Al-Omar: AI is a reality reshaping economies
Al-Omar and the Japanese Ambassador stressed the importance of artificial intelligence in shaping economies.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
State Minister for Communications and Information Technology and Acting Minister of Media and Culture, Omar Al-Omar, affirmed that artificial intelligence is no longer a technological luxury but has become a necessity to enhance competitiveness, improve service quality, and increase the accuracy of decision-making. This statement was made by Minister Al-Omar during his speech at the opening of the Gulf Week for Digitalization, which brings together the International Forum on Artificial Intelligence and Digitalization under the theme “Crisis Management, Innovation, and the Future of Institutions,” and the Gulf Conference on Archiving, Document, and Records Management.
Al-Omar stated that artificial intelligence has become a reality reshaping economies, government work, and labor markets, emphasizing the importance of keeping pace with digital transformation and participating in shaping its trajectory by adopting technology consciously, deploying it responsibly, and preparing the necessary infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and skilled human resources. He noted that the ministry and its affiliated entities are working to integrate digital initiatives within a comprehensive system that serves citizens, residents, and the business sector.
For his part, Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Kenichiro Mukai affirmed that artificial intelligence is undergoing rapid transformation in global economies and societies, pointing out that this technology holds great potential in healthcare, agriculture, education, and infrastructure, and that its benefits should reach all countries and individuals. He outlined Japan’s vision to enhance international cooperation in developing artificial intelligence and ensuring its safe, responsible, and reliable use.
Mukai stated that Japan has placed “participation in creating a safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence system” at the core of its policy in this field, emphasizing that achieving this goal requires cooperation with various countries around the world, ensuring the benefits of the technology are harnessed while mitigating associated risks. The Japanese ambassador cited Japanese cars, which enjoy global confidence due to their safety and performance standards, explaining that a car requires both an accelerator and brakes to function as intended—a principle from which Japan draws its approach to artificial intelligence.
He noted that acceleration represents innovation and social progress, while brakes serve to reduce risks, highlighting that Japan seeks to balance these two aspects by developing artificial intelligence governance and strengthening technical and regulatory infrastructure. He added that the objective is to create a system that enables innovation and the utilization of artificial intelligence applications while maintaining safety, security, and trust, thereby supporting sustainable development and enhancing societies’ capacity to navigate digital transformations.
