Shaping the Future: Key Takeaways from Knowledge Summit 2025 Day Two

The Intersection of AI and Arabic: Building a Linguistic Infrastructure

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a global phenomenon but a regional opportunity, especially for the Arabic language. This was a key focus at the Knowledge Summit 2025, organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The summit's insightful sessions, featuring global leaders and policymakers, underscored the necessity of a solid linguistic infrastructure to harness AI's potential fully. Athir Al-Khalifa, from the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL), emphasized the need for a holistic ecosystem, integrating research institutions, technical models, and credible data ecosystems to develop large-scale Arabic language models. This approach is not just about embracing technological advancements but about preserving and promoting the Arabic language in the digital age.

Envisioning a Human-Avatar Symbiotic Society

Another riveting session by Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro, a Professor at Osaka University's Department of Systems Innovation, introduced the concept of a human-avatar symbiotic society. Here, AI-driven avatars could revolutionize healthcare, enhance service delivery, and transform knowledge exchange. Dr. Ishiguro's vision represents a future where robotics and AI extend human capabilities rather than replace them, suggesting a partnership between humans and machines that could redefine our societal structures.

Empowering Youth and Closing the Gender Gap

The summit also shed light on critical issues like youth empowerment, multilingual knowledge accessibility, and the global gender gap in technology. With women representing only 20 to 26 percent of the tech workforce, there's an urgent need to close this gap. The discussions underscored the importance of creating equitable, future-ready knowledge systems through collaboration and innovation. Additionally, the inspiring story of Huda Al Matroushi, the UAE's first female mechanic and garage owner, served as a powerful testament to overcoming challenges through passion and resilience, further emphasizing the summit's theme of empowerment and innovation.

The second day of the Knowledge Summit 2025 not only highlighted the dynamic interplay between technology, language, and society but also showcased Dubai's strategic role as a melting pot for people, ideas, and opportunities. The sessions underscored the critical elements of a thriving knowledge economy: talent, innovation, knowledge, and progressive legislation. As we move forward, these discussions from the summit offer valuable insights and frameworks for building a more inclusive, innovative, and interconnected world.