Chairperson of Qatar Foundation H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser; Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani; Minister of Social Development and Family H E Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi and Minister of Public Health H E Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud along with other Ministers and dignitaries at the conference yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: The pressing need for cohesive ethical frameworks and policy standards across sectors shaped by the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) was highlighted at a two-day conference organised by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Doha.
The conference, ‘AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditions’, opened yesterday at the Qatar National Convention Centre in the presence of Chairperson of Qatar Foundation H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, and attended by ministers, dignitaries, and global experts.
Discussions spanned six thematic areas impacted by the AI: healthcare, urban design, security, education, finance, and the future of work, bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore how rapid adoption of AI affects cultures, traditions, and values worldwide.
“As AI continues to transform every facet of our lives, it brings with it urgent ethical questions. From the amplification of bias to issues of underrepresentation, the challenges are complex. This conference marks a pivotal step towards building international, cross-disciplinary collaborations that can guide the ethical development of AI. The insights we gather here will help shape technologies that are not only innovative, but also inclusive and responsible,” said President of HBKU, Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah in his opening remarks.
The opening plenary ‘AI Ethics at the Crossroads: Technology, Moral Traditions and the Future of Humanity’ underscored that AI is not merely a technological issue, but also a social, ethical, and political one. Panellists called for ethics-centred governance, cultural sensitivity, and resistance to unchecked corporate dominance, and a focus on shared global values to ensure AI serves humanity.
The panel featured Professor at the University of Vienna and former President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology Dr. Mark Coeckelbergh; Director of the Division for Research, Ethics and Inclusion at Unesco Dr. Dafna Feinholz; Professor and Director of the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society at MIT Dr. Munther Dahleh; and Professor of Islam and Biomedical Ethics at HBKU’s Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics Dr. Mohammed Ghaly.
Speakers emphasised the need to channel AI’s potential responsibly to prevent societal harm. Technology, they agreed, should not be halted but governed in ways that minimise risks and maximise benefits. Central to the discussion was the idea that the key question is not what AI can do, but what kind of society humanity wants to build with it. Concerns raised included the spread of fake news and videos, erosion of trust in digital spaces, and the weakening of interpersonal relationships. Ethical frameworks, they stressed, must ensure that AI fosters trust, empathy, and open dialogue.
Dr. Dafna Feinholz cautioned that while technological progress is inevitable, ethics must remain at the centre of AI’s development. “We need to first stop and think about the impact. Where is this bringing us to? If we are able to create fake videos, fake news, fake faces and voices — what kind of society are we creating?” she asked. Stressing the importance of trust and social cohesion, she added, “We don’t want to stop technology, but we want to make sure it builds trust, preserves human rights, and strengthens critical thinking. After all, this is our world, not only the world of those developing the technology. All of us must have a say in this.”
Offering an Islamic ethical perspective, Dr. Mohammed Ghaly reflected on how AI challenges long-held assumptions about human uniqueness.
“There is really not much intelligence in these intelligent systems. It’s all human-made, human-designed and the algorithms are written by people,” he said. He urged a clear distinction between what is technologically possible and what is morally acceptable: “AI is not just a technology; it is a socially disruptive technology. It will not keep human relations as they were before.”
He stressed that societies must ensure AI reflects shared values, rather than allowing technology companies to impose their philosophies.
