The United Arab Emirates (UAE) showcased its pioneering experience in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and assisted AI during the Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, held in Seoul, South Korea. This event was organised by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Information and Communications. The summit brought together government officials, experts, leaders from international institutions, and private sector representatives from around the globe.
Global Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing
The UAE’s participation aimed to enhance international cooperation and knowledge exchange in the domains of AI and digital transformation. It highlighted the country’s successful practices in improving governmental services and operational efficiency while exploring opportunities to leverage advanced technologies for enhancing public services, expediting processes, and simplifying procedures. These efforts are designed to boost efficiency and flexibility, thus improving individual experiences and the business environment.
Key Discussions at the Summit
Mohammed bin Taliah, Assistant Minister for Cabinet Affairs for Knowledge Exchange, participated in several key meetings and sessions at the summit. These discussions focused on the future of AI and digital transformation, as well as the critical role of international partnerships in advancing government work and sharing successful experiences.
Bin Taliah emphasised that the UAE’s involvement exemplifies the country’s commitment to enhancing international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and expanding partnerships to harness the potential of AI and advanced technologies for governmental advancement, ultimately yielding tangible benefits for communities.
Redesigning Government Processes
He asserted that, under the visionary guidance of its leadership, the UAE believes that the true value of AI goes beyond merely adopting the latest technologies. It encompasses reengineering governmental processes, enhancing service delivery, and simplifying procedures to improve efficiency while saving time and effort for individuals and businesses alike.
Furthermore, he underscored the significance of international collaboration and the sharing of successful practices to accelerate the development and adoption of effective technological solutions.
Focus on Bureaucracy Reduction
During the summit, Bin Taliah participated in a high-level roundtable discussing the elimination of bureaucracy. He shared the UAE’s experience in its bureaucracy reduction programme, which aims to remove unnecessary procedures, steps, and requirements, thereby redesigning government services and processes to enhance efficiency and flexibility. This initiative is geared towards facilitating individual lives and supporting the business environment.
AI for Development and Global Partnerships
Additionally, he took part in a session themed “AI for Development: Unlocking Global Partnerships to Expand Local Impact.” This session concentrated on the role of international partnerships in employing AI for development and amplifying the impact of innovative solutions. Bin Taliah affirmed the importance of establishing effective partnerships among governments, development institutions, and the private sector to transform AI potential into practical and scalable solutions that meet real needs and achieve sustainable developmental impacts.
Strengthening Collaborative Ties
On the sidelines of the summit, Bin Taliah held bilateral meetings with several ministers and officials from partner countries in the Government Knowledge Exchange Programme, along with officials from South Korea. These discussions centred on exploring collaboration opportunities and sharing expertise in AI and governmental development.
He also met with Ha Jong-Woo, Vice Chair of the Presidential Council for National AI Strategy in South Korea, where both parties discussed opportunities for knowledge exchange and the implementation of AI strategies within governmental operations.
A Commitment to Enhanced Governance
The UAE’s participation in the summit forms part of its collaboration with the World Bank and aligns with the partnership launched by both entities during the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in April. This partnership aims to leverage the Government Knowledge Exchange Programme to share experiences and best practices that support the modernisation of governmental administration, improve efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance quality of life.
Ultimately, the summit served as an international platform to explore ways to deploy AI and digital technologies to support economic growth, enhance productivity, and expand developmental opportunities. It emphasised the importance of developing digital infrastructure and capabilities, equipping nations to fully leverage modern technologies, and fostering partnerships necessary to transform technological advances into improved services and more inclusive, sustainable developmental outcomes.