By ; Bakinam Khaled 

Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), participated in the second "AI Forward" conference, held from September 7 to 10 in Hammamet, Tunisia, under the theme "Shaping the Future of AI: From Vision to Value."

The event was organized by the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO), in collaboration with the League of Arab States (LAS), Tunisia’s Ministry of Communication Technologies, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

The AI ​​Forward conference served as a strategic platform for discussing how to transform artificial intelligence from a shared vision into tangible value and impactful results. It brought together ministers, senior officials, technology experts, Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), cybersecurity officers, digital economy officials, and leaders in inclusive leadership. The conference featured sessions on AI advancements, regional cooperation, digital capacity building, and inclusive leadership.

MCIT participated in the session titled "Women Shaping the Future of AI." The event marked the official launch of AWAIL (Arab Women in AI), a regional network designed to foster collaboration, training, digital capacity building, and inclusive leadership for women across the Arab world and Africa. Additionally, MCIT participated in the session titled "Shaping the Future AI Model: Intergenerational and Cross-Cultural Conversations on AI."  Discussions highlighted the importance of empowering the next generation—particularly girls—in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity mechanisms, and emerging technologies. On the sidelines of the event, MCIT participated in the second coordination meeting involving Council members and trainers from technical groups operating under the AI ​​and Emerging Technologies Committee, alongside officials from Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, and Libya. The event focused on fostering direct coordination among technical groups, establishing priorities, and defining roles and responsibilities. Participants also reviewed progress to date, discussed proposals, and addressed upcoming challenges. The event served as a coordination platform within the framework of the "CoE South" program, emphasizing patient data protection and the shared challenges regarding data protection across the region. MCIT also participated in a side event organized by the Council of Europe, in collaboration with AICTO, which addressed AI and coordination across the Southern and Mediterranean regions. This initiative operated within the "CoE South" program framework, focusing on cross-border data protection and emerging challenges.