Tunisian President Kais Saied has strongly urged Arab countries to adapt quickly to the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the wider digital revolution, during a meeting held at the Carthage Palace.
President Saied received the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, on Tuesday. The high-level meeting took place as Tunis hosted the AI Forward Summit, a major event dedicated to artificial intelligence organized by the Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technologies (AOICT) on December 2 and 3.
Surrounded by prominent Arab and international officials, the Tunisian head of state thanked the Arab League for its participation in the summit, which focused on the transition “from the information society to the intelligence society.”
President Saied noted that the world is currently experiencing an “unprecedented communications revolution,” where previously imaginary technologies are now part of everyday life. He called on Arab states to remain vigilant and proactive in the face of these digital transformations, which are fundamentally redefining both public and private practices.
He emphasized the strategic role of digital technology, particularly in crucial areas such as the fight against corruption and the modernization of public services, fields where Arab economies are seeking structural improvements.
While welcoming the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, the Tunisian president issued a stern warning against the potential pitfalls of uncontrolled use. He stressed the need to anticipate risks to prevent information technologies from becoming tools of disinformation, manipulation, or intellectual alienation.
Kais Saied concluded by addressing the global challenge of adapting humanity to new technological paradigms, advocating for a transition that rigorously preserves the values and integrity of societies. The meeting was attended by the Tunisian Minister of Information Technology, Sofiene Hemissi.
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