Today’s technological advancements have simplified our lives to the point where everything from email responses to social media postings can now be completely automated with the help of a scheduling software that leverages artificial intelligence.
Had the Covid-19 pandemic hit in the 1990s, businesses and people’s lives would have been more adversely affected, while the economic damage would have been astronomical.
However, today’s innovative technologies have offset much of the pandemic’s damage to our economy. Over the past two years, for instance, I have led remote teams and initiated and executed multiple projects often without physically meeting my clients.
But even with all of these technological advances, one thing that AI will not be able to replace is our creativity; the compilation of our complex emotions, thoughts and aspirations.
AI has the ability to process information that is already out there. While it is good at replicating repetitive or predictive tasks, creativity is deeply rooted in the human experience and out of reach for AI.
The spark of inspiration that prompts artists or designers to think of a new future, a new solution or come up with an art piece that connects people across time and space, is something that AI cannot compete with.
Creativity is, without a doubt, the most coveted skill of the future and one that businesses and governments need to incorporate in their processes to stay ahead.
As an Arab society, creativity and creatives have always been held in high regard. Poetry, for example, had a special place in the Holy Kaaba during the pre-Islamic period.
Poems recited by the greatest Arab poets of the time, such as Antarah ibn Shaddad and Labid, have been written in gold on strips of Egyptian cotton and suspended from the interior walls of the Holy Kaaba. The creativity of poets was also celebrated annually at Souk Okaz, in Taif, Saudi Arabia, where Arabs would gather from faraway lands to recite poetry and sell their merchandise.
The appreciation of poetry and poets — not just then, but even now — is testimony to how we as a society have always valued creativity. We now see that passion and respect for creativity and creatives reflected in our national policies.
The Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, for instance, aims to double the contribution of the creative sector to the gross domestic product of Dubai to 5 per cent by 2025, from 2.6 per cent in 2020.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) announced last December that it will introduce 40 initiatives across three segments in the creative sector: talents and creatives, professionals and business environment, and enabling of the business environment.
“The strategy establishes a new phase in the future of the creative economy and lays down a strong foundation to enhance the contribution of the cultural and creative sector to achieve sustainable development,” Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said at the time.
The work of creatives inspires us and drives us to change, to dream and to build a better future. The technology race will not slow down. A year from now, the way we work may completely change. Technology is likely to be so entrenched in our lives that we may realise there’s no area left where it does not dominate.
But creativity is what will help us stay ahead of the game. For that to continue, we need to incorporate creativity in our decision-making processes for it to play an active role in building the future and helping us come up with solutions to global issues.
Creativity will always be the distinguishing factor — the one thing that AI will never be able to overcome.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi. Twitter: @manar_alhinai
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Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 592bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Price: Dh980,000
On sale: now
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
8.50pm The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
8.15pm Mulfit
8.50pm Gronkowski
9.25pm Walking Thunder
10pm Midnight Sands
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
Bharatanatyam
A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
Henrik Stenson's finishes at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship:
2006 - 2
2007 - 8
2008 - 2
2009 - MC
2010 - 21
2011 - 42
2012 - MC
2013 - 23
2014 - MC
2015 - MC
2016 - 3
2017 - 8
