Knowledge Summit 2025 Explores AI's Impact on Arabic Language and Future Knowledge Economy

The second day of the Knowledge Summit 2025, organized by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, featured global leaders and policymakers exploring critical themes shaping today's knowledge landscape. A key panel highlighted how artificial intelligence advancement presents unprecedented opportunity for the Arabic language, provided the region builds strong linguistic infrastructure. Experts emphasized the need for deep integration among research institutions, technical models, and credible data ecosystems to harness this potential.

Athir Al-Khalifa, Director of Labs at the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, noted that sophisticated linguistic systems demand more than technological solutions alone, stressing that a holistic ecosystem supported by robust data and institutions capable of developing large-scale Arabic language models is essential. This approach would ensure the Arabic language thrives in the digital age rather than being marginalized by technological progress.

Another session convened global experts to examine how emerging technologies, advanced data frameworks, and collaborative networks are reshaping knowledge economies. Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro, Professor at Osaka University's Department of Systems Innovation, shared his vision of a human-avatar symbiotic society where AI-driven avatars revolutionize healthcare, enhance service delivery, and transform knowledge exchange. He emphasized that advanced robotics should be embraced as tools extending human capability rather than replacing it, representing a fundamental shift in human-technology interaction.

Further discussions focused on youth empowerment, multilingual knowledge accessibility, and cross-border collaboration as vital elements for building equitable, future-ready knowledge systems. Experts in artificial intelligence and digital transformation highlighted the urgent need to close the global gender gap in the technology sector, where women currently represent only 20 to 26 percent of the workforce. This disparity represents both a social challenge and economic opportunity for nations seeking to maximize their human capital potential.

A dynamic session on investment and entrepreneurship featured global experts outlining the essentials of a thriving knowledge economy including talent, innovation, knowledge, and progressive legislation. They noted Dubai's emergence as a global hub where people, ideas, and opportunities converge to shape the future, demonstrating how strategic positioning can accelerate knowledge-based economic development. The day also featured an inspiring session by Huda Al Matroushi, the UAE's first female mechanic and garage owner, who shared her personal journey highlighting passion as the driving force behind achievement and describing challenges as transformative experiences that build resilience and determination.