Doha: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology affirmed the importance of a collective role between the public and private sectors in building a secure and reliable national artificial intelligence ecosystem that serves the interests of society and the economy.
According to Qatar News Agency, Advisor to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Khalid Al Hashmi said during a session held as part of the World Summit on Artificial Intelligence, which began today, that building trust is the foundation of any major technological transformation, and AI is no exception. He highlighted the role of national institutions in strengthening public confidence by developing safe and efficient environments to evaluate AI technologies before they are made available for public use.
He referred to the possibility of creating isolated environments to test AI algorithms and verify their performance and safety before broad adoption, noting that the objective is not to increase regulations, but rather to activate existing frameworks and practices and adapt them to meet the needs of this advanced technology. He emphasized that governance is not solely about laws, but also about practical procedures that protect users and enhance transparency.
Al Hashmi stressed the importance of drawing on established global agreements and practices such as UNESCO's AI ethics standards, as they provide a comprehensive framework for protecting privacy, ensuring security and safety, and promoting ethical principles. He added that modern technologies transcend borders, and therefore safeguards must accompany them to ensure data protection and model quality wherever they are used.
He also emphasized that adopting artificial intelligence requires a risk-based approach, through assessing the data being used, the nature of beneficiaries, and the impact of the outcomes, in addition to providing mechanisms that allow users to contest AI-based decisions. He further encouraged applying principles of privacy, security, and ethics by design, and employing independent review to ensure the highest levels of quality and reliability.