BRIDGE Summit 2025, the world’s largest debut media event, held in Abu Dhabi, featured a session titled “Order and Oversight in a World Run by Code”, where Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, spoke with international journalist and moderator Ali Aslan.
During the discussion, Al Olama highlighted the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the global media industry. He stressed that embracing AI is essential, warning that resisting technological change carries significant risk. Citing Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Brothers, he illustrated how leading companies are reshaping strategies to remain competitive in an AI-driven era.
He said, “Technologically enabled companies are going to absorb companies that are not technology enabled. A few decades ago when people talked about streaming content on the internet, the Blockbusters of the time – the cinema companies – saw this as something temporary that would go away and it is now completely consuming all the different players and becoming the new behemoth in this domain.”
Al Olama explained that the UAE, guided by its leadership, proactively develops AI policies through collaboration between government and private sectors. This approach ensures the responsible development, use, and management of smart technologies, leveraging cumulative experience and expertise in technological transformation.
Al Olama said, “The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence will reshape the skills required in the workforce market. In the coming years, we will witness the emergence of a new generation of professionals with diverse expertise and capabilities, positioning UAE companies not only to compete globally, but to lead and shape the future of international markets.
He pointed out that AI offers significant opportunities for the media and digital content sector, especially in areas such as data analysis, question processing, and content generation. However, it also presents challenges that require strengthening the integration between humans and machines to ensure production quality.
He added that AI is capable of producing music, for example, but it has not yet reached a level that surpasses human creativity, and he showcased examples of the developments taking place in the sector.
Al Olama also emphasized the need for AI tools to understand cultural and societal values, preserving intellectual heritage and promoting responsible use through conscious intervention and model testing.
The session, part of BRIDGE Summit’s 300+ session programme, reflects the event’s scale and ambition. The debut edition of BRIDGE Summit is held from 8–10 December 2025 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi.
(Inputs from WAM)
