The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
DUBAI / WAM
The World Governments Summit (WGS) has consistently addressed the need for proactive digital adaptation by governments and institutions to build dynamic and efficient institutions that drive a brighter future for societies by embracing digital solutions, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven approaches. This proactive stance helps avoid being left behind in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Each WGS edition has tackled the issue of technology and its impact on various aspects of our lives. From education and healthcare to urban living, travel, communication, and interaction, the discussions have explored the diverse implications of digitalisation and AI. The upcoming edition will place issues related to digital transformation and AI under the microscope.
The summit recognises the opportunities and challenges presented by digitalisation efforts worldwide. The WGS website emphasises the need for future policies to address the digital divide and ensure inclusivity amidst rapid global changes. The emergence of disruptive technologies like generative AI necessitates ethical design, regulation, and proactive identification of trends by governments and international organisations.
The first summit in 2013 showcased diverse experiences in government services from around the world. Workshops delved into digital transformation, the establishment of unified service portals, and providing 24/7 access to services. This laid the groundwork for future advancements. Following the first summit, the UAE launched its ambitious “Smart Government” initiative. This transformed e-government services into a smartphone-accessible platform, providing anytime, anywhere access to government services.
In its second edition, WGS witnessed a surge in the exploration and adoption of smart and digital services across government operations. The Museum of Future Government Services offered an interactive glimpse into the future of travel, healthcare, and education. The summit also recognised excellence in mobile government services. Workshops and sessions at the second edition addressed key issues like smart cities and technology-driven educational development. Discussions explored the impact of smart mobility on quality of life, alongside innovations in smart infrastructure and their implications. The 2015 and third edition of the World Governments Summit brought the digital revolution to the forefront, with discussions focusing on its impact on individuals, business models, and the future of government services. The need for regulatory mechanisms for modern technology was also put in the spotlight. Interestingly, debates even explored the potential competition between machines and human brainpower, reflecting a growing public interest in this topic.
Beyond the main theme, other sessions at the third WGS delved into diverse topics, including the digital future, emerging cybersecurity threats, and digital security.
In 2017, WGS delved into fintech, exploring the digital divide between those embracing it for everyday banking and those who remain hesitant. They even pondered the possibility of technology paving the way for a borderless world. Visitors at the 2017 summit embarked on a 30-year journey into the future powered by virtual reality, envisioning the future landscapes of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 2050. The ambitious goal of constructing the first human settlement on Mars by 2117 was also unveiled. The 2018 edition tackled a wider range of social, economic, and human issues. Among them were AI’s role in shaping our lives and data’s emergence as the most valuable resource of the future. 2018 also saw Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF), address the summit, highlighting the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as a complete overhaul of business models and global economies. Other sessions explored data and AI as tools for government preparedness, government excellence through data utilisation, and the immense trillion-dollar opportunities presented by AI and data.
The 2019 summit shifted focus to the future of cities globally, examining how AI could boost development and security, energy and food production structures within them, and how technology could contribute to building happy cities with clean, self-driving, and multimodal transportation systems.
The sixth edition showcased global leadership and experiences in technology, discussing the impending communications revolution driven by advanced technologies like the Internet of Things and 5G. It also explored the future role of governments in fostering innovation-friendly environments and the need for advancements in digital infrastructure, computer technology, and even quantum computers. After a hiatus in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Governments Summit returned with its seventh edition focusing on digital infrastructure. The 2022 summit addressed technology’s contribution to building a stable future and the mechanisms for governments to take swift action on global challenges. The summit’s agenda covered 4IR, the rapid transition to a digital economy, the global internet divide, bridging the digital gap, fostering deeper technology-government integration, and leveraging technology to eliminate bureaucracy.
Discussions also explored the metaverse’s potential in transporting humans to new dimensions and offering novel experiences, its impact on city and project design, and the need for regulations to protect users from both malicious and excessive data misuse that could stifle innovation. Other topics included remote work models, and exploring their design through technology and digital infrastructure. A dialogue with the world’s youngest programmer emphasised the importance of integrating computing and AI into school curricula. As for WGS’ latest edition, it heavily focused on development issues, digital infrastructure, and how AI and digitisation impact societies. Sessions explored automation’s influence on the future of work, and Elon Musk shared his vision for the future, encompassing the energy transition, electric vehicles, and the opportunities and dangers of AI. The summit also discussed advancements in virtual reality technologies and the role of governments in promoting innovation and enabling governance in this domain. Through various sessions and workshops, the summit addressed numerous ongoing concerns related to future cities, innovation, and sustainable and flexible digitisation of infrastructure and buildings. Finally, the 2023 edition of WGS explored the migration of people from the real world to the virtual, acknowledging the growing data production that shapes and directs global economies and politics.