In his speech, Abou Hashima emphasized the significance of this specialized study, which addresses a topic tied to the future and its construction. He highlighted that the topic of artificial intelligence, with its developments and positive and negative impacts, forms a cornerstone for looking toward the future and preparing to meet its demands and requirements.
President’s Call to Focus on AI
Abou Hashima referred to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s appeal, during the opening of the government data and cloud computing center last April, encouraging parents of students in various educational stages—primary, preparatory, and secondary—to steer their children toward modern technological fields. The president specifically highlighted artificial intelligence as a domain that generates billions of dollars annually for both individuals and the state.
The Need to Study AI’s Future
He added that this was not the first time the president stressed the importance of focusing on the future. In many of his statements, President El-Sisi has emphasized the need to prepare for future developments, especially in the fields of communications and information technology, as these areas are closely linked to the era of knowledge. Developing these skills has become crucial for enabling young people to thrive in a world increasingly shifting toward the virtual reality.
The State’s Commitment to Supporting Youth
Abou Hashima noted that the study on youth and artificial intelligence aligns with the constitutional commitment outlined in Article 82. This article mandates that the state is responsible for nurturing young people and promoting their talents, while also enhancing their cultural, scientific, psychological, physical, and creative capabilities. The state should also encourage teamwork, voluntary work, and active participation in public life.
Addressing Future Youth Challenges
Abou Hashima emphasized the importance of developing visions, ideas, and proposals to address the future challenges that youth will face. He argued that ignoring AI-related issues would be unacceptable, especially given President El-Sisi’s directives to tackle the impacts of artificial intelligence on the lives and futures of young people.
He further explained that AI is a multifaceted field that touches on every aspect of life, including the economy, industry, trade, education, healthcare, space exploration, defense, culture, and agriculture. However, he stressed that the committee concluded that all these aspects are ultimately tied to the future, which in turn is linked to empowering young people. Properly preparing youth for the future means equipping them with the tools and mechanisms required to understand its demands and fulfill its needs.