Web Summit Kicks Off in Qatar, AI Takes Center Stage

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Feb 27, 2024

Image copyright: Tristan Fewings/Stringer/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images (2014)story last updated Feb 28

The Facts

Web Summit, one of the world's largest tech conferences, kicked off in Doha, Qatar, on Monday. The four-day event is expected to bring together more than 1.1K startups from 80 countries.
Being held in the Middle East for the first time, this year's Web Summit will likely attract entrepreneurs, investors, and world leaders, and focus on artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, and clean technology, and commerce.

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Artificial intelligence has taken the entire world by storm over the past year, and it's starting to shake up Middle Eastern markets completely. AI brings multiple economic and technological opportunities that can spur serious growth and innovation. The technology can be harnessed in many ways to streamline production, bring skills to workers, and reduce costs for firms. The future is here, and the Middle East has many reasons to be excited about the emergence of AI.

Teller Report

Technoskeptic narrative

While it's easy to get excited about the potential of AI and future innovation, it's also important to remember the human cost of rapid technological advancement and its impact on broader society. Artificial intelligence may benefit large corporations looking to reduce labor costs; however, if policies surrounding AI aren't thought out, it risks displacing thousands of workers and causing massive societal disruption.