AI application the hot topic as communication forum kicks off in UAE

The 13th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) kicked off on Wednesday at the Expo Centre Sharjah in the UAE, drawing experts, scholars and professionals from around the globe to discuss the development in the communication sector.

Under the theme "Agile Governments, Innovative Communication," the event spotlighted a range of pressing topics, including the application of artificial intelligence in media, public communication in the digital age, academic exchanges and media cooperation, among other key issues in the communication field.

As AI technology rapidly advances, some participants noted that there is still much work to be done in the localization of AI applications, where opportunities and challenges coexist.

The situation with the Arabic language is quite unique because Arabic has over 12 million words unlike English, French and other languages, Mohamed Abdul Zaher, CEO of the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting, told CGTN.

"Many applications mainly work in Arabic, yet text in Arabic. Still, for me as a journalist of media and academic, we still need more enhancements," he said.

As one of the UAE's most important annual conferences in the media and communication sector, the IGCF has also become a crucial platform for Sharjah to expand its cooperation across various fields.

Mohamed Al Musharrakh, CEO of the Sharjah Foreign Direct Investment Office, highlighted that as the UAE has recently joined the BRICS group of nations, the country looks forward to further deepening its exchanges and cooperation with China across multiple sectors.

"There are a lot of projects coming up, especially in the industrial sector as well, not only in the cultural sector," he said. "Talking about Sharjah, currently we have around 700 Chinese companies with UAE being part of BRICS. We are aiming to increase this number by at least 15 percent in the year 2024."

This year's IGCF has brought together over 250 speakers and experts from across the globe to lead discussions on the future of communication across 18 stages. The extensive agenda features more than 160 activities, including panel discussions, keynote speeches, 40 capacity-building workshops led by experts, youth-focused initiatives and a research platform, all in collaboration with over 40 local, regional and international partners.