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AI risks from an Arab world perspective

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Mohammed A. Al-Qarni
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Author
Mohammed A. Al-Qarni

AI risks from an Arab world perspective

Author
Mohammed A. Al-Qarni
AI risks from an Arab world perspective
Data is a significant factor in the peril of AI systems, particularly regarding value misalignment. (Shutterstock image)
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https://arab.news/4t28r

Imagine a future where machines work alongside us and make decisions that shape our societies, economies and even our daily lives. This is the promise and peril of artificial intelligence as it stands at the brink of transforming our world.

AI is offering unprecedented advancements across various sectors. However, this rapid development also brings significant risks. As the Arab world steps into this new era, it is crucial to understand these risks and their direct implications for our region’s unique context.

Unlike traditional software, which operates within predefined parameters set by developers, making its behavior more predictable and easier to control, AI systems, especially advanced ones, have the potential to make autonomous decisions that can significantly impact human lives, societies and ethical standards.

Therefore, we need to talk about AI values in a way that we do not typically discuss software values.

AI systems, particularly those involving machine learning and neural networks, can evolve and learn from data, leading to behaviors that are not explicitly programmed. Data is a significant factor in the peril of AI systems, particularly regarding value misalignment.

However, it is not the only factor. The overall alignment of AI systems with human values also depends on designing and implementing algorithms, training processes and other technical and ethical considerations.

Most AI systems are developed outside the Arab world, primarily in regions with different cultural, social and ethical values. This can lead to a significant misalignment between the values embedded in these systems and those of the Arab world.

The social and cultural fabric of the Arab world is deeply rooted in community values, ethics and traditions. Introducing advanced AI systems raises questions about their alignment with these values.

Systems developed in the West or in East Asia may not fully understand or respect the cultural norms and values of the Arab world. This can result in AI behaviors or culturally insensitive or inappropriate decisions.

Moreover, AI applications require a deep understanding of local contexts to function effectively and ethically. Without this, systems might make decisions that overlook important regional nuances.

The ethical frameworks guiding AI development in other regions might differ significantly from those in the Arab world. This can lead to AI systems that make decisions based on ethical principles not fully aligned with local values.

To address the potential misalignment, the Arab world needs to invest in local AI research and development to create systems aligned with regional values and contexts. This includes training local talent and establishing research institutions focused on culturally aware AI.

We are not advocating for decoupled AI development. On the contrary, working with international AI developers is paramount to ensure that the systems they create are adaptable to different cultural contexts.

The Arab world needs to invest in local AI research and development to create systems aligned with regional values and contexts.

Mohammed A. Al-Qarni

This collaboration can help integrate local values and norms into global AI systems. Such collaboration would require developing ethical guidelines for AI development and deployment that reflect the values and priorities of the Arab world. Such guidelines can serve as a benchmark for evaluating and adopting AI technologies from other regions.

As the science fiction writer William Gibson said: “The future is already here — it’s just not very evenly distributed.”

AI is the future, so we cannot fight it. Many experts and analysts describe its impact on the economy as akin to electrification and the industrial revolution. This comparison holds substantial merit.

Like electricity and the industrial revolution, AI has the potential to influence virtually every industry. From healthcare and finance to transportation and manufacturing, AI technologies are being integrated into various sectors, transforming how they operate.

AI can automate complex tasks, optimize processes and enable new levels of efficiency and productivity, driving substantial economic growth.

The promise of AI goes beyond traditional industries to enable the development of new technologies and industries, such as autonomous vehicles, personalized medicine and intelligent infrastructure.

The Arab world is undergoing a significant economic transformation, diversifying away from oil. Given AI’s potential, it can play a crucial role in this transition, but also faces the prospect of workforce displacement and economic disparity.

As AI is integrated into industries, managing its adoption to enhance productivity while creating new job opportunities and upskilling the workforce must be strategically managed.

Automation should be balanced with efforts to reskill workers and integrate them into new roles created by AI advancements.

The promised economic benefits of AI must be distributed equitably across different segments of society, preventing widening economic disparities.

These requirements can only be met by developing educational programs that prepare the workforce for the AI-driven future. This includes integrating AI literacy into school curriculums and offering specialized training programs in AI and related fields.

Policies and programs should be developed to support those most affected by AI-induced changes in the labor market. This might include supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises in adopting AI technologies and ensuring that rural and underserved areas can access AI resources and training.

The Arab world’s human capital must be enabled to innovate in the AI space and not remain a passive recipient of globally developed systems, encouraging the development of innovation hubs and ecosystems that support AI research, development and entrepreneurship. This can help drive economic growth and create new job opportunities in the AI sector.

In short, as the Arab world embraces AI’s transformative potential, it is crucial to consider the associated risks from a regional perspective.

By developing robust regulatory frameworks, fostering cultural sensitivity and ensuring equitable economic benefits, the region can harness AI’s potential while safeguarding against its potential harms.

Engaging with global thought leaders and adopting best practices will further enhance the region’s ability to navigate the complex landscape of AI risks and opportunities.

• Mohammed A. Al-Qarni is an academic and consultant on AI for business
 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Upbeat New Zealand feel ‘lucky’ in Lahore for South Africa semifinal

Upbeat New Zealand feel ‘lucky’ in Lahore for South Africa semifinal
Updated 4 min 50 sec ago
Reuters
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Upbeat New Zealand feel ‘lucky’ in Lahore for South Africa semifinal

Upbeat New Zealand feel ‘lucky’ in Lahore for South Africa semifinal
  • Kiwis face South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday in second Champions Trophy semifinal 
  • New Zealand won tri-series tournament involving Pakistan, South Africa in Lahore weeks ago
Updated 4 min 50 sec ago
Reuters

New Zealand bring “positive emotions” on their return to Lahore for the Champions Trophy semifinal against South Africa after good results during the Pakistan tri-series, coach Gary Stead said on Tuesday.

New Zealand beat a vastly different South Africa team by six wickets in Lahore three weeks ago, two days after beating Pakistan at the same venue in warmups for the ODI tournament.

“We are lucky. We’ve had some experience playing here in the tri-series before the tournament actually kicked off,” Stead told reporters on a video call.

“We’ve got some on-ground experience and I guess some positive emotions to fall back on the way we played here as well.”

Though losing to India on a spin-friendly wicket in Dubai, New Zealand were happy how their three-pronged pace attack of Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke performed to restrict the South Asians to 249-9.

Stead, also a selector, said it was likely New Zealand would stick with the same trio and complement them with spin from their contingent of all-rounders as they did against India and in the previous win against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.

New Zealand produced 300-plus totals in both their recent wins in Lahore, and Stead said taking wickets in the early and middle overs would be key to prevent South Africa from batting big.

“We haven’t been down to the ground yet to see if we’re on a used wicket or not, but generally these wickets are pretty good batting surfaces,” he added.

“They don’t bounce too much.”

South Africa will have a very different team than the lineup that played in the tri-series.

Tabraiz Shamsi has not appeared at the Champions Trophy but Stead suggested the left-arm wrist spinner might be called up in place of paceman Lungi Ngidi.

“They’re a very, very good side and we’re going to have to play right near our best to beat them,” he added.

Topics: Champions Trophy 2025 New Zealand South Africa Cricket

Philippine fighter jet goes missing while on a mission against insurgents in southern province

Philippine fighter jet goes missing while on a mission against insurgents in southern province
Updated 27 min 25 sec ago
AP
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Philippine fighter jet goes missing while on a mission against insurgents in southern province

Philippine fighter jet goes missing while on a mission against insurgents in southern province
  • The FA-50 jet lost communication during the tactical mission around midnight Monday
  • The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province
Updated 27 min 25 sec ago
AP

MANILA: A Philippine air force fighter jet with two pilots on board has gone missing during a night combat assault in support of ground forces who were battling insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway, officials said Tuesday.
The FA-50 jet lost communication during the tactical mission with other air force aircraft around midnight Monday before reaching a target area. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province, the air force said without providing other details for security reasons.
A Philippine military official told The Associated Press that the incident happened in a southern Philippine province, where an anti-insurgency mission against communist guerrillas was underway. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the sensitive situation publicly.
“We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time,” air force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.
It was not immediately clear if the rest of the FA-50s would be grounded following the incident.
The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multi-purpose fighter jets starting in 2015 from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. for 18.9 billion pesos ($331 million) in what was then the biggest deal under a military modernization program that has been repeatedly stalled by a lack of funds.
Aside from anti-insurgency operations, the jets have been used in a range of activities, from major national ceremonies to patrolling the disputed South China Sea.

Topics: Philippines

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‘Blatant violation of law’: Pakistan condemns Israel for blocking Gaza aid

‘Blatant violation of law’: Pakistan condemns Israel for blocking Gaza aid
Updated 39 min 12 sec ago
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‘Blatant violation of law’: Pakistan condemns Israel for blocking Gaza aid

‘Blatant violation of law’: Pakistan condemns Israel for blocking Gaza aid
  • Israel blocked entry of aid trucks into Gaza on Sunday as standoff over uneasy truce with Hamas escalated
  • Pakistan urges world to hold Israel accountable for “imposition of collective punishment” on Palestinian civilians 
Updated 39 min 12 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson this week criticized Israel for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling it a blatant violation of law and urging the international community to hold the Jewish state accountable for collectively punishing millions of civilians through the move. 

Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on Sunday as a standoff over the truce that has halted fighting for the past six weeks escalated.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres warned that the suspension of aid will add significant pressure on the two million Palestinians in the enclave who are still suffering from shortages of essential goods following 16 months of war. Israel has previously accused Hamas of hijacking aid, which the group denied.

“The Government of Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms Israeli decision to block critical humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, during the holy month of Ramadan,” the foreign office said in a press release on Monday. 

“This latest action is part of Israel’s systematic campaign to deny much needed humanitarian aid to millions of Palestinians in dire need. This constitutes yet another blatant violation of international law by the occupying power and could imperil the ceasefire agreement.”

Pakistan urged the international community to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and to hold the Jewish state accountable for “imposition of collective punishment” by denying millions of civilians humanitarian aid.

“We also reiterate our call for the full implementation of the agreement to secure a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza as well as the revival of a political process to achieve the two-state solution, with a viable, sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” the foreign office concluded. 

Phase two talks between Israel and Hamas to negotiate a final end to the war have barely begun. Israel, while announcing the halt to aid entry, said it will not allow a ceasefire without the release of all remaining hostages. Hamas has denounced Israel’s move as “blackmail” and a “blatant coup against the agreement.”

Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on Oct.7, 2023, killed 1,200 people and 251 people were taken into Gaza as hostages. The subsequent Israeli campaign killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, displaced almost all of its 2.3 million population and left Gaza a wasteland.

Both sides agreed to an uneasy, six-week truce on Jan. 19 which paved the way for the release of hostages from both sides. Israel’s move to block humanitarian aid to Gaza has renewed fears among the international community that the conflict would restart. 

Topics: Pakistan Gaza Israel

Japan’s worst wildfire in half a century spreads

Japan’s worst wildfire in half a century spreads
Updated 49 min 58 sec ago
AFP
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Japan’s worst wildfire in half a century spreads

Japan’s worst wildfire in half a century spreads
  • It is estimated to have damaged at least 80 buildings by Sunday
  • The number of wildfires in Japan has declined since its 1970s peak
Updated 49 min 58 sec ago
AFP

Tokyo: Firefighters were Tuesday battling Japan’s worst wildfire in half a century, which has left one dead and forced the evacuation of nearly 4,000 local residents.
White smoke billowed from a forested area around the northern city of Ofunato, aerial TV footage showed, five days after the blaze began after record low rainfall.
The fire also follows Japan’s hottest summer on record last year, as climate change pushes up temperatures worldwide.
As of Tuesday morning, the wildfire had engulfed around 2,600 hectares (6,400 acres), the fire and disaster management agency said — over seven times the area of New York’s Central Park.
That makes it Japan’s largest wildfire since 1975 when 2,700 hectares burnt in Kushiro on northern Hokkaido island.
It is estimated to have damaged at least 80 buildings by Sunday, although details were still being assessed, the agency said.
Military and fire department helicopters are trying to douse the Ofunato fire, but it is still spreading, a city official told reporters.
“There is little concern that the fire will reach the (more densely populated) city area,” the official said, adding that authorities were “doing our best” to put it out.
Around 2,000 firefighters — most deployed from other parts of the country, including Tokyo — are working from the air and ground in the area in Iwate region, which was hard-hit by a deadly tsunami in 2011.
An evacuation advisory has been issued to around 4,600 people, of whom 3,939 have left their homes to seek shelter, according to the municipality.
The number of wildfires in Japan has declined since its 1970s peak, but the country saw about 1,300 in 2023, concentrated in February to April when the air dries and winds pick up.
Ofunato had just 2.5 millimeters (0.1 inches) of rainfall in February — breaking the previous record low for the month of 4.4 millimeters in 1967 and below the usual average of 41 millimeters.
Since Friday, “there has been no rain — or very little, if any” in Ofunato, a local weather agency official told AFP.
But “on Wednesday it may rain or snow,” he said.
Some types of extreme weather have a well established link with climate change, such as heatwaves or heavy rainfall.
Other phenomena like droughts, snowstorms, tropical storms and forest fires can result from a combination of complex factors.
Some companies have been affected by the wildfire, such as Taiheiyo Cement, which told AFP its Ofunato plant has suspended operations for several days because part of its premises is in the evacuation advisory zone.
Ofunato-based confectionery company Saitoseika warned that “if our headquarters or plants become a no-go zone, we may need to halt production,” describing the situation as “tense.”
Japanese baseball prodigy Roki Sasaki — who recently joined the Los Angeles Dodgers — has offered a 10 million yen ($67,000) donation and 500 sets of bedding, Ofunato city’s official account posted on X.
Sasaki was a high school student there, after losing his father and grandparents in the huge 2011 tsunami.

Topics: Japan

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WWF-Pakistan develops mobile phone app to report wildlife crimes

WWF-Pakistan develops mobile phone app to report wildlife crimes
Updated 55 min 13 sec ago
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WWF-Pakistan develops mobile phone app to report wildlife crimes

WWF-Pakistan develops mobile phone app to report wildlife crimes
  • Pakistan is home to majestic wildlife, including leopards, bears, Indian pangolins, Indus River dolphins, and diverse species of resident and migratory birds
  • The WWF-Pakistan app will report and collect data on wildlife crimes, enabling the relevant departments and agencies to take action against wildlife criminals
Updated 55 min 13 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan has developed a smartphone application for citizens to report wildlife crimes in the South Asian country, it said on Monday.
Pakistan is home to majestic wildlife, including common and snow leopards, brown and black bears, Indian pangolins, freshwater and sea turtles, Indus River dolphins, and diverse species of resident and migratory birds.
However, these wildlife species continue to face serious threats from wildlife crimes such as illegal trade, poaching, hunting and ill-treatment, according to WWF-Pakistan.
It said the application has been developed to report wildlife crimes and coordinate “meaningful” actions by government departments and law enforcement agencies against these crimes.
“Addressing wildlife crimes requires an inclusive approach involving government departments, law enforcement agencies, civil society, and local communities,” WWF-Pakistan quoted its director-general, Hammad Naqi Khan, as saying in a statement.
“Tackling such crimes could be improved by building capacity, fostering collaboration, raising awareness, and creating enabling conditions that integrate the expertise of AI (artificial intelligence) specialists, conservation experts, and members of local communities.”
Wildlife and their habitats are essential for the economic and social well-being of communities and nations. Effective wildlife conservation requires innovative technologies, effective policies, and community engagement plans to ensure local populations recognize the value of coexistence with wildlife, according to WWF-Pakistan.
Advanced technologies such as software applications, AI, camera traps, and satellite data can help address wildlife threats, monitor conservation performance, and promote effective strategies for the protection of threatened wildlife.
Khan said the WWF-Pakistan application would create a platform for wildlife officials, conservation experts and the public to interact and share valuable information about illegal wildlife activities.
“To protect the wildlife, we need to work together and take immediate action to combat wildlife crime as it is one of the key reasons for species decline at local, national, and international levels,” he added.
A link to the WWF-Pakistan application will soon be available on the Google Play Store, according to WWF-Pakistan.
“This application will report and collect data on wildlife crimes, enabling the relevant departments and agencies to take action against wildlife criminals,” it said.

Topics: World Wildlife Fund (WWF) WWF Pakistan

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