Etisal Roundtable Addresses AI, IP, and the Future of Creative Industries and Jobs in MEA

The Etisal Association, a proud member of the UNESCO subcommittee, recently hosted a lively roundtable discussion. Chaired by Dr. Hisham Danana, a board member of the association, the event delved into the exciting yet challenging world of Artificial Intelligence and its profound impact on intellectual property and creative industries across the Middle East and Africa. The roundtable brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from government, the private sector, global companies, and legal advisors. We also had remote participation from Aficta and the Arab Information Technology Union. Discussions centered on crucial topics like data usage, the ownership of AI-generated content, and how these technologies are reshaping the job market and creative sectors. This discussion couldn't have come at a more important time! With AI technologies expanding at an incredible pace, we're seeing growing challenges related to data governance, intellectual property rights, the future of jobs, and the deep impact on our cultural and creative industries. Participants explored key themes, including the complexities of using data to train AI models, the necessary levels of transparency, and the ongoing debate about who truly owns AI-generated content – is it the developer, the user, or should it be considered public domain? The talks also covered the economic effects of these technologies, focusing on how the job market is transforming and the emergence of new skills. A big emphasis was placed on making sure small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can benefit fairly, and on preventing market power from becoming concentrated in the hands of just a few large entities. Everyone stressed the importance of developing flexible legislative and regulatory frameworks that can keep up with rapid technological advancements. They also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society to ensure effective governance principles are applied, striking a balance between fostering innovation and protecting rights. The roundtable also paid special attention to AI's role in supporting and protecting cultural heritage, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines to prevent misuse of these technologies or distortion of local cultural identity.