Omar Sultan Al Olama: AI Governance is a priority to develop government work

Dubai: His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of state for Artificial Intelligence, affirmed that the AI governance is conceived as a priority and a key tool; whereby actions and efforts of UAE government are developed and fostered towards the future.

His Excellency’s statement was in the occasion of the graduation ceremony of the The Governance of AI Programme’s first batch of governmental entities’ employees. This Programme is implemented by Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government in partnership with Office of the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, and targets executive managers and senior staff in governmental, federal and local entities.

His Excellency said: “The UAE Government is keen on keeping pace with global modern trends and on raising awareness of the importance of using modern technologies, as well as employing AI in finding solutions to challenges. This could be achieved through providing employees with the necessary tools and skill sets to benefit from the capabilities and opportunities of AI”.

Dr. Ali Al Marri, Executive President of Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, said: "MBRSG is aims to introduce knowledge-oriented programs that are in line with the vision of the UAE Government to employ the applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will improve the efficiency and performance of government entities, and will create an ecosystem for government employees, through which they can acquire scientific knowledge and professional experience to develop positive aspects of AI applications and enhance governance and their risk management procedures. "

Comprehensive Training Programme

The Programme has provided the participants a chance to explore the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as AI along with its effective tools across various vital areas, such as; healthcare, transportation, education, security, agriculture, retail trade, financing, insurance, banking services, etc.

AI Governance Programme included a number of lectures and dialogue sessions, which was presented through a comprehensive analytical framework, in order to maximize the benefits of AI governance and to introduce participants to the positive results generated by the increased reliance on AI across different fields.

Furthermore, the Programme aims at developing administrative and executive practices of the participants, as well as polishing their skills and expertise and introducing them to the most recent applications of AI and innovative practices supporting their efforts in developing the government work.

"The program is an important step in building the capacity of government staff in the field of AI," said Fadi Salem, Director of Research at MBRSG and a program lecturer. "We presented participants with a comprehensive view of the economic, social, ethical and technical dimensions of AI applications, as well as discussed future outlooks of policies and legislation related to the governance of AI within government structure. We also touched on various mechanisms to enhance integration and coordination between government entities across AI platforms.”

Participants from Governmental, Federal and Local Entities

The Programme witnessed the participation of 17 employees from governmental, federal, local, and private entities, including: Dubai Courts, Dubai Customs, Ministry of Defence, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Dubai Economy, Roads and Transport Authority, The Executive Council of the Government of Dubai, Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Media, Dubai Media Incorporated, etc.

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© Press Release 2018