foresees the future of the transition to artificial intelligence in the Gulf region. The study explains the Gulf countries experience in this context and the efforts to develop a leading role in the field of artificial intelligence. The study analyzes the conceptual context of artificial intelligence and addresses the major economic repercussions of the accelerated transformation towards artificial intelligence technologies and applications.

The study entitled: "The Transition to Artificial Intelligence: Observations on the Gulf Experience", indicated that the use of artificial intelligence and modern technologies has become a reality that contributes to significant change in human lives. The advent of this technological revolution opened new opportunities for positive changes. It develops production methods, increases productivity, improves well-being and the quality of life for citizens. However, there are concerns over some of these technological developments. There are concerns about the "inhumane" impact generated by expectations of high rates of unemployment due to the intensive use of machines in daily life.

Reliable data

The study recommends easy access to reliable data sources, as it is one of the most important prerequisites for good research and innovation in AI. However, current access to public sector data remain unclear and unregulated. There are other concerns about data quality, security and potential misuse. The best practices in open data can help mitigate these risks, but they require careful adaptation to the local context of the GCC states.

She stressed that need for stakeholder engagement as a condition for the effective and comprehensive integration of AI in various sectors of the economy. The top-down government efforts must be met with bottom-up initiatives from the public, private sectors and civil society to create different synergies, to make the current interest and investment in AI sustainable.

Aversion to Modern Technology

The study revealed that there is preliminary data indicating an increase in the number of people who hate technology encroachment in life. These segments harbour fears that their jobs will be taken over by robots and other artificial intelligence tools. Therefore, more research is urgently needed on this issue, especially in light of the various localization programs for the workforce in the GCC states.

The study called for the need to adapt the local ecosystems to provide sufficient flexibility and motivate companies to expand using AI applications within their sectors. Free zones have played a vital role, in cities such as Dubai, in attracting leading technology companies, and therefore, free zones can play a similar role to create an AI-friendly ecosystem.