World Summit AI Qatar 2024:
Highlights and Key Moments
The World Summit AI Qatar 2024 has concluded, marking an incredible two days of thought leadership, innovation, and collaboration in the heart of Doha. Bringing together innovators and visionaries from across the globe, this year’s summit showcased the immense potential of artificial intelligence to transform industries, communities, and lives.
Shaping The Future Of AI
This year’s summit highlighted pressing issues such as AI readiness, ethical frameworks, and the future of work. A recent survey revealed that only 13% of organizations feel fully prepared for AI, with talent and cybersecurity being top concerns.
Here are some key highlights from the summit:
A Historic Launch: Fanar – The Arab Artificial Intelligence Project
One of the most groundbreaking moments of the summit was the inauguration of Fanar – The Arab Artificial Intelligence Project by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. This landmark initiative, launched under the patronage of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, underscores Qatar’s commitment to preserving and promoting Arabic language and culture in the AI era.
Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (a member of Qatar Foundation), “Fanar” represents a transformative leap forward for the AI industry. With a database of over 300 billion words and more than a trillion Arabic phonetic segments, coupled with a technical architecture comprising seven billion parameters, “Fanar” achieves unparalleled understanding of Arabic dialects and cultural nuances. Its capabilities include generating, writing, summarizing, rephrasing, and explaining texts with remarkable precision and speed. This initiative solidifies Qatar’s leadership in the development of AI tailored to regional and cultural contexts.
Global Insights And Reach
With over 4,000 attendees and immense media attention, WSAI Qatar 2024 set new benchmarks for engagement and global outreach. From inspiring keynote speeches to interactive panel discussions, the energy and enthusiasm throughout the event were palpable.
The summit’s impact extended far beyond the venue, with extensive coverage from our Headline Global Media Partner, Al Jazeera, and Strategic Media Partner, Fadaat Media. Al Jazeera’s reporting amplified the summit’s key messages, while Sarah Porter, CEO and Founder of InspiredMinds!’s interview with Al Araby TV highlighted AI innovation, ethical practices, and the future of AI across industries. This media attention ensured that the discussions reached far beyond attendees in Doha.
Inspiring Discussions
Keynote Highlights:
Gary Marcus, renowned AI scientist, joined us online and reminded us of the double-edged potential of AI. On one hand, he acknowledged its transformative promise: “AI could make society or break it. It could revolutionize science, medicine, and technology and deliver us a world of abundance and better health.” On the other hand, Marcus did not shy away from highlighting its risks, stating, “Current AI is morally and technically bankrupt. We have no way to control this particular architecture.”
Marcus’ balanced perspective on AI underscored the urgent need for ethical frameworks, robust governance, and collaborative innovation to navigate the path forward responsibly.
Dame Wendy Hall, a pioneer in AI, provided an insightful perspective on the importance of inclusive global collaboration in AI policy. Reflecting on her work, she stated, “Our report was sent to the UN in September and our recommendations were accepted. It was around, ‘How can we set up global policies to help humanity?’ Global dialogue, scientific panels, standards interoperability, and capacity building in the global south. So-called global discussions are actually a small group of countries. We need to ensure everyone can benefit from AI.”
She went on to also discuss Gen AI. “The GenAI genie is out of the bottle and moving rapidly. It’s a lightning-fast, alive experiment, and you cannot predict how society will adapt and use it. So we need to prepare countries to regulate AI for future technologies that could be more dangerous.”
H.E Sheikh Mansoor Bin Khalifa Al-Thani delivered a powerful closing address, emphasizing collaboration and human-centric AI: “Your presence here is a contribution, our presence here is a contribution. Together, we empower and shape the country and the region. It’s very important to realize Qatar’s dynamics are changing. The ecosystem is evolving rapidly. The discussions today, this kind of dialogue, the mindset of contribution you’ve brought here today, makes a difference. This is how we help empower and shape the country and the region.”
He concluded by reflecting on the summit’s purpose: “This is the end of two awesome days at this awesome summit focused on human-centric AI. And that’s why I’m here, because of human centricity, more than AI. It’s about us, not about technology. We are the problem – but also the solution.”
Dynamic Exhibition Floor
The exhibition floor at WSAI Qatar 2024 was a vibrant hub, showcasing amazing AI solutions and fostering collaboration among industry leaders:
Airia, our Global Partner, demonstrated its enterprise AI full-stack platform that modernizes workflows, deploys leading AI models, and delivers impactful ROI, setting a benchmark for AI lifecycle integration.
Scale AI, our Official Networking Partner, facilitated meaningful connections while showcasing innovative approaches to harnessing data for impactful AI solutions.
Meeza, our Strategic AI Data Partner, presented its advanced data solutions, emphasizing the critical role of AI in driving Qatar’s digital transformation.
Roland Berger, our Official AI Consultancy Partner, shared transformative insights into leveraging AI for strategic growth and innovation.
We were also proud to host booths from brands like Meeza, Applab, and Cytomate, whose presence added immense value to the summit, underscoring the global significance of AI advancements.









Distinguished Partnerships
The summit also celebrated collaborations with some of the world’s most distinguished technology leaders:
IBM, our Headline Strategic Partner, showcased their pioneering advancements in AI and cloud computing.
Al Jazeera, our Headline Global Media Partner, and Fadaat Media, our Strategic Media Partner, both provided exceptional coverage of the summit, further amplifying its reach and impact.
PwC, our Headline Partner, highlighted the intersection of AI and business transformation.
Our Platinum Partners—HP, Cisco, and Microsoft—showcased groundbreaking innovations that redefine connectivity, hardware, and AI-powered solutions.
Gala Dinner At The Ned
The summit’s culmination was a stunning gala dinner at The Ned Doha, where over 120 distinguished guests, including industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, gathered for an evening of networking, celebration, and reflection. The elegant setting was the perfect backdrop for fostering meaningful connections.









Reflecting On A Landmark Partnership
We’re delighted to share that Cisco and Mannai Networking & ELV have signed as one of our headline sponsors of World Summit AI Qatar for the next four years. Building on a successful collaboration with InspiredMinds!, Cisco continues to be one of trusted partners, bringing its expertise in networking and technology to the region. This will not only strengthen our relationship but also drive innovation, supporting the growth of AI and digital transformation across industries in Qatar and beyond. Together, we’re committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions and fostering the next wave of technological advancements.
Looking Ahead
As we close the chapter on WSAI Qatar 2024, the conversations and connections formed here will undoubtedly fuel progress in the months and years ahead. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our speakers, partners, sponsors, and attendees for making this summit a resounding success. Together, we are shaping the future of AI with innovation, collaboration, and purpose.
Looking forward, we are beyond excited to announce our next launch event: World Summit AI USA, taking place on June 25-26, 2025. Mark your calendars for another groundbreaking gathering of AI leaders and innovators! If we don’t see you Stateside, we look forward to connecting again in Doha next year – same time, same place.
Stay tuned for more updates, insights, and announcements as we continue to drive the global AI revolution.
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