CEO of InspiredMinds, Sarah Porter.
DOHA: Qatar is rapidly transforming into a global hub for innovation and technology. The nation is investing heavily in cutting-edge technologies like AI and blockchain to drive economic growth and improve quality of life. Opportunities in AI span various sectors, including healthcare, energy, tourism, and education.
The world’s most prestigious AI summit, World Summit AI (WSAI), is making its highly debut in the MENA region.
In an interview with The Peninsula, Sarah Porter, CEO, InspiredMinds highlighted the importance of hosting of this summit in Doha as it aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030.
Organised by InspiredMinds, World Summit AI Qatar will be held at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) on December 10 and 11, 2024, supported by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Hosting WSAI in Doha aligns perfectly with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and its ambition to become a global AI powerhouse. The summit will explore critical topics such as human-AI convergence, AI innovation and responsible AI governance. It’s a testament to Qatar’s commitment to leveraging AI for economic growth and societal advancement, Porter said.
Qatar’s AI market is projected to reach $428.40 million in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 28.66% by the end of the decade. The country is positioning itself as a regional innovation and AI hub, and World Summit AI MENA will provide a platform to promote collaboration within the Middle East and further solidify Qatar’s position in the global AI community.
By hosting WSAI, Qatar is not just participating in the AI revolution—it’s driving it forward. “We’re excited to contribute to Qatar’s journey in becoming a leading force in AI innovation and application,” she said.
Regarding participation of startups, Porter said, “We have the most robust startup community in AI, along with a huge big tech following and widespread involvement of VCs, investors and countries looking to export their startup talent - this means that deals are done at our summits.”
WSAI Qatar offers unparalleled opportunities for startups and digital companies to connect with global AI visionaries and form transformative partnerships. Startups have been acquired from conversations started on our show floor!
“We always have an exclusive area for startups and will be highlighting five cutting-edge young companies in the Startup Showcase, where they will have seven minutes to pitch for our judges and audience."
“We will be featuring over 100 expert speakers across four stages, covering a wide range of topics including: Intelligent Health (IH) and using AI to save lives, Convergence of AI with other technologies such as quantum computing, VR and AR, Human-AI interaction and its societal impact, A spotlight on innovation and adoption in the MENA region,” she added.
Commenting about estimated attendance, Porter noted “We expect 3,000 plus participants at World Summit AI Qatar. By bringing together enterprises, big tech companies, startups, investors, academia, and scientific institutions, WSAI serves as the epicenter of AI innovation. Al Jazeera is our Headline Global Media Partner for the event, helping to bring the Summit and its phenomenal speakers and insights to a global audience.
She added, “We have some of the brightest minds in AI coming from 20 different countries to showcase innovation, delve into practical case studies and discuss applications for the future. Everything from how AI is transforming education and preparing the workforce for an AI-driven future to how AI is solving public health challenges.”
