Doha, Qatar: The UK and Qatar have launched a joint Artificial Intelligence (AI) research commission, seeking to establish a roadmap for UK-Qatar collaboration on AI that will benefit both countries.
The joint study will be led by Queen Mary University of London, in partnership with Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar.
The study is being led by Professor David Leslie, Professor of Ethics, Technology, and Society at QMUL’s Digital Environment Research Institute, and the Director of Ethics and Responsible Innovation Research at the Alan Turing Institute.
The project will build on the exciting progress that both countries have made on AI, and identify and scope practical and ambitious ways for the countries to enhance their cooperation in this field in line with their AI and technology strategies. A range of areas will be explored across the spectrum of ecosystem development, policy and regulation, security, and international engagement.
It been designed and developed as a collaboration between Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the AI Committee of the Qatar Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI), and the British Embassy in Doha.
The announcement of the collaboration coincides with the state visit by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to the UK.
The project is funded by the UK Government’s Gulf Strategy Fund, part of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) International Programme.
British Ambassador to Qatar H E Neerav Patel said: “The UK and Qatar have shown themselves to be innovators in the policy implementation of AI, including the need to build strong systems of ethics and governance. I’m delighted that such prestigious UK and Qatari institutions are involved in this important initiative. It reflects both countries’ desire to work together on the shared challenges the 21st century will bring.”
Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar Dr. Mariam Khalid Al Hamar said: “This initiative marks a key opportunity to advance innovation through collaboration. As a global leader in dialogue and mediation, Qatar recognizes the vital importance of collaboration in promoting diplomacy and resolving conflicts. By leveraging the transformative potential of AI, we have the opportunity to make meaningful progress in peacebuilding, improve decision-making processes, and tackle complex global issues with greater accuracy.”
Eman Alkuwari, Digital Innovation Director from Qatar’s MCIT, said: “This collaboration marks a significant step forward in Qatar’s commitment to advancing AI as a transformative force for good. By partnering with the UK and leveraging the expertise of world-renowned institutions, we aim to unlock new opportunities for innovation, shape ethical frameworks, and contribute to global progress in AI.”
Professor David Leslie said: “We are undoubtedly at a pivotal juncture in the history of AI, so the time couldn’t be better to bring the UK and Qatar closer together to explore collaborative avenues for harnessing AI’s transformative potential to deliver public benefit, while diligently addressing emerging risks and harms. By leveraging the dynamic AI research and innovation ecosystems of both nations, this initiative promises to be a catalyst for ingenuity and commercial opportunity, fostering a new era of technological cooperation between two global leaders in the field.”
