Latest news with #CultureSummitAbuDhabi
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Not just tech hype: Abu Dhabi puts humanity at the heart of AI
From AI to ancestry, museums to ministers—Abu Dhabi's Culture Summit 2025 unfolded as a global dialogue on how humanity can harness culture to navigate the future. From April 27–29, the capital of the UAE transformed into a meeting ground of minds and cultures, hosting the seventh edition of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi under the resonant theme Culture for Humanity and Beyond. The summit was more than a policy forum or a cultural showcase—it was a call to rethink the role of culture in a world increasingly shaped by technology and transformation. This year, more than ever, the conversations were urgent. The headlines are dominated by the rise of artificial intelligence, market fluctuations, and general uncertainty. At such a time, Abu Dhabi did something quietly radical: it asked the world to pause, gather, and consider what it truly means to be human. DCT Abu Dhabi hosted the three-day summit, which was themed 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond'. It brought together over 200 speakers, 100 sessions, and 3,700+ attendees from over 90 countries across six continents. Held in partnership with global institutions, including UNESCO, Google, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and The Economist Impact, the event offered a powerful blend of keynotes, policy dialogues, cultural performances, and creative panels. At its core, this year's summit asked a deeply urgent question: How does culture evolve—and guide us—in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? 'Culture is a powerful force that shapes creativity, preserves heritage, and propels societies towards a future defined by innovation and hope.' With these words, His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, set the tone for the seventh edition of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, held from April 27–29, 2025. Echoing that vision, HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), added: 'Culture is not an afterthought; it's foundational. These gatherings matter more than ever, as they offer us the opportunity to chart a path towards a more sustainable and human-centred global society—with culture as its compass.' AI was not just a talking point—it was the spine of the summit's programming. On Day One, Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer at Google X, set a reflective tone, warning that while AI promises extraordinary convenience and scale, it also carries a weight of unintended consequences. 'We are building machines that are smarter than us,' he noted, 'but are we teaching them to be wiser than us?' The conversation didn't stop at alarm. In sessions that followed, speakers from across disciplines—ranging from academia to architecture—called for a reframing of AI: not as a replacement for creativity, but as a tool to augment it. As a panellist Dr Patrick Noack from the Dubai Future Foundation argued, 'AI can serve as an accelerator—but never a substitute—for human imagination.' An emotionally resonant session featuring jewellery designer Lama Hourani, Dubai Opera's Paolo Petrocelli, and Broadway designer David Korins reminded audiences that AI may generate content, but it can't yet spark meaning. Beyond AI and policy, the summit expanded into unexpected cultural territories. A series of thought-provoking panels explored: How museums can serve as 'dynamic spaces of urgent relevancy' Why fashion is a cultural and intellectual force, not just an aesthetic How design can move beyond human-centred thinking in a multispecies world Speakers included some of the most influential minds in global arts and culture: Glenn D. Lowry (Director, Moma), Susan Buck-Morss (CUNY/Cornell), Iyad Rahwan (Max Planck Institute), and Sir William Sargent (Framestore). Their keynotes offered philosophical depth, practical insight, and urgent critiques of the systems shaping creativity today. A key highlight was the MONDIACULT 2025 Ministerial Dialogue, co-organised by UNESCO and DCT Abu Dhabi. Culture ministers from around the world engaged in a candid, high-stakes discussion about the evolving role of governments in shaping the future of culture in the digital era. Among the topics addressed are how AI can protect heritage, create economic opportunity, and amplify the creative potential of youth. The conversation reaffirmed a deep collective belief that culture is a core infrastructure of governance, not an afterthought. 'Today, it is an honour to see the collaboration between DCT Abu Dhabi and UNESCO deepen,' said HE Al Mubarak. 'The presence of Culture Ministers here in Abu Dhabi sends a strong message: culture is a vital priority for governments worldwide.' Since its inception in 2017, the Culture Summit has grown into a platform that doesn't just respond to global trends—it helps set them. The 2025 edition underscored Abu Dhabi's long-term vision: to position culture as a strategic pillar of its economic, educational, and social development goals. That vision was mirrored in its partnerships—with organisations like teamLab, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Image Nation, and the Abrahamic Family House—and in the city's cultural infrastructure, which blends policy with performance, heritage with high-tech. As the summit drew to a close, the message left hanging in the air wasn't about the capabilities of AI or the future of museums. The Culture Summit didn't offer final answers, but it did offer a necessary space to pause, listen, and imagine together. In doing so, it reinforced a simple truth—if the future is to be truly human, culture must not follow behind technology. It must walk alongside it and, sometimes, lead.
Gulf Today
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Sheikh Khaled arrives in Kazakhstan on official visit
Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has arrived in Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on an official visit, at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Sheikh Khaled was received upon arrival at Astana International Airport by Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, along with a number of senior Kazakh officials. Sheikh Khaled is accompanied on the visit by a high-level official delegation comprising several ministers and senior UAE government officials. Last month, Aida Balayeva, Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, stated that Culture Summit Abu Dhabi is a distinguished strategic platform for addressing issues of culture and arts in the contemporary world and for enhancing global cultural cooperation. Speaking to WAM, she said that Kazakhstan and the UAE share deep-rooted cultural and humanitarian ties that go beyond economic cooperation to strengthen cultural links between the two peoples. She highlighted that this relationship is characterised by a unique specificity that reflects the rich exchange between the heritage of the UAE and the culture of Kazakhstan, stressing that the UAE represents an exceptional model in integrating cultural history with creativity across various fields. Balayeva emphasised that the UAE provides a significant opportunity to showcase culture and creativity, referring to the opening of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, a digital art museum that offers an immersive artistic experience combining authenticity and modernity. She considered the museum a living example of the UAE's ability to integrate history with modern technologies, contributing to the development of cultural dialogue between different people. She noted that technological development presents a significant opportunity to promote cultures and national identity, and artificial intelligence can serve to enhance cultural cooperation and broaden understanding between different cultures, thereby helping to foster rapprochement among peoples and increase global cultural interaction. Balayeva thanked the organisers for providing this unique platform, emphasising that the summit's events offer not only cultural exchange but also a strategic pathway to support peace and stability by leveraging culture as a vital tool for fostering communication between peoples. She expressed Kazakhstan's eagerness for further cultural cooperation with the UAE to enhance mutual interests and contribute to sustainable development. In April 2025, Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), Timur Suleimenov, Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, and Madina Abylkassymova, Chair of The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of Financial Market, signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation and information exchange in areas of mutual interest. As part of the MoU, the three parties will exchange information and expertise on best practices and regulations for developing local financial markets, FinTech, and promoting central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and enabling their use in cross-border transactions among the participating parties. The MoU includes the sharing of supervisory information, facilitating cooperation in the areas of Islamic banking and finance, cybersecurity, and technical cooperation. Balama said that this MoU embodies the depth and strength of the economic partnership between the UAE and Kazakhstan, and opens broad prospects for the institutions to further develop this partnership in the commercial, investment, and financial sectors. The Central Bank's proactive approach expands cooperation with regional and international partners, deepening joint business opportunities in the financial and banking sectors to support the UAE's economic, trade, and investment goals. 'We look forward to close collaboration with our partners in Kazakhstan to enhance financial stability, develop the financial system,and achieve our mutual interests,' he added. Suleimenov, in turn, stated, 'The collaboration between the Central Bank of the UAE and the National Bank of Kazakhstan aims to deepen economic partnerships and advance cooperation in finance, banking and CBDCs, driving sustainable development. We will use our expertise in financial technology and payment systems to achieve shared objectives and foster economic prosperity.' WAM
Al Etihad
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Experts at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi discuss AI's impact on art, culture
29 Apr 2025 12:21 ABU DHABI (WAM)The Culture Summit Abu Dhabi hosted in-depth discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on art and culture, with experts highlighting AI's growing role in shaping both cultural production and statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Professor Iyad Rahwan, Director of Max Planck Institute for Human Development, said that AI influences culture in two main ways 'by curating the content we consume through algorithmic filtering of news and media, and by actively participating in the creation of culture through AI-generated art, music, and visual works.'Rahwan said he is interested in understanding how this emerging phenomenon is reshaping art, science, and cultural output, while emphasising the need to manage its risks and maximise its benefits. He expressed a desire to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects that bring together science and art in joint exhibitions with both creative and scientific Lowry, David Rockefeller Director, Museum of Modern Art, said the Culture Summit serves as a global platform for thinkers and creators to engage on contemporary cultural issues, including AI's impact on told WAM that museums function as dynamic cultural laboratories, where new ideas and technologies can be explored. He said this encourages global cultural exchange and cited the concept of the 'imaginary museum' introduced by André Malraux in the late 1940s as an early vision of today's digital and AI-driven cultural also discussed the work of artist Refik Anadol, known for his AI-driven pieces. One of Anadol's prominent works, 'Unsupervised — Machine Hallucinations" showcased at the Museum of Modern Art, used algorithms to analyse 138,000 pieces from the museum's collection and generate new artworks blending heritage with advanced technologies. He praised Abu Dhabi as one of the most impressive cultural destinations, particularly highlighting Saadiyat Island as a regional hub for artistic and cultural development and a reflection of the city's commitment to global cultural dialogue.
Al Etihad
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Culture Summit Abu Dhabi explores confluence of technology, humanity
29 Apr 2025 01:07 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)The seventh edition of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, a global platform exploring the intersection between culture, technology, and global governance, is witnessing wide participation of thought leaders, policymakers, celebrated artists, and creative innovators from across the at Abu Dhabi's cultural hotspot Manarat Al Saadiyat under the theme "Culture for Humanity and Beyond", the event aims to foster novel approaches on reimagining by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the summit runs until to Aletihad, speakers highlighted the emerging trends in the cultural landscape, especially the rise of artificial intelligence, and Abu Dhabi's role as global cultural Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture of India, said discussions centred around the growing impact of artificial intelligence, where participants expressed their concerns while also welcoming the accompanying opportunities, and the important role of culture in fostering global peace."Culture is the only thing which can resolve geopolitical gaps, bring us closer together, and establish peace," Shekhawat told India's participation, Shekhawat said: "India has been a member of the G20 cultural group and the UNESCO cultural team for many years. Since their inception, we have been part of them. And India, being such a diverse country - with its many cultures, crafts, cuisines, music, and all possible verticals - has a lot to contribute."Glenn Lowry, Director of New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), highlighted the role of AI in the museum sector."I'm going to talk about artificial intelligence in the museum space. I'm interested in the way museums are places of imagination - not just of objects or architecture," he said."I want to show how AI can be a partner in the creation of art, not a problem," he the importance of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, he noted that the event offers 'an incredible opportunity to bring people together to think out loud and exchange ideas"."We need to remember to talk and learn from each other. Art and culture are among the most powerful ways to share ideas.""Abu Dhabi is an amazing place that brings people from all over the world together in an atmosphere grounded in culture. This is a place of rich global conversation."Kinan Azmeh, a composer, who is attending the summit for the first time, valued Abu Dhabi's efforts to bring global cultures Azmeh, music is a tool to communicate and build understanding between people."Investing in culture is maybe the best human investment. Scientific advances are great, but they stand short without human expression," he Iyad Rahwan, director of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, praised Abu Dhabi's role as a major player both in artificial intelligence and cultural curation."It is ideally positioned where technology and culture can coalesce - from music to visual arts," he said."Abu Dhabi also shows how tradition and modernity can be reconciled. Tradition gives strength as we move forward, and you can feel that walking among its cultural institutions," he to the role of emerging tech, he described AI as "a cultural technology first before anything else"."We used to preserve culture orally, then through writing and printing. Artificial intelligence is a monumental new technology that changes preservation - it can capture how a person speaks, paints, or writes poetry." Rowdha Alsayegh, creative director and storyteller, said the event's focus on humanity shows that, even with AI's rise, "culture is about human essence, not just technology".
The National
28-04-2025
- The National
Abu Dhabi Culture Summit 2025: UAE's investment is making real-life human impact, says minister
Human values should not be compromised in the wake of the AI revolution, according to UAE Minister of Culture Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi. As part of his keynote address at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Salem highlighted how the UAE's investments in culture aim to create more inclusive societies. He said the completion of the Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative – launched by Unesco with funding provided by the UAE – was an example of a cultural project with real-life human impact. The initiative involved the restoration of some of Iraq's most famous religious sites, which were destroyed by ISIS in 2017. 'Through this project, we have restored iconic landmarks such as the church and the mosque,' he said. 'Not only has this initiative reconnected the people of Mosul with their multicultural heritage, it has also created sustainable community spaces, job opportunities, and strengthened local capacity. We ensure that these projects go beyond physical reconstruction by restoring hope while building a foundation for the future.' Sheikh Salem also affirmed the importance of the recently announced policy for the preservation of modern architectural heritage. Formally launched last month by the ministry, some of the initial measures involve protecting the UAE's modern architectural buildings and cataloguing landmarks of significant cultural importance in terms of heritage and national identity. 'In bridging the past and the present, we must embrace both historical landmarks and modern heritage,' he said. 'At the same time, the UAE is advancing strategies to preserve modern architectural heritage through collaboration with academic institutions and the private sector.' As for the role of AI in the cultural space, whether through practice or policy, Sheikh Salem stated it is an important tool for preserving and protecting culture and creative rights, as well as sparking inspiration in the digital landscape. 'The UAE's AI strategy stands as a blueprint for integrating artificial intelligence into various sectors, including culture, where the protection of creatives is always a priority,' he said. 'We have taken steps to strengthen the copyright regulatory ecosystem in the country and continue to advocate for greater support for intellectual property and cultural rights worldwide.' Also addressing delegates was Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, Unesco's assistant director-general for culture, who urged counterparts to ensure culture is enshrined in the organisation's future global development policies. His comments respond to Unesco's Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by UN member states in 2015 and running until 2030, which omit culture as a stand-alone goal – a continued point of controversy among cultural advocates. 'If we don't put culture at the centre of sustainable development for whatever agenda will be built in the future beyond 2030, we are going to miss the greatest opportunity to speak about how culture can help to build peace in this crazy world that we're living in,' Ramirez said. He added that with artificial intelligence playing a monumental role in society in the years to come, the cultural and creative industries will have an important role in articulating the benefits and challenges they represent. 'Technology clearly can build the new future of some institutions,' he said. 'But we cannot build technology without ensuring that it's made for communities, livelihoods, well-being, and for the construction of the next generation.' Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said a unified approach by the cultural sector will ensure AI remains a tool for creative advancements. 'I do not see AI as a negative. I'm obviously very optimistic. I see it as a massive positive,' he said. 'But the only way it continues to be positive is if there is a unified view on how we're going to be using this tool … [and how we] create opportunities for creators to flourish.'
