University of Sharjah Hosts Global AI Society Conference

The University of Sharjah (UoS) hosted an international conference focused on how artificial intelligence is shaping society. The event was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah.

The conference was organised by the Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at UoS.

Titled “The Future of Society in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” the event is part of the Second International Conference on Applied Research in Humanities and Social Sciences. The three-day conference brought together researchers and experts from 40 countries.

The conference opened with speeches from UoS Chancellor Prof. Dr Esameldin Agamy and Sharjah Police Commander-in-Chief Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer.

Nearly 300 research papers are being presented through more than 45 sessions and workshops. The discussions focus on key areas such as AI ethics, social change, sustainable innovation, and the future challenges of AI-driven societies.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr Agamy said artificial intelligence is developing at an unprecedented pace and is becoming a powerful force in all areas of life. He stressed that humanities and social sciences should not only keep up with AI but also help guide its future direction.

He also highlighted the university’s focus on applied research to address the impact of AI on families, governance, and economies. He said the university supports interdisciplinary work and evidence-based solutions to ensure innovation is balanced with ethical responsibility.

Major General bin Amer, in his keynote address, shared how Sharjah Police is using smart digital systems to improve community safety. He explained that the police are preparing for nine future domains through 41 scenarios, which are being turned into advanced cybersecurity tools. These systems aim to improve response times, service quality, and readiness for new crime patterns.

Prof. Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research, said AI’s impact on society requires strong multidisciplinary research. Meanwhile, Prof. Fakir Al Gharibeh, Director of the institute, said the conference helps build academic partnerships at local and international levels.

The conference featured keynote speeches by several prominent figures, including Nobel Literature laureate Prof. Abdulrazak Gurnah, UNESCO chair Maria Montoya, Lima University President Norka Patricia Stewart, and Oslo Metropolitan University’s Oscar Westlund.

Several UAE institutions participated, including UAE University, NYU Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities, Al Ain University, Ajman University, and Sorbonne Abu Dhabi.

Alongside the sessions, an exhibition titled “Smart Solutions for Community Security” was also held. It featured partners such as Sharjah Police, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, and the Sharjah Government Media Office.

The conference sessions covered topics such as predictive crime analysis, ethical AI in research, green innovations for environmental governance, Islamic and legal uses of AI, and new media trends in health and fine arts. All sessions focused on preparing communities for the future in an AI-driven world.