How much, if at all, can we trust AI? That is one of the main topics being discussed and debated among some of the world's foremost computer science experts at the Adia Lab symposium in Abu Dhabi.
“It's not a fault of the technology, it's a fault of how people use it,” said Alex Pentland, one of the experts taking part at the three-day event organised by Abu Dhabi’s independent institute dedicated to research in data and computer sciences.
"People assume that the answers that come from AI can automatically be trusted in some way," he added.
“Trust it [AI] as a way of suggesting possibilities,” the director of MIT's human dynamics laboratory and Adia Lab advisory board member explained.
AI, he said, should be treated in the same realm as one of the many social networks people use to communicate and occasionally seek out advice.
Mr Pentland, who also leads the World Economic Forum's big data and personal data initiatives, stressed the need for AI researchers and developers to ultimately make data control and auditing of AI systems a priority, whereas today, it is too often an afterthought.
Also addressing the topic of AI trustworthiness at the symposium was cryptographer, Turing award winner and UC Berkeley computer science professor Shafi Goldwasser.
“The fact is, the last few years have proved that this is the biggest scientific revolution of my time,” Prof Goldwasser.
“It's amazing what these systems have been able to do in a short amount of time,” she added.
Prof Goldwasser, said that the trust issues many have when it comes to AI comes from AI developers who often cannot explain and struggle to explain exactly how AI works.
“Should we really trust models we don't understand and don't control?” she asked. “It's a good question.”
Prof Goldwasser suggested that AI models should eventually include a “verification algorithm”, to help increase overall confidence in large language models, the main backbone that makes AI possible.
“The biggest challenge is safety,” she said.
“The power of AI is clear, and the desire to adopt is clear,” Prof Goldwasser added, pushing for continuing discussions among governments to establish guardrails and sensible regulations for AI, along with the co-operation of technology firms and AI researchers.
Also addressing the symposium on the topic of trust and AI was Carme Artigas, co-chair of the UN's AI advisory body.
“It's ubiquitous,” she said, noting the importance of the topic regarding the burgeoning AI field, adding that it will continue to impact just about every aspect of life.
Ms Artigas also alluded to the mystery as to how various iterations of AI continue to learn, often to the surprise of those who develop AI tools.
“It can continue to evolve without human agency,” she explained, pushing for AI safeguards through the use of oversight boards, market incentives, transparency and regulation.
She said despite initial efforts and progress made by the UN, there's still more work that needs to be done to correct an “AI awareness deficit” around the world, and that there needs to be a continued pursuit to make sure there's inclusion across several regions and demographics, noting that much of the attention of AI has been focused on how it affects the Global North.
“Remember everything we know about AI has just been trained with data from the Global North, talent and computing capacity,” she said. “This not sustainable for trust.
Although research on the topic of artificial intelligence has been continuing since the 1960s, recent advancements in computer processing power, coupled with iterations of AI solutions such as OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022 led to an explosion of interest, investments and start ups in the AI tech ecosystem.
Along with that interest has come concern from technology leaders, government regulators and elected officials who see both the potential for AI-driven solutions as well as the downsides that could come to fruition in the form of labour market disruption, along with hypothetical scenarios where unchecked AI could become too powerful and uncontrollable.
Those worries have led to the rise of various artificial intelligence safety summits, executive orders to establish AI guardrails as well as the creation of AI ministerial positions in various governments.
In the US in particular, a recent Pew poll indicates that although more citizens than ever are using AI tools, those same citizens grown more anxious and concerned about the long-term effects of AI.
“52 per cent are more concerned than excited about AI in daily live,” a highlight from the Pew poll explained, which added that only 10 per cent are more excited than concerned.
The Adia Lab symposium, now in its second year, is focusing on the topics of sustainability, innovation and the idea of trustworthy AI throughout the three day event.
“We’ve had tremendous interest in this,” said Horst Simon, world renowned computer scientist and director of Adia Lab in front of a packed auditorium inside Abu Dhabi Global Market.
“That shows how far we’ve come,” he added, explaining that since its inauguration in 2022 by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Adia Lab has sought to focus on innovation at the intersection of data, AI and computational science, while also advancing global collaboration through impactful research,
“The goal of Adia Lab is to build an international network and to bring capabilities to Abu Dhabi,” he said.
In 2024, Adia Lab expanded offerings through increased fellowships, research projects, and new collaborations with universities and research institutions around the world.
It also set up a European headquarters in Spain.
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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.
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
World Series
Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2
Game 3: Saturday (UAE)
* if needed
Game 4: Sunday
Game 5: Monday
Game 6: Wednesday
Game 7: Thursday
UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Manchester City, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The currency conundrum
Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”
Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.
This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.
The biog
Name: Sarah Al Senaani
Age: 35
Martial status: Married with three children - aged 8, 6 and 2
Education: Masters of arts in cultural communication and tourism
Favourite movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Favourite hobbies: Art and horseback ridding
Occupation: Communication specialist at a government agency and the owner of Atelier
Favourite cuisine: Definitely Emirati - harees is my favourite dish
