A growing reliance on artificial intelligence may soon result in digital replicas of employees in workplaces, potentially reshaping job roles and intellectual property rights, a Dubai conference was told.
This is one of the predictions in Gartner’s top trends for AI, which were revealed during a panel session at the AI Assembly on Monday, one of the events being held for the Dubai AI Week until Friday.
Joe Youssef Malek, vice president for executive programmes for the Gulf, India and emerging markets at the American research and advisory company, said their research showed that digital twins of employees could be a reality by 2027.
“We expect, with time, a digital AI image of yourself. So, imagine me talking to you right now while my AI avatar is having a different discussion with somebody else,” Mr Malek told The National on the sidelines of the conference. “But this persona comes with different implications for intellectual capital, royalties, on your AI image and it could actually impact your brand. So, moving forward, yes, you should expect in your corporate contract to have more terms about your AI persona and about your avatar intellectual.”
AI technology capable of creating advanced avatars that mimic real people, using facial mapping, voice cloning and behavioural data already exists. Companies like Synthesia, for example, allow users to create realistic video avatars of themselves that can speak several languages and be used for presentations, customer service and corporate training.
Mr Malek said the technology may allow a person to essentially be in two or more places at once, virtually.
The avatars would be trained on an individual’s personal data, habits, decision-making patterns, and communications history, creating a sophisticated digital version of that person.
This means the digital twin would be able to act semi-independently, conduct meetings, respond to queries or manage basic tasks.
Commercialising human identities
While AI personas could offer better efficiency and productivity, critics are concerned about the consequences of licensing and commercialising human identities.
Dr Patrick Noack, executive director of future foresight at the Dubai Future Foundation, said at the conference that the idea of outsourcing oneself to an AI entity could blur the boundaries between reality and replication.
“I think the question is if you start licensing your persona and licence the history of the persona, the way they have been acting, the way they have been deciding … you are licensing individuals’ histories,” Dr Noack said.
“I am an individual. I have my own beliefs and ways of thinking, my own principles. Now that gets outsourced and digitalised to a digital persona, which is a carbon copy, so to speak, of everything that consists of me online and in that digital format. So, who am I? Am I the digital persona? Am I the in-real-life persona?”
Dr Noack also warned of trafficking of digital avatars on the dark web. “If someone, in an entity, owns me, what does that mean? How does that make me feel good? I, ultimately, am in that kind of space going forward. And do I need to be employed by anyone else if that digital persona is going to be sold on the black market for a few Bitcoins?” he said.
An emerging AI generation
Another finding in Gartner’s research warned of a growing risk of AI addiction, particularly among younger generations who are growing up with generative tools embedded in their daily lives, from homework, relationships to decision-making.
“AI is now part of our daily life, our society and the new generations are going to use AI everywhere,” said Mr Malek. “It’s like part of their lives. So, this could create an addiction.”
While older generations may find AI tools intimidating, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are already adapting to a world in which AI is just another form of interaction, like texting or gaming.
“AI is now part of our daily life, our society and the new generations are going to use AI everywhere, so, this could create an addiction,” said Mr Malek. “But this addiction could change depending on the generation. Our generation might have a different perspective on that and might need some support, whereas the newer generation might be so comfortable in AI because it's part of their daily life. They would feel that this is quite normal.”
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
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(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
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Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Business Insights
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Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
