SAHIWAL: Speakers in a conference feared that the unparalleled speed of invading artificial intelligence (AI) would create global unemployment, which would also affect the local job market in Pakistan because AI has created another mechanical mind capable of machine learning, problem solving, reasoning and synthesising solutions from trillion byte database models.

“The question is how this invading device will benefit our 64pc youth for training and skill development remains to be answered. It is yet to be seen how this will impact our classrooms, teachers and syllabus already coded with “security dominant narrative” in today as knowledge-based world economy. How would indigenous narratives and algorithms be shaped up by bringing out information from AI?”

These questions were raised by the speakers during the conference.

The discussions were held on the fifth two-day literary and cultural conference at the Sahiwal Art Council on the theme of ‘Artificial Intelligence, Literature And Culture’.

Dr Anwar Ahmed, the researcher and scholar, concluding the conference on Friday, termed AI the biggest challenge of the 21st century and called it the collective responsibility to prepare the youth to utilise it for improving their cognitive abilities.

On Thursday, the inaugural session was presided over by Asghar Nadeem Syed and attended by Dr Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Riffat Abbas, Dr Rawish Nadeem, Dr Hina Jamshed, Dr Javaid Akhter, Mian Sajid, Dr Mumtaz Ahmed and Commissioner Shoaib Iqbal. The conference was arranged by the Sahiwal Arts Council in collaboration with public and private sector colleges and universities. More than 50 scholars from various disciplines and cities spoke during the sessions.

Dr Ashraf Kamal from Bhakkar stressed integrating indigenous narratives and algorithms into AI to reflect the rich heritage of the land which was a fascinating and complex challenge for developing countries using AI.

Riffat Abbas said we had to generate new questions that allow research and documentation and collaboration with experts for developing indigenous algorithms and epistemological foundations with deep sense of cultural sensitivity.

Dr Sadat Saeed emphasised the colonisation perspective of AI where the US and China were becoming the digital dictators and in future the AI might badly affect the small economies.

Nayyar Abbas Nayyar said in the future all jobs and skills were going to be redundant and both developed and developing countries had to face a new kind of unemployment that could not be tackled with ordinary technology.

The conference showed paintings of Abdul Mateen and Fatima Hussain along with artificial creation of Harappa with AI techniques.

Dr Riaz Hamdani, the director SAC, said the conference ran parallel sessions and local educational institutions, including the University of Sahiwal, Arid University, Govt Graduate College, University of Sahiwal and Ripha University.

Comsats University and UoS students displayed scientific models exhibition and showcased different startups project in their respective campuses. Beaconhouse School showed a documentary on climate change titled “Breathe Again” along with a 30 minutes stage tableau named Technology Ka Sarab. The conference had a short theatre performance of Najm Hosain Syed’s play Ik Ratt Ravi De directed by Hammad Afzal, singing performance by Wahdat Rameez, Punjabi Mushaira at the GGC, Sahiwal and cultural tours of conference delegates to Waris Shah Shrine at Malka Hans and Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar, Pakpattan, was another feature of conference concluding sessions.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024