الشات جي بي تي أصبح ميزة متوفرة في تطبيق واتساب!
You can now talk to ChatGPT by calling 1-800-ChatGPT (1-800-242-8478) in the U.S. or by sending a WhatsApp message to the same number—available everywhere ChatGPT is. pic.twitter.com/R0XOPut7Qw
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Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Superintelligent AI is coming and Saudi Arabia is ready
When people hear the term 'artificial intelligence,' they typically think of chatbots and digital assistants. But what's coming next could significantly impact the digital economy in the Middle East and beyond. What we are referring to is superintelligent AI. And if global tech leaders are right, it could arrive in fewer than five years. But what does that involve? How is it different from today's AI? And what are the implications for a region focused on leading in technology and innovation? Most people know AI through generative tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and DALL-E — systems that can write, code, and produce art. While powerful, these tools are best suited to narrow tasks and rely on patterns found in existing data. The new challenge is to create artificial general intelligence — AI that thinks and acts like a human across a wide range of tasks. In short, AGI could learn new subjects, solve unfamiliar problems creatively, and adapt its behavior much like a human mind. Artificial superintelligence, or ASI, would go even further. It would outperform the most intelligent humans in virtually every domain, from science and economics to emotional intelligence. Not just faster or smarter, but capable of things humans can't yet do. The foundations are already in place: faster computers, improved neural systems, and reasoning systems with numerous agents. The Middle East is increasingly gearing up for the change — with Saudi Arabia at the forefront. In the Kingdom, the focus has shifted from simply using AI to developing and managing homegrown AI systems. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia launched Humain, a new initiative backed by the Public Investment Fund. The project has ambitious goals: to build robust AI infrastructure, develop local cloud solutions, and create a powerful multimodal language model in Arabic. Because superintelligence will require adapting to local contexts, respecting cultural values, and maintaining control over data and systems, Saudi Arabia aims not only to use AI, but to shape it as a platform for future generations. Humain will be powered by more than 18,000 Blackwell GPUs from Nvidia. AMD and Microsoft will help fund research on AI training systems and chip architecture, while Amazon Web Services plans to invest $5 billion to build an AI Zone in the Kingdom. These partnerships are more than transactions — they are building blocks for long-term technological strength. As the world prepares for the emergence of superintelligence, we'll need more computing power, deeper government coordination, and stronger cross-border collaboration. Saudi Arabia is making its move now, ahead of the curve. With superintelligent systems, we could see autonomous legal platforms, AI-designed cities, and travel driven by emotional experiences. Yousef Khalili But what will superintelligent AI mean for the broader Middle East economy? It could accelerate four major transformations, starting with more intelligent governance and rapid infrastructure development. Such systems could analyze countless policies in real time and improve sectors such as traffic management, public health, and economic planning. This kind of capability could help Saudi Arabia achieve its Vision 2030 goals more quickly and accurately. Superintelligent AI will also unlock personalized learning. Imagine AI tutors that adapt to each student's learning style, cultural context, and emotional state. With superintelligence, it's possible to deliver large-scale, individualized education, therefore building a generation of skilled experts across fields. The scientific potential is even greater. In areas like medicine, clean energy, and materials science, AI could enable breakthroughs, whether in drug discovery, hydrogen technologies, or advanced materials. These applications align closely with Saudi Arabia's growing investments in biotechnology and sustainable energy. New industries will also emerge. With superintelligent systems, we could see autonomous legal platforms, AI-designed cities, and travel driven by emotional experiences. NEOM may serve as a testing ground for many of these innovations. Regional leadership in AI governance must also grow. The future is not guaranteed to be positive. Superintelligence is unlike any tool humanity has ever created. Without clear rules and alignment, it could harm economies, displace jobs, or deepen inequality. This is why governance, alignment, and ethics must evolve in parallel with technological progress. The region is well placed to lead not only in adoption but in shaping the frameworks around it. As Saudi minister Abdullah Al-Swaha recently said: 'Instead of only following standards, we should help create them.' In the end, readiness provides the edge. Superintelligent AI is approaching quickly. The nations that invest early, think boldly, and manage wisely will have a real opportunity to leap ahead in this century. Saudi Arabia is demonstrating what it means to think ahead. From building sovereign AI systems to securing large-scale infrastructure deals, it is laying the foundation for a future where prosperity is driven not by oil or labor, but by intelligence. If superintelligence emerges by 2028, the Middle East will not simply be a witness — it will be a leader. • Yousef Khalili is the global chief transformation officer and CEO for the Middle East and Africa at Quant, a company developing advanced digital employee technology aimed at redefining the future of customer experience.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Arab News
Comfort or isolation: Pakistanis weigh pros and cons of ChatGPT as confidant
LAHORE: When Mehak Rashid looks back on a restless, emotionally fragile phase of her life earlier this year, an unlikely confidant comes to mind. 'When nobody else was listening to you and everybody else thought you were crazy, ChatGPT was there,' Rashid, a metallurgy and materials engineer from Lahore, told Arab News. 'I just wanted to be heard… It will not give you a judgment and that's so beautiful.' Rashid began using the chatbot after noticing her children experimenting with it for schoolwork. Now, she often turns to it for 'answers' and 'different perspectives.' 'It helps me in every way,' she said. Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has attracted hundreds of millions of users and, by mid-2025, logged nearly 800 million weekly active users. Many in Pakistan, among the top 20 countries for ChatGPT traffic, use it daily for emotional support, venting feelings, or late-night reassurance when friends aren't available. Globally, an estimated 40 percent of ChatGPT conversations relate to mental well-being, and a Sentio University survey found nearly half of users with ongoing mental health issues rely on it for support: 73 percent for anxiety, 63 percent for advice, and 60 percent for help with depression. While this instant comfort helps some cope, psychologists warn that heavy reliance on AI can weaken real human connections and deepen social isolation in a country already short on mental health resources. A March 2025 study by OpenAI and MIT found frequent users reported increased dependence and loneliness, suggesting that AI companionship can erode human bonds and intensify feelings of isolation rather than resolve them. For Lahore-based designer Khizer Iftikhar, ChatGPT began as a professional aid but gradually crept into his personal life and started affecting his relationships, especially with his wife. 'I have a very avoidant attachment style,' he said. 'Instead of confronting someone, I can just talk about the good part with people and let the chatbots handle the negative part.' Iftikhar described ChatGPT as 'a multiple personality tool' that lacked the balance of real human interaction. Many experts say using AI models can weaken bonds overtime, reduce empathy, and make people more emotionally self-contained, preferring the predictable reassurance of a machine over the give-and-take of genuine human connection. 'With humans, relationships are about give and take. With chatbots, it's not like that,' Iftikhar said. Despite once trying therapy, he now uses ChatGPT to process emotions and trusts people only for practical advice. 'I would trust a chatbot more when it comes to the feelings part,' Iftikhar said. 'But when it comes to the work part, I will trust humans more.' In Islamabad, 26-year-old Tehreem Ahmed initially used ChatGPT for office transcriptions and calorie tracking but it eventually became an emotional lifeline. One night, overwhelmed by troubling news and unable to reach friends, she turned to the chatbot. 'It was around 3am and none of my friends were awake,' she said. 'So, I went on ChatGPT and I typed in all that I got.' The chatbot encouraged her to pause and reflect before reacting. 'I feel like it responded well because I gave it a smarter prompt… Had I just said, 'Hey, this has happened. What should I do?' I guess it would have just given me all the options… I could have self-sabotaged.' While Ahmed doesn't fully trust the bot, she said she preferred it to people who might dismiss her feelings. 'If I know my friend is not going to validate me, I'd rather go to the bot first.' 'DETERIORATING HUMAN CONNECTIONS' For one anonymous Lahore-based tech professional, ChatGPT quickly shifted from a practical helper to an emotional crutch during a difficult relationship and the ongoing war in Gaza. She first used it in late 2023 to navigate a job change, edit CVs, and prepare for assessments. But emotional upheaval deepened her reliance on the bot. 'That [romantic] relationship didn't progress,' she said. 'And the platform helped me a lot emotionally in navigating it.' Her sessions became so layered and spiritual that some ended in 'prostration from spiritual overwhelm.' Still, she was careful not to project too much onto the tool: 'It's a mirror of my flawed self… I try not to let the tool simply reflect my ego.' Psychologists caution that without the challenges and messiness of real interactions, people using chatbots may lose vital social skills and drift further into isolation. Mahnoor Khan, who runs MSK Clinics in Islamabad, agreed, saying the search for emotional safety in AI was becoming increasingly common as people feared judgment from others. 'Over a period of time, human connections have deteriorated,' the psychologist said. 'When people share something vulnerable with a friend, they often feel judged or lectured.' To avoid that, many turn to chatbots. But Khan warned that AI's constant affirmation could have unintended consequences. 'It will tell you what you want to listen to… If you're happy, it's your companion; if you're sad, it instantly talks to you. The downside is that you are getting away from socialization.' The trend is especially troubling in a country where mental health care remains deeply under-resourced: Pakistan has fewer than 500 psychiatrists for a population of over 240 million, according to WHO estimates. No wonder then that even people with clinical mental health issues were turning to AI. Khan recalled the case of a young woman who used ChatGPT so often that it replaced nearly all her social interaction. 'She had a lot of suicidal ideations,' Khan said. 'She kept feeding ChatGPT: 'I feel very depressed today… you tell me what I should do?' ChatGPT kept telling her to avoid friends like that.' Eventually, she cut everyone off. One day, she asked the chatbot what would happen if she overdosed on phenyl. 'ChatGPT said, 'There are no consequences. In case you overdose yourself, you might get paralyzed,'' Khan recalled. The girl only read the first half and attempted suicide. She survived.
Arab News
17-06-2025
- Arab News
Iran asks its people to delete WhatsApp from their devices
Iranian state television on Tuesday afternoon urged the country's public to remove the messaging platform WhatsApp from their smartphones, alleging the app — without offering specific evidence — gathered user information to send to Israel. In a statement, WhatsApp said it was 'concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most.' WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, meaning a service provider in the middle can't read a message. 'We do not track your precise location, we don't keep logs of who everyone is messaging and we do not track the personal messages people are sending one another,' it added. 'We do not provide bulk information to any government.' End-to-end encryption means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is a garble that can't be unscrambled without the key. Gregory Falco, an assistant professor of engineering at Cornell University and cybersecurity expert, said it's been demonstrated that it's possible to understand metadata about WhatsApp that does not get encrypted. 'So you can understand things about how people are using the app and that's been a consistent issue where people have not been interested in engaging with WhatsApp for that (reason),' he said. Another issue is data sovereignty, Falco added, where data centers hosting WhatsApp data from a certain country are not necessarily located in that country. It's more than feasible, for instance, that WhatsApp's data from Iran is not hosted in Iran. 'Countries need to house their data in-country and process the data in-country with their own algorithms. Because it's really hard increasingly to trust the global network of data infrastructure,' he said. WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Iran has blocked access to various social media platforms over the years but many people in the country use proxies and virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access them. It banned WhatsApp and Google Play in 2022 during mass protests against the government over the death of a woman held by the country's morality police. That ban was lifted late last year. WhatsApp had been one of Iran's most popular messaging apps besides Instagram and Telegram.
