Doha, February 11 (QNA) - The Ministry of Culture concluded today the two-day workshop on using AI to serve Arab culture, in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

The workshop provided a specialized, hands-on interactive platform that deepened participants' understanding of advanced AI applications and the skills required to employ these technologies. The initiative marks a pioneering step toward transforming creative ideas into practical solutions that contribute to preserving Arab cultural identity.

On this occasion, Director of the Ministry of Culture's Department of Culture and Arts, Abdulrahman Al Dulaimi described the success of the AI workshop as a qualitative shift from merely anticipating technological developments to effectively harnessing them. He noted that the outcomes demonstrated that integrating artificial intelligence is no longer a matter of keeping pace with the times, but a necessity to enhance the performance of professionals in the cultural and artistic sectors and boost the productivity of creative talent.

He highlighted that the dynamic engagement witnessed throughout the workshop reflected a deep awareness among Qatari and Arab cultural professionals of the importance of acquiring the tools of the future. Participants, he said, were able to explore the vast potential offered by modern technologies in developing Arab creative content, making it more competitive and better equipped to reach younger generations through innovative and unconventional approaches.

Al Dulaimi added that the workshop concluded with a clear vision on how intelligent algorithms can be transformed into engines that support cultural innovation. Technology, he stressed, is no longer merely a technical tool, but a partner in shaping the cultural landscape and expanding knowledge production in ways that serve national and Arab identity.

He also commended, at the close of the workshop, the strategic partnership with ALECSO and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, affirming that these joint efforts equipped participants with practical skills that will have a direct and tangible impact on enhancing cultural work within their institutions, further strengthening Doha's position as a hub for creativity and digital innovation.

For his part, Director of the Information and Communication Technology Department at ALECSO Dr. Mohamed Jemni said the rapid pace of development in AI technologies and their transition from the realm of entertainment to science pose significant challenges for Arab countries, requiring immediate and well-considered action. He noted that the remarkable acceleration of AI development has made keeping up with it a fundamental dilemma for all, underscoring the need to adhere to ethical principles as a governing framework for this technological transformation.

He observed that the individual capabilities of each country may not be sufficient to compete with major international corporations, while praising some successful Arab initiatives, such as the "Fanar" initiative in Qatar for preserving heritage and language, and the "Allam 34B" initiatives in Saudi Arabia specializing in dialects and the local environment.

Dr. Jemni stressed that the integration and coordination of such specialized Arab initiatives represent the only path toward developing a unified and robust Arabic language model. He called on Arab countries to clearly define their objectives through comprehensive Arab strategies that ensure the development of economic sectors, services, and applied solutions, enhance AI's role in sustainable development, and address each country's local needs in line with its capabilities.

On its second and final day, the workshop featured a paper on the future of artificial intelligence in cultural and creative industries, presented by ICT expert at ALECSO Dr. Ramzi Farhat. He addressed the growing intersection between artificial intelligence and the cultural and creative industries, highlighting the ability of generative technologies to produce artistic, literary, and musical works that rival human effort while reducing costs and time.

The workshop also included a paper by AI Expert at ALECSO Dr. Samia Chelbi, on preserving cultural heritage using modern technologies. The session combined theoretical insights with a direct practical application of these technologies. It also highlighted a pioneering technological project with the theme a journey through time, aimed at reviving Tunisian heritage and connecting younger generations to their identity through the integration of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence.

Another session, titled the metaverse: the future of cultural industries in Arab countries, was presented by Dr. Ahmedou Habibi, followed by a workshop led by Dr. Chelbi entitled artificial intelligence and video game technology: innovative tools for producing cultural and creative content that enhances user experience.

The workshop concluded with a final paper by Dr. Farhat titled analyzing cultural data using artificial intelligence. (QNA)