Arab League urges stronger Arab cooperation in AI, increased investment

Cairo, Aug 28 (IANS) Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit has urged Arab countries to strengthen cooperation in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry and boost investment in research and development.

In his address at the opening of the first annual Arab AI Forum in Egypt's coastal city of New Alamein on Wednesday, Gheit also called on Arab states to adopt the AL's ethical charter on AI, which was endorsed last month as a guiding document to ensure "responsible and fair use of AI, while respecting cultural specificities and social values in the Arab region," the AL said in a statement.

Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said Arab cooperation in AI "is no longer a luxury but a pressing necessity," the ministry said in a statement, reports Xinhua news agency.

He stressed the need to enhance Arab AI collaboration through an institutional framework, adding that Egypt has proposed establishing a council of Arab ministers for AI and emerging technologies under the AL to coordinate policies and strengthen the Arab role in this domain.

He added that Egypt will host the first AI Everything Middle East and Africa summit in February 2026 to strengthen regional cooperation in the field.

The two-day forum, organised by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in cooperation with the Arab League General Secretariat, aims to advance Arab cooperation in AI and facilitate the exchange of expertise and insights on the latest developments and challenges. It brought together Arab officials, diplomats, academics, experts, and business leaders.

--IANS

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