Guest Column| Case for intelligent conscience, missing ministry of AI

In 2017, the UAE startled the world by appointing a minister of state for artificial intelligence. What seemed like a symbolic flourish became a strategic anchor: A full cabinet seat for AI, later expanded to cover the digital economy and remote work. It was a declaration that in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, artificial intelligence was not a laboratory hobby, it’s a national priority.

Singapore has followed with precision. Its National AI Strategy 2.0, launched in 2023, is a whole-of-nation plan to harness AI for growth, safety, and social good. China has binding rules for algorithmic recommendation and generative AI, making providers responsible for accuracy, bias, and security.