International AI Serving Homeland Security and Safety Conference Kicks Off

Doha, October 29 (QNA) – Under the patronage of HE Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE Minister of State for Interior Affairs Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani opened today the International AI Serving Homeland Security and Safety Conference.

The inauguration was attended by a number of Their Excellencies the Ministers and senior state officials, guests of the country including Their Excellencies ministers and police chiefs from a number of friendly countries, a number of Their Excellencies the ambassadors accredited to the state, experts, specialists, researchers and AI enthusiasts.

In his opening speech, Milipol Qatar Committee Chairman Major General Nasser bin Fahad Al-Thani said the event was being held at a time when AI technology is witnessing rapid growth across all fields, especially the security fields, with smart technologies have become effective solutions to help internal security agencies analyze data, prevent crimes, and protect infrastructure from cyber-attacks and any potential threats.

He added that the increasingly accelerated AI technology poses several challenges that must be faced urgently by enhancing cooperation to develop international standards for the use of this technology, and investing and working together to develop it in a safer and more effective way in the service of international peace and security and confronting the security violations and threats that may result from it.

He voiced hopes the conference will issue recommendations that meet the urgent need to exchange experiences and adopt best practices in the use of artificial intelligence in the security work system, in a manner consistent with protecting the privacy of individuals and institutions, and the ethical rules and principles that must govern it.

The first session witnessed the presentation of a paper entitled Future Recommendations for AI Utilization Aligned with the Four Key Goals by Director of the Security Systems Department at the General Administration of Communications and Information Systems, Lieutenant Colonel Engineer Ali Abdullah Al Suwaidi. The paper discussed the experience of employing AI technologies during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with the aim of providing an unprecedented experience to address security challenges and provide and facilitate the public’s requirements.

Al Suwaidi pointed out that providing data and resources and employing work monitoring indicators contributed to supporting decision-makers and provided more than 40 services to assist operations rooms and field command to manage operations and emergencies at land, sea and air ports, manage traffic, monitor crowds and others.

He added that the public’s requirements were facilitated through the Hayya Card, as analytical data was linked to provide transportation services, entry and exit to and from stadiums, use of facilities, as well as providing health services, which contributed to reducing costs, reducing time, and the effective allocation of resources based on alerts.

He explained that the use of AI technologies in video analysis has enhanced monitoring of access to restricted areas, accelerated searches, and enhanced security by providing a comprehensive view of roads, public facilities, tournament stadiums, and crowd areas to take the necessary measures in record time.

The second paper was presented by Director of Future Centre, Australian Federal Police, Odette Meli, titled “Balancing Human Values in AI: Pioneering Innovation in Security Operation.” She emphasized the importance of aligning AI systems with societal ethical norms and human rights, as well as ensuring governance, transparency, accountability, and regulatory flexibility. 

She highlighted data bias, discrimination, and privacy violations as significant risks that must be addressed, stressing the need for AI definitions to encompass cultural contexts and societal impact. 
Meli also underscored the importance of education and awareness on ethical responsibility in AI systems, aiming to sustain AI’s integration in ways that promote coexistence and human collaboration.
The third paper, presented by Prof. Dr. Jonghyuk Kim from Naif Arab University of Security Science (NAUSS), was on “Weapon Detection Using AI Integrated Autonomous Drones.” It showcased the use of autonomous drones for detecting weapons and the technologies involved. 

He pointed out that this experience can be transferred to other security sectors such as border surveillance, civil defense, and crowd management. He explained that these technologies have the ability to sense, detect, and learn in order to make decisions by reaching an incident site and gathering information. However, challenges such as detecting small objects and handling weather fluctuations remain.

The fourth paper, titled “AI Innovations in Cyber Security at Qatar Computing Research Institute,” was presented by Dr. Mashael Al Sabah from Hamad Bin Khalifa University. She discussed cybersecurity efforts at the Qatar Computing Research Institute, focusing on four research areas: enterprise security, internet threats, AI security and applications, and securing websites. 

Al Sabah highlighted key achievements, such as published research, patents, market-ready systems, and partnerships with stakeholders. Dr. Mashael also touched on the security of large language models, financial fraud crimes, and the accompanying awareness campaigns and technological solutions.

The fifth paper, presented by Omid Raghimi, Country Managing Director and Global Head of Cyber Practice, Palantir Technologies, covered the “Palantir Foundry Computer Vision for Image Annotation.” Raghimi provided an overview of the platform, noting that Palantir builds platforms and provides technological solutions, with AI playing a critical role in decision-making processes and the foundations that underpin this.

The first session concluded with a sixth paper by Karan Pinto, Global Director of Growth, Tera Quantum, titled “Your Partner in a Quantum Secure Future.” Pinto discussed the importance of quantum technology in security, the challenges it poses globally, and how to better understand the transformations happening around us. He also delved into the role of fiber optics and the need for robust digital fibers and hybrid quantum computing to solve complex problems.

The session concluded with a robust discussion between attendees and speakers. 

The conference will continue on Wednesday morning with three additional sessions featuring experts in the field of artificial intelligence. (QNA)