At the recent Web Summit Qatar, ‘The AI Moment’ session delved into the ongoing AI evolution and its broad-reaching implications, with Julia Sieger of FRANCE 24 facilitating the discussion. The panel included Mohamed Al-Hardan of the Qatar Investment Authority and Sachin Dev Duggal from Builder.ai, who shared their in-depth knowledge.
Sachin Dev Duggal, reflecting on his extensive experience with Builder.ai, traced AI’s development trajectory, noting key milestones such as the advent of Google’s BERT model a decade ago. He highlighted that the transformative era witnessed in 2022 was propelled not just by technological strides but also by design innovations that significantly improved AI’s user engagement.
With the Qatar Investment Authority recently spearheading Builder.ai’s Series D funding round, Mohamed Al-Hardan elaborated on the strategic impetus for their investment. He praised Builder.ai for its innovative reduction of the development cycle and its proactive approach to AI, while emphasising the critical role of in-depth due diligence for AI’s successful application. Al-Hardan also commended the proactive stance of AI startups in addressing AI’s inherent challenges and their drive to be pioneers in technological innovation.
The conversation around AI’s impact on employment expanded beyond the common narrative of job displacement, with Duggal and Al-Hardan providing broader perspectives. Sachin Duggal painted a future where individuals are valued for their creative output rather than routine tasks, proposing a new paradigm for employment. Al-Hardan concurred, underscoring the necessity of continual learning to adapt to an AI-enhanced future.
The dialogue on AI governance touched upon the ethical and regulatory conundrums posed by AI’s advancement. Al-Hardan cautioned against the potential hindrance of innovation due to over-regulation, advocating for a synergistic approach between regulators and technologists to bridge the knowledge gap between these critical stakeholders.
The session wrapped up with a unanimous agreement on the need for educational reform to prepare upcoming generations for an AI-centric future. Sachin Dev Duggal emphasised the critical need for educational programs to focus on human-centric skills such as creativity and adaptability, ensuring their effectiveness in various contexts.
The insights from Sachin and Al-Hardan offered a comprehensive exploration of the human, ethical, and duty-related aspects in the era of AI, underlining the critical importance of maintaining a focus on human-centric innovation in AI development.
