Commissioner GC REAIM
Dubai Future Forum 2024, held under the theme Empowering Generations, brought together some of the most influential futurists in the world. As part of this year’s extraordinary event, participants explored potential futures for children around the world and provided insights into critical areas such as health, longevity, and the holistic health of people, societies, and the planet.
One of the most fascinating facts of Dubai Future Forum is Learnings Day. It is an immersive experience dedicated to equipping individuals and organizations with the tools, skills, and methodologies required to navigate the future confidently. The event focused on strategic foresight practices and future planning, enabling participants to prepare for emerging trends and challenges. The day had an engaging and dynamic workshop by renowned AI Ethicist and thought leader, Commissioner GC REAIM, Saeed Al Dhaheri titled “Co-creating the Future: How Can We Harness Generative AI for Foresight”. The incredible session was successful in bringing together futurists and AI experts Paulo Carvalho Kais Hammami Daniel Zapfl Harald Weinberger Engy Abdelwahab, and professionals from around the globe—representing 16 nationalities. The agenda was to explore how AI is disrupting and transforming foresight practices. His presentation was about “How Can GenAI Transform Strategic Foresight Practices“.
As the moderator and facilitator of this workshop, Saeed Al Dhaheri spoke at length, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence, including Synth AI, Generative AI, and Predictive AI, in reshaping foresight methodologies. There was emphasis that while Generative AI has significant potential for trend analysis, horizon scanning, scenario development, and visualization, it cannot replace human agency, critical thinking, or creativity.
He further expressed that in addition to accelerating foresight research, generative artificial intelligence can even immerse us in the future scenarios that we develop, allowing us to envision and “experience” the future scenarios we develop. However, foresight remains a rigorous process that thrives on diverse viewpoints, human agency, and creativity.
A promising real-life case presented by Engy Abdelwahab from UNDP showed a promising platform developed by the UNDP staff in Egypt entitled “Egypt Horizon Scanner – EHS” that demonstrated the power of GenAI and big data analytics in accelerating the work of UNDP staff and increasing efficiency and productivity.
The expert is of the view that because of ethical issues and dilemmas such as overreliance on GenAI, we may get trapped in what he calls the “homogenization trap” which means that GenAI should be used to enhance our creativity rather than replace it. To maximize the potential of GenAI, futurists must possess several essential skills. It is important to recognize that generative artificial intelligence (AI) can offer a great writing partner, but not a thinking partner, and that AI will play a significant role in future foresight.
Workshops like “Co-creating the Future” demonstrated the critical intersection of technology and foresight, empowering individuals and organizations to harness the potential of Generative AI while safeguarding human ingenuity.
With its focus on uniting diverse perspectives and leveraging innovative tools, the Dubai Future Forum continues to cement its reputation as the world’s largest gathering of futurists and a beacon of foresight excellence.
The insights for this feature were provided by Saeed Al Dhaheri.
