Doha, November 09 (QNA) - A panel discussion on the second day of MWC26 in Doha explored the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to address real-world challenges.

The session featured Reem Al Mansouri, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology; Jack Hidary, Founder and CEO of SandboxAQ, a company specializing in quantitative artificial intelligence (AI); and Lindy Kouyoumji, Partner at global consulting firm Oliver Wyman. Participants examined how AI can move from ambition to tangible impact, alongside rapid technological advances and the evolving landscape of AI models.

Al Mansouri emphasized that translating AI aspirations into practical results requires a comprehensive transformation of organizational practices, closer public-private collaboration, and the infrastructure, data, and skills needed to support wider adoption.

She explained that the pace of AI development requires governments to take a different approach from that used for traditional technology projects. The State of Qatar, she noted, has adopted an approach focused on accelerating progress and strengthening cooperation among entities to build an integrated AI ecosystem.

The government's role, she said, is to create an enabling environment by developing shared infrastructure, improving data readiness, and establishing the necessary frameworks. These measures will enable the private sector and other institutions to develop applications and solutions that harness emerging technologies.

Al Mansouri stressed that the success of AI applications depends primarily on institutional readiness and clear objectives. Each application, she said, should have a clearly defined purpose and demonstrate how it will improve processes and deliver tangible value, rather than merely keep pace with technological developments.

On future skills, she affirmed that AI does not eliminate the human role but reshapes jobs and responsibilities. She highlighted the importance of critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and teamwork, alongside the skills needed to use smart tools effectively.

Al Mansouri added that the transition to an AI-driven economy requires a clear institutional vision and alignment between technology and human resources. This, she said, will help translate technological capabilities into practical results that strengthen institutional performance and support economic development.

Panelists also examined the evolution of AI models, noting that large language models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude have made significant advances in understanding information and interacting through natural language. The greater challenge, they said, is to develop models that can understand the real world and its complexities, moving beyond text and document processing.

They highlighted the importance of specialized models trained on scientific and real-world data. Such models can support AI applications in discovering new materials, developing battery chemistry, improving energy production processes, and researching solutions to environmental and health challenges.

The next phase, speakers explained, will combine large language models with specialized scientific models rather than rely on a single model type. Large language models will facilitate natural-language interaction, while specialized models will provide the scientific knowledge and computational capabilities needed to tackle complex problems.

Speakers stressed that these applications require accurate scientific data grounded in the real world. With this foundation, AI can move beyond information retrieval to support discovery and innovation, offering practical solutions to challenges affecting people, the economy, and the environment. (QNA)