Artificial intelligence (AI) has ignited widespread interest and made a profound impact on societies globally, prompting governments to position themselves as pioneers and regulators in this dynamic field. In the context of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where digital transformation has surged ahead, governments have proactively engaged in shaping policies to harness the potential of AI for societal progress. Join Dr. Anis Ben Brik as he delves into the proactive engagement of MENA governments in leveraging AI for progress. By employing advanced techniques such as topic modeling, clustering, and reverse topic-search on national AI policy documents, Dr. Ben Brik provides a comprehensive overview of the topics covered in these policies, shedding light on the divergences among nations. Furthermore, the examination of ethical principles across the corpus offers valuable insights into the considerations vital for the future development of AI applications. By exploring the implications arising from geographical and cultural clusters within the MENA region, Dr. Ben Brik’s research unravels the trajectory of AI development and its pivotal role in catalyzing digital transformation.
About the speaker
Dr. Anis Ben Brik, Associate Professor, Founding Director of Program for Social Policy and Program Evaluation (PROSPER), College of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar.
Dr. Anis Ben Brik is an associate professor at the College of Public Policy (CPP) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, where he teaches courses on social policy and program evaluation. He is a leading expert in the field of social policy, evaluation research and digital transformation in the MENA region. Dr. Ben Brik is the founding director of Master Program of Social Policy and Evaluation Research (PROSPER). He has extensive experience in public sector, UN, and NGO settings. Dr. Anis has served as a senior policy advisor, member of national committees, advisory boards, and director of research and evaluation projects in various countries, including Qatar and the UAE. He is also the Middle East regional organizing partner at the United Nations NGO Major Group. Dr. Ben Brik holds a PhD in Social Sciences from the University College London and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
