Doha, September 29 (QNA) - QFEX 2026 – Qatar Financial Markets, AI & Digital Assets Expo - opened in Doha on Tuesday, bringing together discussions on how rapid advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping finance, regulation, employment and wider society.

The two-day summit is examining the growing use of AI in financial services and the challenges posed by increasingly autonomous systems.

At the opening, Dr Khaldoun Nusair, founder of AFAQ Media Group, which is organizing the summit, said preparations had focused on the role humans will play in directing the development of AI.

He said the rapid development of AI systems had moved the debate beyond whether people would use the technology to a more complex question of who would ultimately control its direction.

AI was once largely viewed as a tool for carrying out tasks such as answering questions, analyzing data and completing work, Dr Nusair said. The technology is now moving towards systems capable of performing more complex tasks with greater autonomy and contributing to the development of their own capabilities.

He said the shift made AI an economic, regulatory and human issue as well as a technological one, highlighting the need for clear and practical approaches to managing the technology.

Dr Nusair also discussed artificial general intelligence (AGI), referring to systems designed to perform a broad range of cognitive tasks, and said the global debate surrounding such systems reflected the scale of the changes taking place in the sector.

The rapid competition among major technology companies to develop more capable and autonomous AI systems also raises questions about oversight, safety and accountability, he said, calling for greater cooperation between companies, governments and regulators.

He noted that technological advances can move faster than legislation, education systems, institutions and labor markets can adapt, creating challenges for policymakers.

He added that the implications are particularly significant for finance and investment, where AI systems can analyze markets, manage investment portfolios and execute transactions at high speed.

The summit's opening session examined how AI, connectivity and digital transformation are changing industries, business models and economic competitiveness.

The second session focused on how financial institutions and fintech companies are using AI to develop faster, more intelligent and inclusive financial systems. The third session examined how leaders can manage technological change while supporting institutions, economic opportunities and human development.

The summit is also hosting regional qualifiers for the Startup World Cup. The winning Qatari startup will advance to the international competition in the United States in November. (QNA)