Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The intricate challenges in formulating responsible governance of advanced technologies and the need for awareness came to the fore at the inaugural Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit, which concluded in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Organised by the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) in strategic partnership with the UAE Public Prosecution, the two-day event gathered more than 500 leaders around the world to set an ethical and legal framework for artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, as well as Web3 technologies.
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Hakim Hacid, Chief Researcher of the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Science Research Center in Technology Innovation Institute (TII), emphasised the need to strike a delicate balance in regulating fast-evolving technologies.
"This platform is essential to set those foundations. There are many unknown parameters related to these technologies, and we need a multidisciplinary perspective to understand how they're evolving and how we should handle them - without stifling development."
He also drew attention to the challenges from a regulatory perspective. "In AI, for instance, a key question is how we can develop large models that think like humans-or even possess a level of empathy necessary to make human-like decisions."
"In the future, we may be talking about giving robots certain rights. How do we enable them to coexist with humans safely? From the quantum perspective, how do we allow its use if it has the potential to break today's security and encryption systems? These are serious challenges we must explore," he continued.
"We need to educate people on how to use and interact with these technologies responsibly. It is not just about building them. It is about preparing society for them."
Janne Hirvimies, Chief Technology Officer at QuantumGate, which operates under VentureOne and offers quantum-safe cryptography solutions, highlighted the importance of raising awareness around quantum migration and transition."
"This is a government summit, and our aim is to show how our technology can support entities on this complex journey," Hirvimies told Aletihad.
Hirvimies noted that post-quantum migration is a complex process requiring new cryptographic methods, careful planning, as well as strong technical expertise.This is notable as many standards are still evolving and may disrupt system compatibility, he added.
In this regard, Hirvimies highlighted the UAE's global leadership in post-quantum cryptography regulation.
"The UAE has announced regulations in the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) space. I believe it's the second country in the world to do so. The US issued executive orders a year ago, and now the UAE is following - while many other regions are still only issuing recommendations.
"Standardisation is just beginning elsewhere, but it is great to see the UAE taking a leading role globally, and certainly here in the region."
Hirvimies also elaborated on Quantum Gate's offerings: "First, we help organisations evaluate and map their current systems. Second, if there are immediate needs, we have solutions that secure data against post-quantum threats. And third, we provide advisory services - because this is not a journey where you want to sit in the passenger seat. You want to be in the driver's seat, knowing where you are headed."
Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of SteerAI, an autonomous mobility technology company which is part of VentureOne, pointed to the summit's role as a networking platform for the autonomous vehicle sector.
"What sets this summit apart is its strong technology focus. ATRC is where a lot of the applied research happens, and robotics and autonomous systems are a major area of interest. It is a great opportunity for us as an autonomous vehicle company to work with focused institutions and companies."
He stressed the need for education and clarity when introducing autonomous technologies to established institutions, in addition to the need for strong legislation to build public confidence and ensure safe, accountable deployment.
Sonderby noted that SteerAI focuses on ground and marine autonomy. "Our work involves retrofit solutions - adding autonomy to existing vehicles, whether ground or marine. We enable vehicles with drive-by-wire systems to power logistics and defense solutions."
Sonderby also highlighted Abu Dhabi's leadership in governance of advanced technologies.
"What is exciting is how legal institutions and regulations are being developed in parallel with private sector innovation. There is a lot of testing happening here."
