Is Artificial Intelligence undermining journalism – and how should journalism respond?
QF's Mehnaty and Al Meydan programs help bridge the gap between classroom learning and the workplace Story
137 British-based graduates of QF's schools and universities are making their mark in fields ranging from AI and medicine to policy and sustainability Story 5 min read
As QF continues building the region's future healthcare leaders, one medical student's research success highlights the power of accessible world-class education
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Qatar Tribune
18 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
China summons Nvidia over ‘serious security issues' with AI chips
Agencies Chinese authorities summoned Nvidia representatives on Thursday to discuss 'serious security issues' over some of its artificial intelligence chips, as the US tech giant finds itself entangled in trade tensions between Beijing and Washington. Nvidia is a world-leading producer of AI semiconductors, but the United States effectively restricts which chips it can export to China on national security grounds. A key issue has been Chinese access to the 'H20', a less powerful version of Nvidia's AI processing units that the company developed specifically for export to China. The California-based firm said this month it would resume H20 sales to China after Washington pledged to remove licensing curbs that had halted exports. But the firm still faces obstacles—US lawmakers have proposed plans to require Nvidia and other manufacturers of advanced AI chips to include built-in location tracking capabilities. And Beijing's top internet regulator said Thursday it had summoned Nvidia representatives to discuss recently discovered 'serious security issues' involving the H20. The Cyberspace Administration of China said it had asked Nvidia to 'explain the security risks of vulnerabilities and backdoors in its H20 chips sold to China and submit relevant supporting materials'. The statement posted on social media noted that, according to US experts, location tracking and remote shutdown technologies for Nvidia chips 'are already matured'. The announcement marked the latest complication for Nvidia in selling its advanced products in the key Chinese market, where it is in increasingly fierce competition with homegrown technology firms. CEO Jensen Huang said during a closely watched visit to Beijing this month that his firm remained committed to serving local customers. Huang said he had been assured during talks with top Chinese officials during the trip that the country was 'open and stable'. 'They want to know that Nvidia continues to invest here, that we are still doing our best to serve the market here,' he said. Nvidia this month became the first company to hit $4 trillion in market value—a new milestone in Wall Street's bet that AI will transform the global economy. Jost Wubbeke of the Sinolytics consultancy told AFP the move by China to summon Nvidia was 'not surprising in the sense that targeting individual US companies has become a common tool in the context of US-China tensions'. 'What is surprising, however, is the timing,' he noted, after the two countries agreed to further talks to extend their trade truce. 'China's action may signal a shift toward a more assertive stance,' Wubbeke said. Beijing is also aiming to reduce reliance on foreign tech by promoting Huawei's domestically developed 910C chip as an alternative to the H20, he added. 'From that perspective, the US decision to allow renewed exports of the H20 to China could be seen as counterproductive, as it might tempt Chinese hyperscalers to revert to the H20, potentially undermining momentum behind the 910C and other domestic alternatives.' New hurdles to Nvidia's operation in China come as the country's economy wavers, beset by a years-long property sector crisis and heightened trade headwinds under US President Donald Trump. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the country to enhance self-reliance in certain areas deemed vital for national security—including AI and semiconductors—as tensions with Washington mount.
Qatar Tribune
18 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
AI-powered metahumans driving Indonesia's digital transformation
Agencies Indonesia is already a leader in digital adoption, but a bunch of companies in the Southeast Asian nation are rapidly deploying a new ally--the metahuman--as they try to reach out to their audiences and customers. Experts believe the attention AI and metahumans are gaining in the wider marketing sector could pave the way for expanding digital literacy and digital adoption across the country. In Indonesia's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence for 2020-2045, the government identified talent development and industrial research and innovation as two of the four key focus areas. In line with the government's AI push, innovations such as AI-infused metahumans--computer-generated avatars designed to exist in virtual reality--have been given roles in several industries, and they are taking the influencer marketing space by storm. There are various possibilities for Indonesian businesses in terms of metahuman integration, as showcased by Jakarta-based metahuman creator Genexyz, which created Laverda Salsabila, dubbed the world's first virtual endorser with real-life deals. The company has partnered with some of the biggest Indonesian brands for metahuman influencers, including Tokopedia, Pepsodent and Ismaya Group. Earlier this month, it secured $1 million in seed funding from investors, including East Ventures. In the private sector, some news and entertainment segments have already shown how metahumans can be incorporated into regular operations. For instance, tvOne unveiled digital news anchor Nadira and another metahuman earlier this year. Nadira is based on the mainstream network's real-life news anchor Fahada Indi. Another virtual avatar, Kiki, was developed by Jam3 and Japanese public broadcaster NHK Enterprises. Kiki, which was designed to serve the country's deaf community, generates full Japanese Sign Language dynamic interpretations from text input. A metahuman 'immensely expands the possibilities for creators, but also for brands to personify themselves (or the brand) in new worlds and on new platforms, which they normally wouldn't be active on,' Funs Jacobs, senior director of innovation at marketing and advertising company told International Business Times. Integrating AI with digital avatars brings metahumans to life, especially if a digital avatar is well-trained by hours of a creator's own content, he said. Furthermore, generative AI integration can allow for 'hyper-personalization' of a metahuman that can interact with a creator's community. An example of a hyper-personalized experience with AI and metahumans is singer The Weeknd's 'Alone With Me' project in 2020. A lifelike version of the singer greets fans using Spotify accounts at the immersive microsite. The Weekend's virtual counterpart was able to send thousands of personalized videos to fans within hours. The experience demonstrates how AI-infused metahumans are 'democratizing creativity,' Jacobs said. Influencers and content creators have had challenges related to multitasking, such as going live on multiple platforms and responding to live chats. With an AI-powered metahuman, influencers can get some of the pressure off. Jacobs said he sees a future world where consumers and brands will have a lot of interactions with AI-fueled metahumans instead of with chatbots, automated helpdesks and FAQs that 'never work as you like them to.' Outside its role of improving influencers' efficiency, metahumans may also play a major role in bridging the gap of digital literacy between large corporations and smaller businesses in Indonesia, Kartina Sury, strategic marketing expert and senior fellow at think tank the Center of Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) said. 'The more important use of metahumans in this early time is to drive digital literacy for better business results at the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprise) level,' she said. While it is fascinating to see the vast growth of Indonesia's digital space as propelled by the pandemic, Sury noted that digital adoption levels still vary across huge corporations and MSMEs. Metahuman integration into businesses, especially in the services sector, may help improve digital literacy among smaller players in various industries and encourage further digital adoption. Despite promising possibilities, there are concerns about AI and metahumans possibly replacing real human jobs. To offset the potential threat to human jobs, employers should invest in training workers to be knowledgeable in using the technology, Sury said. On the part of workers, it's crucial to 'empower' oneself by being open to tech developments that could help enhance efficiency and save time on tasks that can otherwise be automated, Jacobs said. Indonesia still has digital literacy hurdles to overcome before it can fully adopt high technology such as AI and metahumans, but a 2018 study by Forrester Consulting on behalf of AI software company Appier found that Indonesia leads the Asia Pacific in AI implementation. Indonesia's AI adoption is propelled by the country's booming digital economy and expansive internet penetration. Last month, experts said that Indonesia has the 'most potential' in the ASEAN region's digital economy.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Sidra Medicine provides 1st full adolescent eating disorders clinic in Qatar
Tribune News Network Doha Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, offers a specialised eating disorders clinic within its Adolescent Medicine programme to support children and young people, aged eight to 17. As the only comprehensive eating disorder programme in Qatar, the clinic plays a vital role in addressing a growing health concern by providing holistic, multidisciplinary care tailored to the complex physical and mental health needs of adolescents. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team including paediatricians, psychologists, dietitians, and social workers. The team is trained in gold-standard therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) and Family-Based Therapy. The clinic provides diagnosis and management for conditions such as Anorexia Nervosa (restrictive and binge-purge types); Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID); and co-occurring mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, and low self-esteem. Dr. Madeeha Kamal, acting division chief of Adolescent Medicine, General Paediatrics, and Dermatology at Sidra Medicine, said: 'Eating disorders are not simply about food or weight. They are complex mental health conditions with deep emotional and psychological roots. They often go unnoticed, as many young people hide their symptoms. Our clinic is committed to raising awareness and providing specialised care that combines medical, psychological, nutritional, and family support.' A standout feature of the programme is its integration of allied health professionals who play a crucial role in each patient's recovery. Dietitians offer tailored nutritional support to help adolescents, and their families reach treatment goals, while psychologists address underlying issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and body image concerns. Social workers also work closely with families to address relational dynamics that may be contributing to the disorder, reinforcing the importance of trust and support throughout the healing process. The programme also has an inpatient service for adolescents requiring round-the-clock care and therapy. Patient management, for both outpatients and inpatients, is based on the American Academy of Paediatrics guidelines. Dr. Al Hammadi, chair of paediatric Medicine at Sidra Medicine, said: 'At Sidra Medicine, we have witnessed many success stories. One patient, admitted at age 13 with severe malnutrition and a critically low heart rate, made a full recovery through coordinated inpatient care and ongoing outpatient support. 'She went on to graduate with distinction and gained admission at a leading international university. All of us were so proud of her progress and milestones. With more than 90 percent of our patients achieving long-term recovery, this programme demonstrates that with comprehensive treatment and strong family involvement, adolescents can regain their health and lead fulfilling lives.' Dr. Kamal shared some advice and guidance for parents, if they are worried about their children's eating habits, saying: 'Early detection is extremely crucial when it comes to eating disorders. Which is why it is important for us to work together with the family because together we can make a difference in their child's life.' 1. Early detection: Look out for warning signs in your child. • Are they skipping meals or following rigid food rules like eliminating whole food groups (like carbs or fats) or preoccupied with calories, 'clean eating,' or weight? • Have you seen any noticeable weight fluctuations? • Is your child avoiding eating in social situations? nutrition matters: Supports growth, development, and emotional health. • What does a balanced diet look like? • It includes 3 meals and 2-3 snacks daily and daily food intake is composed of key food groups: Fruits & Vegetables; Whole Grains; Proteins; Dairy or Alternatives and Fats: Nuts, seeds, vegetable oils for brain health. 3. Importance of family meals: To foster connection and structure • Incorporate daily family meals into your routine with your child. • Make mealtimes a safe and supportive space. • Family meals are essential in the recovery journey from eating disorders – regular shared meals provide stability, support and connection. Sidra Medicine remains committed to advancing adolescent health through innovation, research, and compassionate care.
