SIH explores AI opportunities challenges at SIBF

November 13, 2025 / 12:26 PM

Sharjah24: As part of Sharjah’s efforts to strengthen its cultural and intellectual presence and explore the role of technology in supporting identity, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) organised a discussion session during the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2025 titled “Heritage and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges.”

The session was moderated by Dr Khalid Al Shehhi, Director of the Academic Department at the Institute, with the participation of Dr Majid Bushalibi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Forum in Sharjah, and Dr Nashwa Mahmoud from City University in Ajman. The event drew a distinguished audience of researchers and those interested in technology and heritage.

AI as a bridge between past and future

Dr Al Shehhi opened the session by emphasising that artificial intelligence can serve as a “creative bridge between the past and the future” when guided by a vision that recognises the importance of cultural identity. He noted Sharjah’s pioneering approach in using modern technologies to preserve heritage, asserting that innovation “strengthens authenticity and brings it closer to new generations.”

AI and intellectual property

Dr Majid Bushalibi delivered an extensive presentation on the nature of artificial intelligence as a “generative field that processes information.” He explained that the enormous growth in global data enhances AI’s ability to generate and develop content. He also discussed the legal and philosophical dimensions of the relationship between AI and intellectual property, emphasising that true creativity remains a human trait, while algorithms provide broader space for experimentation.

Human insight remains central

For her part, Dr Nashwa Mahmoud stressed that artificial intelligence is ultimately a tool—never a substitute for human insight. She highlighted its usefulness in research, education, text analysis and heritage preservation, while warning against excessive reliance on intelligent systems without proper intellectual and cultural oversight.

Need for ethical and legislative frameworks

The session concluded by underscoring the importance of developing ethical and legislative frameworks that keep pace with digital transformation. Such frameworks would help strike a balance between protecting authenticity and harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, reinforcing Sharjah’s status as a beacon that connects heritage memory with the horizons of the future.