HE Dr. Saeed is a futurist, thought leader, AI ethicist, Author, and Public keynote speaker. He has been in many positions: the founder and former Director General of the Emirates ID Authority, a former member of the scientific advisory committee of the UAE Space Agency, and a former Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on information technology.
Currently, He is the director of the Center for Futures Studies at the University of Dubai, a visiting lecturer at Oxford University course: Artificial Intelligence: Generative AI, Cloud and MLOps (online), guest lecturer in the HP-Cambridge Partnership for Education EdTech Fellowship, President of the UAE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), a member of the Global Future Council of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Metaverse, a UNESCO co-Chair on anticipatory systems, and he is on industrial advisory boards of several universities in the UAE. “Dr. Saeed serves on the advisory boards of several international forums, including the World Ethical Data Foundation and the Friends of the Forum Committee at the Dubai Future Forum. He is also a Senior Fellow of the AI 2030: Responsible AI for a Better World initiative.
He co-authored the book Digital Nation: How the UAE is building a future based on tech innovation. He has written several articles and reports published in Harvard Business Review Arabia, MIT Technology Review Arabia, and Dubai Policy Review Journal. He has been invited to speak at prestigious universities and international platforms including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the UN, the WEF, and OPEC.
With an impressive track record spanning leadership roles in technology, academia, and global advisory boards, Dr. Saeed stands at the forefront of shaping the future of innovation. His visionary contributions to AI, robotics, and ethical data practices have earned him recognition as one of the UAE’s most influential thought leaders. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Saeed shares his insights on the transformative power of technology, his journey as a futurist, and his outlook on the evolving global landscape of AI and innovation.
Dr. Saeed, with your extensive background in digital transformation, what initially drew you to the field of artificial intelligence, and how has your perspective on AI evolved over the years?
I was always captivated by the idea of simulating aspects of human intelligence through machines, especially using supervised learning. The concept of training a machine on known data, then testing it to see if it could generalize and predict new, unseen scenarios, sparked my initial curiosity. This led me to do my master’s thesis in 1989 on neural networks (now the basis for Deep Learning), where I focused on applying these models in biomedical engineering. Specifically, I explored whether a neural network could predict heart attacks by analyzing historical data – a challenging yet thrilling project that showed me AI’s potential to make life-saving predictions.
As AI gained momentum over the past decade, my interest deepened alongside advances in algorithms, big data, and computational power. These developments highlighted the urgent need for responsible AI practices, especially given rising ethical concerns and mishaps. This drove me to expand my expertise into AI ethics, earning a certification from the Open Data Institute (ODI). Today, I am committed not only to advancing AI but also to championing ethical and responsible AI practices that build trust and minimize societal harm.
I was always captivated by the idea of simulating aspects of human intelligence through machines, especially using supervised learning.
AI is transforming industries worldwide. What areas of the UAE economy do you see benefiting most from AI in the coming years, and why?
According to the UAE National AI Strategy 2031, several key sectors stand to benefit most from AI advancements:
- Energy: The UAE is leveraging AI to optimize resource management, boost energy efficiency, and support sustainable practices—essential elements of the nation’s environmental goals. The recent ADIPEC event, the world’s largest energy exhibition and conference in Abu Dhabi, showcased AI innovations in energy and reinforced the UAE’s global leadership in this field.
- Logistics and Transportation: With its strategic position as a global hub for sea and air transit, the UAE is ideally positioned to pilot advanced AI solutions in logistics, enhancing efficiency and establishing the nation as a leader in connected transport.
- Tourism and Hospitality: AI offers transformative potential in this sector, enabling the UAE to deliver unparalleled customer support and personalized experiences, positioning it as a premier destination for AI-enhanced tourism.
- Government: The UAE aims to become an AI-driven government, integrating AI across operations to improve decision-making, streamline services, and stimulate economic growth.
To realize these benefits, the UAE has also invested in building national AI companies like G42 and MGX, with support from Mubadala, Microsoft, and other global partners. These investments reflect the UAE’s commitment to AI innovation, which is expected to deliver substantial returns in the future.
What are some of the key ethical challenges associated with AI development and deployment? How do you believe governments and organizations should address these issues?
One of the most significant ethical challenges in AI is biased output which negatively impact decision-making, and can lead to unfair outcomes and perpetuate societal inequities. Biased data or algorithms can result in discriminatory practices, ultimately impacting individuals and communities unjustly.
Another key challenge is misinformation, hallucination, and deepfakes associated with generative AI, leading to public distrust, and even manipulation. This can have far-reaching effects, from influencing public opinion to eroding trust in AI systems.
Privacy concerns also emerge as AI systems collect and analyze vast amounts of personal data, sometimes without explicit consent. This raises questions about data protection, transparency, and the individual’s right to privacy. We are witnessing rising in court cases related to AI that, in my opinion, stems from inadequate privacy safeguards, highlighting the urgent need for robust measures to protect individuals’ data rights in the AI era.
Lastly, there is a challenge with accountability and transparency in AI decision-making. Often, AI models are complex and operate as ‘black boxes,’ making it challenging to understand how decisions are made.
I am strongly advocating governments and organizations to adopt a responsible AI approach to ensure ethical development and deployment of AI technologies. This includes rigorous testing for systems used by governments, implementing responsible use policies within organizations, and educating government staff and the public at large about AI ethics and risks. Balanced regulations are essential, as they provide accountability while still fostering innovation.
The role of AI in government services is expanding rapidly. How do you envision AI enhancing public sector services in the UAE, particularly in citizen engagement and efficient resource management?
AI can enhance citizen interaction with government by reducing friction in interactions, and enabling seamless communication between citizens and government. For example, conversational chatbots can make government services more accessible, particularly for people of determination, fostering greater inclusivity and ease of use. Additionally, the more recent development in AI agents will foster automating redundant tasks – allows human resources to focus on higher-value tasks, improving productivity and reducing operational costs. The UAE government has already started using these conversational chatbot into some of their services. For example, Dubai virtual city concierge (Dubai.ai) provides answers to many of the citizens questions, specially for business people seeking to establish a business in Dubai. But people need to be careful as they use these technologies to judge the outcome of the conversation and verify the information they receive as sometimes these chatbots might produce erroneous or incorrect output
I am strongly advocating governments and organizations to adopt a responsible AI approach to ensure ethical development and deployment of AI technologies
How can AI be harnessed to improve cybersecurity in a world where digital threats are constantly evolving? Are there specific AI-based approaches that show promise in this area?
AI is used in cybersecurity today to provide real-time threat detection and automated response systems that can instantly identify and neutralize potential attacks. Machine learning algorithms are used by organizations to anticipate and prevent threats before they materialize. Organizations who successfully implemented AI-powered security systems reported significantly lower breach costs, faster threat detection, and improved response times.
The UAE has been recognized as a global leader in cybersecurity, earning the top-tier rating in the newly released Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 by the ITU. Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) has released recently an AI Security policy that encourages the use of AI to mitigate cybersecurity risks. A recent study by Cisco revealed that 91% of UAE companies are utilizing AI technologies in their security defenses, primarily focusing on threat detection, response, and recovery.
Smart cities are increasingly integrating AI to optimize services and resources. What role does AI play in the development of smart cities in the UAE, and what benefits can citizens expect from this integration?
The UAE is committed to using AI to create efficient, safe & secure, and sustainable smart cities. The UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031 underscores the critical role of AI in achieving sustainability goals across UAE smart cities Initiatives. For example the autonomous transportation strategy of Dubai aims to make 25% of its transportation autonomous by 2030, therefore Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 2023 started piloting and testing self-driving cars in certain designated areas with these cities. In a very futurist move Dubai announced to operate flying taxi within the city by 2026.
In healthcare, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) leverages AI for diagnostic imaging within the Dubai Smart City initiative. AI-driven chest X-ray analysis at medical fitness centers expedites mandatory medical screenings, streamlining workflows and ensuring rapid, automated report generation.
Also, safety & security initiatives like “Falcon Eye” in Abu Dhabi and “Oyoon” in Dubai utilize AI-driven surveillance and predictive analytics to enhance public safety and emergency response, making Abu Dhabi and Dubai among the top safest cities in the world – a feature highly valued by residents.
The UAE has been recognized as a global leader in cybersecurity, earning the top-tier rating in the newly released Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 by the ITU
These initiatives enhance citizens’ quality of life by providing time-saving, faster services, and improved safety.
To accelerate AI adoption, the UAE recently appointed Chief AI Officers within government departments to spearhead AI-enabled solutions in public services to foster adoption of smart and intelligent city initiatives.
With AI-driven automation reshaping the job market, how should governments and educational institutions prepare the workforce for the AI-driven economy?
The UAE government is committed to the principle of “leaving no one behind” in preparing for an AI-driven economy. Therefore, several impactful initiatives have been launched:
Reskilling and Upskilling Programs: The government recently committed to reskilling 100,000 government employees with essential AI skills.
Executive AI Training: Programs like the MBZAIU executive course are designed to equip government leaders with AI knowledge and skills to lead in an AI-powered world.
Widespread AI Training: Crown Prince H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has announced a large-scale initiative to train 1 million people in prompting and prompt engineering.
Youth Education: The UAE AI Office leads the AI Summer Camp, an intensive summer program for school and university students to gain foundational AI skills.
Coding for All: The UAE AI Office also runs a coding initiative through “Coders HQ” aiming to train 1 million people in coding.
Through these initiatives, the UAE ensures its workforce is well-prepared and equipped for an AI-powered economy.
In healthcare, AI has shown transformative potential. What are some ways you see AI improving healthcare outcomes in the UAE, especially in terms of diagnostics, treatment personalization, or health system efficiency?
In many ways. For example, In Enhanced Diagnostics: AI algorithms are improving diagnostic accuracy by analyzing medical images and patient data to detect diseases at earlier stages. For instance, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) employs AI to interpret chest X-rays in medical fitness centers, expediting analysis and reporting. Also, Robotics are used to help pharmacists in Government hospitals to fetch and bring prescriptions from the shelves to the pharmacist, increasing accuracy and reducing patients waiting time for getting prescriptions
Personalized Treatment Plans: AI enables the development of tailored treatment strategies by analyzing individual patient data, including genetic information. When complete, the Emirati Genome Program (EGP) will provide a comprehensive map of the genetic makeup of Emirati citizens, enhancing the nation’s capabilities in personalized and preventive healthcare. Using advanced DNA sequencing and AI, the program analyzes extensive genomic data to identify patterns and predict health risks. This enables healthcare practitioners to offer tailored treatments and early interventions for genetic disorders, significantly improving health outcomes for the Emirati population.
Operational Efficiency: AI streamlines administrative tasks and optimizes resource allocation within healthcare facilities. Hospitals in the UAE are using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate routine processes like data entry and appointment scheduling, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care.
AI systems require significant amounts of data to be effective. How do you think organizations should approach data privacy and security while still enabling AI advancements?
Organizations can ensure data privacy and security for AI systems by adopting a responsible use policy that defines ethical data handling practices, educating staff on data privacy principles to build awareness, and enforcing compliance with data protection policies. This combined approach enables organizations to leverage AI effectively while safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining trust.
Finally, as a thought leader in AI and technology, what advice would you give to young professionals who are interested in a career in AI? What skills or areas should they focus on to make an impact in this field?
For young professionals aspiring to a career in AI, my advice is to build a strong foundation in both technical and ethical aspects of the field. Focus on mastering core skills in data science, machine learning, and prompting, but also develop problem-solving abilities and a mindset geared towards continuous learning, as AI is a rapidly evolving field. Understanding AI ethics and responsible use is equally crucial; knowing how to apply AI in a way that benefits society will set you apart. Embrace curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to using AI as a force for positive change.
(c) Latin&Gulf.ae Magazine 2024
