Artificial intelligence can help humanity, UAE's new minister says
Omar Al Olama sees potential for AI to solve issues of climate change in advance of 2018 Zayed Future Energy Prize
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence for the UAE, where AI could contribute $182 billion to the economy by 2035. Photo Courtesy: Edelman
Artificial Intelligence can help solve some of the world’s problems rather than pose a threat to humanity, says the world’s first government minister appointed to deal with the technology.
Speaking for the first time since his appointment to the UAE Cabinet, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, said he did not believe the world would “see the negative any time soon".
His appointment comes against a backdrop of global debate about advances in artificial intelligence and the potential for many traditional jobs to be lost.
“Everyone is looking at AI either as a utopian or dystopian scenario, either good or bad,” the minister said.
“I think Artificial Intelligence as it exists today is very narrow, with the things it can do.”
The minister was speaking in Abu Dhabi at a panel discussion for the 2018 Zayed Future Energy Prize, just hours after being sworn into his new post.
He spoke of his optimism about the value of AI in solving issues like climate change, rather than creating a world in which it poses a threat to mankind, as scientists like Stephen Hawking have predicted.
Such issues “are still a long time away”, the Minister said. Instead, the value of artificial intelligence could be to “offer the quick win the world needs” on the challenge of climate change.
With a prediction that $23 trillion dollars would need to be spent on improving global energy infrastructure, artificial intelligence can he said “help us consume it more efficiently, distribute it more efficiently and at the same time help us find solutions for storage.”
Another role could be the processing of huge amounts of data that would otherwise take scientists a lifetime to examine.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Organisers estimated it has positively impacted 289 million people worldwide, through projects that have saved an estimated one billion tonnes of CO2, supplied clean renewable energy to 40 million homes and given clean drinking water to over seven million.
The jury for the prize is now selecting nine winners in five categories out of a record number of 2,296 entries from more than 112 countries worldwide. The winners will be announced in January.
The chair of the jury Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the former president of Iceland, said the impact of the prize over ten years had been to show what can be achieved with clean renewable energy.
“We have been able to demonstrate to the world that this urgently needed energy transformation is a reality and should be celebrated,” he said.
“Truly the prize has given us a very optimistic message, that change is not only necessary but is possible and is in fact happening at many different levels all over the world.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, attend a swearing in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Mohammed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
(L-R) Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Chairman of Masdar and chief executive of Adnoc Group, Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development , Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy, Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State, Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of International Cooperation, and Obaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, attend a swearing in ceremony, held at Mushrif Palace. Mohammed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Nasser Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation gives his oath, during a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, gives her oath, during a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, gives his oath, during a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State gives his oath, during a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Jameela Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education Affairs (L), Mohammed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs (C) and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development (R), attend a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
(R-L) Dr Ahmed Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, Ohoud Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, and Shamma Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, attend a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
(R-L) Dr Ahmed Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, Ohoud Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, Shamma Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Nasser Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State, and Mariam Al Mehairi, Minister of State for Food Security, attend a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of State for Tolerance gives his oath, during a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, stand for a photograph with the UAE Cabinet Members on Tuesday during a swearing in ceremony at Mushrif Palace. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
(L-R) Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed , Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed , Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, stand for a photograph, during a swearing in ceremony, held at Mushrif Palace. Seen with (back L-R), Obaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Chairman of Masdar and chief executive of AdnocGroup (L), Dr Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructural Development (C) and Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry (R), attend a swearing-in ceremony for newly appointed ministers, at Mushrif Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
He also praised the role of youth in the prize.
Mr Al Olama, who is 27, said young people would determine the future.
“Youth are the drivers. Technology will always be the enabler but it will not be the driver,” the minister said.
“The driver is youth, the people who willing to make difference.
“Youth is not an age, it’s a mind-set, So if you are willing to help, willing to make a change then you are always part of the youth, even if you 100 years old.”
