Opinion

Poland had started to bolster its air defences long before a stray missile landed just inside its border on Tuesday, but a robust shield for the skies along Nato’s eastern flank is still a long way off after decades of neglect following the Cold War.The missile that hit Poland appears to have been fired by Ukraine’s air defences rather than a Russian strike, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.But while it may have been a technical error that can happen in any conflict, the incident underlines the urgent need for Nato to plug gaps in its defences because even mistakes like this could lead to a dangerous escalation.“It was only a question of time for such an accident to happen,” an air defence expert from a Nato country, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. “It could also have been a stray Russian missile flying the wrong way, due to a technical or human error.”While more advanced Western air defence missiles are designed to destroy themselves if they miss their target, older Soviet missiles do not have such a mechanism, the military source said.“If they miss their target, they simply fly on until they have burned up all fuel — and then plunge down,” he said, adding that the older missiles also had a higher error rate.Ground-based air defence systems such as Raytheon’s Patriot are built to intercept incoming missiles.But after the Cold War, many Nato allies scaled down the number of air defence units to reflect the assessment that they would, from now on, only have to deal with a limited missile threat coming from countries such as Iran.This perception changed drastically with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sent Nato allies scrambling to increase stocks of ammunition and tackle air defence system shortfalls.Germany had 36 Patriot units when it was Nato’s frontline state during the Cold War and even then it relied on support from Nato allies. Today, the German forces are down to 12 Patriot units, two of which are deployed to Slovakia.“It used to be a real belt of air defence systems, and this is what people have in mind if the speak of protecting Nato’s eastern flank,” the military expert said. “But we are far away from such a scenario.”Realising the need to plug the gap, more than a dozen Nato allies led by Germany in October kicked off an initiative to jointly procure air defence systems for several layers of threats, eyeing Israel’s Arrow 3, Patriot and the German IRIS-T among other systems.The initiative comes as Ukraine, under heavy Russian attacks, desperately needs more air defence units, potentially exacerbating existing shortfalls in Western nations that are handing Kyiv some of their systems.Poland, which together with the three Baltic states builds Nato’s new eastern frontier, has invested for years in bolstering its air defence capabilities which still partly rely on Soviet-era systems like the OSA and Kub air defence missiles.“In the next decade, we are talking about Poland having a really state-of-the-art and very large air defence system,” Marek Swierczynski, a defence analyst for Polish think tank Polityka Insight said.The implementation of these systems is slow, however, and they could still take years to become fully operational.Poland has received additional support from Washington in recent months, but these systems, such as Patriot fire units stationed in Rzeszow, are not reactive and far-reaching enough to monitor every single gap in protection on the eastern flank, Swierczynski said.However, even more air defence systems could not guarantee that another stray missile like the one on Tuesday is intercepted.“This is the paradox: no matter how much money you spend on such an air defence system, you will never build something that is 100% impenetrable, so to speak, so there is always the possibility of such a situation arising,” Swierczynski said. — Reuters

The timely release of a new film version of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front offers a reminder of the close parallels between World War I and the current war between autocracies and democracies. The fighting now is in Ukraine, but, as in WWI, the broader war has several fronts: the energy front, the grain front, and, less well noticed, the Western front. Across Western capitals, autocrat-backed lobbyists, enablers, fellow-travellers, and “understanders” are trying to undermine the democratic world’s unity and weaken its resolve to maintain sanctions against Russia and arms deliveries to Ukraine.The original German name of Remarque’s novel – Im Westen nichts Neues (In the West Nothing New) – is apt. There is nothing new about autocratic governments interfering in Western politics. The most notorious and best-documented episode is Russia’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election. But that was merely one of many examples. Similarly, Italy’s recent election brought to power a coalition that includes Lega, which has advocated a pro-Russian position for many years and allegedly received Russian government support.While Russian President Vladimir Putin violates international law on the Ukrainian front, his lobbyists in Western capitals operate in covert ways that allow for plausible deniability. As seen in the recent book Spin Dictators, co-authored by Sergei Guriev and Daniel Treisman, this is how the majority of nondemocratic regimes now function. Gone are the military uniforms of twentieth-century tyrants. Today’s autocrats wear staid business suits and pretend to be democrats, and that has been sufficient to grant them access to high-level meetings in Davos or at the G20, where they actively recruit former Western politicians, lawyers, public-relations consultants, and think tanks to make their case in the West.It is a cunning strategy. If an autocrat’s malign influence operations are not discovered, he can continue to receive capital and technology from the West. But even if the Western public learns that corrupt autocrats’ money permeates their institutions, that merely helps the dictator’s narrative at home. “You think corruption is bad here,” he might say, “Just look at the West, where former politicians have all sold themselves to the highest bidder.” Such messaging is essential, because modern spin dictators base their legitimacy not on outright terror but on a carefully cultivated image of their own (relative) competence.Another typical narrative goes something like this: “Yes, we interfere in Western elections, but they also interfere in ours.” This claim, too, happens to be at least partly true. The United States and Europe do support civil society and independent media around the world – and rightly so. But the big difference is that the West is proud of promoting democratic values and does so openly, whereas modern dictators interfere covertly, using illicit financial flows rather than grants from publicly registered NGOs.This distinction underscores an important fact: whatever the weaknesses of Western democracies, they still command a degree of soft power that their autocratic competitors could only dream of. Democracy remains popular around the world – among citizens of both democratic and nondemocratic countries. That is why modern dictators pretend to be democrats.To be sure, there is no shortage of criticism about how the US and Europe function. But that itself is a product of the press freedom and political opposition that one can find only in democracies.The first step toward meeting the threat on the Western front is to acknowledge the problem. Until recently, Western politicians who supported and carried water for Putin paid no reputational cost whatsoever. And though most now feel obliged to say that they oppose the war, they continue to argue that sanctions should be removed. These politicians’ links to autocratic regimes should be investigated.Second, the West should reduce its dependence on trade with autocracies. Fortunately, this has already begun with the push toward “friend-shoring,” a concept that is more economically sound than its critics allow, considering that the costs of war can easily outweigh the marginal gains from trade with autocracies.Finally, the West should pay more attention to autocrats’ penetration of international organisations. Modern autocrats are trying to use covert interference to protect themselves from sanctions. Democracies must stand up to them. Just because it’s quiet doesn’t mean there isn’t a war on. — Project Syndicate

HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad has underlined that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 constitutes an opportunity to convey an honourable image of the Qatari identity and culture, as well as the true image of Arabs and Muslims away from distortion and stereotypes.She affirmed that Qatar is open to criticism, but it will never bend to attacks aimed at detracting it.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the minister said this global football event “is an opportunity that we have long waited as Arabs and Muslims to show the whole world our true face away from distortion and stereotypes. We should not feel threatened. We are proud of our culture and religion; this does not negate that we accept others, on the basis of mutual respect.”“Yes, there may be abuses here and there, but let’s look at the bigger picture, not exceptions.The broader picture is that we have a historic opportunity in which we will not only represent Qatar, but all Arabs and Muslims,” al-Misnad pointed out.In this context, she stressed: “Our first and main priority is the success of hosting this event, and giving the coming fans an exceptional experience. As for rumours, accusations and attempts to distortion, we consider them a motivating factor to prove our strength and capabilities, as I mentioned.“We follow these criticisms with great regret. The problem is not related to criticism; on the contrary, we are open to any criticism that contributes to correcting mistakes. Indeed, Qatar has undertaken many reforms that are in its development interests and are in line with its civilisational visions.”She recalled the recent speech of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani before the Shura Council on this point: “The campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign.”Al-Misnad emphasised that Qatar is an Arab and Muslim country, and among its most important cultural and civilisational features are generosity and good reception and hospitality of guests. “Yes, we are a country that welcomes everyone, but we are also a country that has its own values, morals and civilisational and cultural context.”On the social aspect of the tournament, the minister said: “Today, we are already living a historic stage in the path of the Qatari renaissance, and this event will be written in the pages of history to be narrated by coming generations. Today, the eyes of the world are on Qatar to see what has been achieved.“Now, in these moments, I remember the 12 years that have passed since the announcement of Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup. Since then, concerted efforts have been made by everyone to succeed in this challenge, whether from the government staff and state entities, or through fruitful co-operation with private sector companies, in addition to the valuable contributions of citizens and residents.”In this context, the minister stressed that Qatar came out stronger after all the challenges and crises it faced, stressing that the success in this event (FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022) is another station on the road to achievements. “We must remember that all we are doing is accelerating the development process to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 under the direct supervision of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,” she added.As for the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development and Family in this regard, she explained that the ministry had launched many initiatives, such as “Now is our turn, Now is our time” campaign, given the importance of the social role of the people of Qatar.She noted the campaign aims to highlight the important role of all people living in Qatar in the success of the tournament, and conveying an honourable image of the Qatari culture and identity; pointing to a wide interaction with the campaign.In a related context, the minister said the Ministry of Social Development and Family, in co-operation with the Shafallah Centre, announced the operation of the “Muzn” lounge at Hamad International Airport, which is equipped with the latest technology and educational and rehabilitation equipment, aiming to offer the best travel experience that people with autism and disabilities deserve while they are in Qatar.Al-Misnad also announced that the Ministry of Social Development and Family will launch the “Qatar is accessible to all” website in partnership with Sasol, a website that clarifies all places suitable for people with disabilities in Qatar; explaining that this service serves the people of Qatar, and visitors to the country with disabilities.She added that the ministry has also directed to support Qatari productive families under the “Home Grown” initiative which has so far served 600 Qatari families. “We have allocated places for these families in Msheireb and fan areas during the World Cup. We have a primary goal, which is to support and appreciate the productive Qatari families. They are our sisters and mothers and one of the pillars of this country, and their success is a success for all of us,” she stressed. On the expected role of citizens and residents in the success of this tournament, the minister said: “We expect a lot,” recalling His Highness the Amir’s speech before the Shura Council that the World Cup “is an occasion in which we portray who we are, not only in terms of the strength of our economy and institutions, but also in terms of our civilisational identity.”She also pointed to the provision of an audio descriptive commentary service on matches to enable visually impaired and blind groups to enjoy the atmosphere of the World Cup, and be able to follow the matches inside the stadium and enjoy the atmosphere of the tournament.Al-Misnad added that the Arabic language will be present for the first time in the history of the World Cup, and that the audio descriptive commentary service will also be available for people with disabilities among fans from around the world in both Arabic and English, through a special application on smart devices.The minister also revealed the provision of sensory assistance rooms inside the stadiums for the first time in the World Cup history, so that the fans with autism and sensory difficulties can follow the matches in a quiet space equipped with the latest assistive technologies, under the supervision of a specialised team of experts.“This World Cup will see the largest use of sensory assistance rooms at a sporting event of this magnitude in history.The minister also highlighted the barrier-free experience provided by the modern metro network in all its 37 stations, all equipped with elevators to facilitate the movement of people with special needs, prominent floor markings to guide the blind, and wheelchair-friendly toilets.On the most prominent fruits and expected benefits of hosting the World Cup, she said: The World Cup represents an important step in the renaissance process which will continue even after the end of this event. Therefore, sustainability was among the priorities of when hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”She underlined that the tournament will leave behind a lasting legacy in various aspects, including securing major sporting events, infrastructure, environment, community development and entrepreneurship, in addition to strengthening Qatar’s position as an attractive tourist destination in the region.She felt the success of hosting the largest football event in the world will consolidate Qatar’s reputation as a destination for sports and athletes, which will be reflected in Qatar’s continuity in hosting major international events. (QNA)

The innovative cooling technology used in the stadiums of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and in other public places, such as Katara, is an embodiment of the sustainable legacy after the World Cup, whether in Qatar or abroad, as well as the lively development of environmentally friendly technology in football.The cooling process depends on sensors limited to the spaces where people are present as the stadium structure acts as a wall surrounding the cooling inside area.The stadium cooling mechanism works by passing the cooled air through special outlets under the audiences’ seats, and large nozzles to cool the pitch.Air circulation technology is also used, where previously cooled air is drawn in, cooled again and purified, before being pushed back into the stadium.Cooling technology was an important commitment of Qatar’s bid, not only for the success of the 2022 tournament, but also as a legacy for Qatar and the region.The technology aims to stabilise the temperature during matches not to exceed 21C, creating a suitable environment for the players by turning the field into an air bubble with sensors installed to isolate the entire stadium from outside weather.Since Qatar has won the honour of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2010, the country promised to organise a historic and remarkable edition of the World Cup, setting new standards and advanced ways to organise global tournaments in the future, based on the optimal use of environmentally friendly technology.Although the World Cup Qatar 2022 is scheduled for the winter season during November and December, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which is the body responsible for delivering infrastructure projects, insisted on implementing sustainable technologies and innovative cooling systems in stadiums, training venues and areas for spectators and fans, which will contribute to reducing the temperature to range between 20-24C.The work of this technology will not be limited to cooling the air, but also purifying it, as the air inside the stadiums will be very clean and pure.In addition to that, the cooling technology will be used to ventilate the stadiums floor in order to provide a suitable climatic environment for healthy grass free of fungal diseases.The cooling system was developed for the sake of three basic elements: the grass, the players and the fans, which means that the process provides the grass with a certain temperature and humidity to be at its best.The process also gives both the players and the fans an appropriate temperature.The state-of-the-art cooling technology blows cold air on the players via football-sized nozzles alongside the pitch and smaller air diffusers under each spectator’s seat, pushing out cold air at ankle level.The human body produces heat to a certain degree, and when a large number of people gather in one place, this temperature rises dramatically.World Cup Stadiums Cooling Technology Engineer Dr Saud Abdulghani said the innovative cooling system in the stadiums of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 constitutes a model to follow in the sustainable legacy of major tournaments, in a way that enhances the status of Qatar at the global level, with its steady progress in fulfilling its pledges to host an exceptional edition of the World Cup.Abdulghani, who led the team involved in developing the cooling technologies in the stadiums for the World Cup Qatar 2022, explains that the innovative cooling system will help players avoid injury in extreme temperatures, noting that this technology will become a constant base in major sporting events in the future.The cooling system consists of two parts, the first of which is to purify and clean the air and the second one of which is to cool it.It relies on pushing clean and cooled air into the stadiums and taking out the hot air and recirculating it through machines that release clean and filtered air.Sensors are deployed throughout the stadiums to control the temperature and humidity, to provide a temperature during matches ranging between 20-24C, at the request of FIFA.The cooling devices are designed based on 3D printed stadium model to determine the power of the wind and the shape of the shade, as the design of the stadium greatly affects the cooling and purification of the air.In this context, Cooling Technology Engineer, who is also a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Qatar University, indicates that the system meets the requirements of sustainability as the energy used in the cooling process is generated from the main grid, which receives the energy coming from the Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant.He points to the difference in the mechanism of cooling technology according to the design, shape and function of each stadium, which challenged the engineer and the work team.Afterwards, customised cooling solutions are created for each stadium separately, covering all areas within the World Cup stadiums that will witness the tournament, ensuring that fans and players enjoy an ideal atmosphere during the activities of the World Cup championship, he adds.Khalifa International Stadium is the first World Cup stadium that was equipped with innovative cooling technology during its redevelopment work while the new technology was included in the rest of the World Cup stadiums, starting from the design stage. The first of these was Al Janoub Stadium, which is the first stadium built from scratch specifically to host the World Cup competitions. (QNA)

Upbeat investors in cryptocurrencies have suffered a painful collision with reality after Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX filed for bankruptcy.The entire $16bn fortune of former FTX co-founder Bankman-Fried has been wiped out, one of history’s greatest-ever destructions of wealth.The downfall of his crypto empire — which filed for bankruptcy last Friday along with his resignation — means assets owned by the mogul have become just worthless.At the peak, the 30-year-old was worth $26bn, and he was still worth almost $16bn at the start of the week.The Bloomberg Billionaires Index now values FTX’s US business — of which Bankman-Fried owns about 70% — at $1 because of a potential trading halt, from $8bn in a January fundraising round.The saga that has shaken the crypto world began with a rumour on November 2 and culminated on Friday with FTX filing for US bankruptcy court protection from creditors and Bankman-Fried resigning as chief executive in the industry’s highest-profile collapse.US regulators are now investigating Bankman-Fried and FTX.com for potential violation of rules following the crypto exchange’s sudden collapse, which marks yet another crisis of confidence for the cryptocurrency industry.Bankman-Fried was also interviewed by Bahamian police and regulators on Saturday as the authorities in the country investigate whether there was any criminal misconduct in FTX’s collapse.The firm is registered in the Bahamas.FTX’s liquidity crunch appears to have been triggered in part by a report on CoinDesk last week detailing close ties between FTX and Alameda Research, the trading house Bankman-Fried founded and in which he is a majority owner.According to a Wall Street Journal report, FTX lent more than half of its customer assets to Alameda to fund risky bets. Bankman-Fried says FTX now faces a shortfall of up to $8bn.Even before the FTX crash, institutional investors were souring on cryptocurrencies. The sudden downfall of FTX.com may have permanently damaged their prospects of being included in mainstream portfolios.While plenty of industry die-hards remain, many professional money managers are saying the case for crypto as a portfolio diversifier or digital gold has been debunked. The losses are too great and the market structure is too risky, they say.The implosions and scandals of the past few months have laid waste to the key arguments of crypto boosters, and all but obliterated the notion of Bitcoin as safe haven in turbulent times.But none of those events – from the TerraUSD collapse to the Celsius bankruptcy — were as damning as the revelation that even FTX, until recently considered one of the most blue-chip names in crypto, was unsound.The FTX collapse is “raising questions on the viability of the crypto ecosystem,” said Salman Ahmed, chief investment strategist at Fidelity International, which oversees $646bn from London. “It was always tough to make a case for including crypto, but the set-up has come under more pressure.”Crypto markets have lost some $2tn in market value over the last year as the Federal Reserve has removed liquidity and markets reprice financial assets.Even as other crypto firms ran into trouble, Bankman-Fried insisted that FTX was solid. Last Thursday he acknowledged in a Twitter post that he was wrong.The cryptoverse is hyped for its decentralised domain. As for FTX, however, so much hope and responsibility was placed on one individual.For sure, it goes against everything that crypto is supposed to represent.

In recent years, Gulf states have worked hard to turn their home region into a hub for digital innovation and investment in AI, cloud computing and clean-tech. The region has also established itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing destinations for the data centres and other types of digital infrastructure. This makes it a useful and timely exercise to consider how smaller state actors in other parts of the world have undertaken similar projects to become important tech players on the international stage. Two excellent examples are Ireland and Singapore. Neither has access to the energy resources of the Gulf states. But like smaller states in the Gulf they are acutely aware of both the limitations and opportunities of their smallness. Since the early 2000s, decision-makers in Ireland and Singapore have prioritised their tech sectors as a way to overcome the limits of their small domestic economies and populations to build capacity and diversify their economies. In doing so, both states have leveraged geographic location — Ireland between the US, UK and Europe; Singapore between the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea. They have also championed economic openeness, and built tech-savvy educated workforces that attract talent from all over the world. These moves have been supported by new regulatory frameworks, special economic zones, and cross-border agreements to maintain competitive advantage. In economic terms, the results have been impressive. Ireland serves as the European base for 16 of the top 20 global tech companies. The tech sector accounts for around $50bn annually, over 13% of the country’s GDP, and employs roughly 120,000 workers. For Singapore the numbers are even bigger. With a total of S$128.1bn value-added, tech accounts for 18.6% of GDP and employs 214,000 workers. This tech success has not only increased economic competitiveness, efficiency, and resilience. It has also resulted in the routing of global flows of information as well as capital through both countries. Singapore has more data cables landing on its territory than any other country in Southeast Asia. Three-quarters of all cables in the northern hemisphere pass through or near Irish waters, and four transatlantic cables directly connect with Ireland. This has significant geopolitical as well as economic implications. Not least, it makes the subsea infrastructures of Ireland and Singapore strategically important components of the international security system. This has enabled both countries to extend their political, as well as economic, reach beyond existing territorial and physical limitations. In turn, this has helped them offset some of the political vulnerabilities of smallness. But tech success also raises important challenges related to energy security, environmental management and tech geopolitics. The energy demands of building a state-of-the-art digital infrastrucure are massive. A single hyperscale facility can require the same amount of energy as a small town. Tech infrastructure also takes up large amounts of other vital resources including water. It also monopolises the use of precious space, a real concern in small states. The energy resources and financial power of the Gulf states position them well to address the energy security and environmental challenges associated with tech-leadership. But even in the Gulf, the building of a cutting edge digital infrastructure requires hard financial choices and the commitment of large amounts of energy. It also requires next-generation cooling systems that operate efficiently in hot weather. On the geopolitical level, the roles of Ireland and Singapore as regional gateways for the flow of data has located both countries at the centre of US-Chinese technology rivalry. It has also entangled them in tech geopolitics and governance issues relating to the control and use of data. The experiences of both Ireland and Singapore in becoming tech strongholds offers some guidance for other state actors, including Gulf states, on all of these issues. First, their tech journeys demonstrate the importance of social and human capital, innovation, learning and adaptation for attracting high levels of inward investment and diversification into tech. The messae is clear. Even in a world of de-globalisation and resource nationalism, smaller actors that effectively use their national development plans to establish themsevles as innovative ‘hubs’ and ‘gateways’ will attract significant tech opprotunties. Both cases also highlight the close connection between trans-formative tech and US-China great power competition. Ireland and Singapore have had some success in navigating this challenge. In particular, they have presented themselves as neutral third parties that are ‘neither pro-China nor pro-America,’ as the Singaporean government put it in 2024. For example, Ireland has repeatedly used the courts to block US access to Irish data centres and has fined Meta over data transfers to the US. Attracted by Ireland’s reputation for strict data protection laws and keen to counter claims of Chinese state surveillance, TikTok’s ‘Project Clover’ relocated its European user data to an Irish centre. Singapore has not only eagerly signed agreements with both the US and China on cooperation in the fields of data analytics and AI. It has also developed a legal regime for tech that takes into account Chinese protectionism and US surveillance, as a way to attract major tech firms from both countries. Such strategies have enabled Ireland and Singapore to present themselves as tech gatekeepers as well as gateways. This adds to their influence in regional affairs and their reputation and standing on the international stage. This could not be more relevant for smaller states in the highly contested Gulf region. China and the US already use technology in the Gulf as a form of statecraft. It is inevitable that going forward both great powers and ambitious regional players will look to use the emerging tech eco-system to shape regional geopolitics and security in their favour. For all these reasons, the cases of Ireland and Singapore provide valuable lessons for the Gulf states in their transition from buyers to suppliers of technology and key players in the global tech revolution. The writer is Professor of International Politics and Director of the Small States and Energy Studies Programs at Georgetown University Qatar. @RoryDavidMiller

In Abu Dhabi, crews are pouring concrete for a five-gigawatt AI campus, the largest outside the United States. Saudi Arabia’s national champion, HUMAIN, is racing to build gigawatts of compute and has launched an initiative (SAMAI) to train a million citizens in AI use; the kingdom now ranks first in the world for government AI ambition on the Tortoise Global AI Index. QIA-backed QAI and Brookfield have launched a $20bn AI infrastructure venture, while the UAE’s MGX investment platform is investing across the AI stack, from semiconductors to applications. By 2025, 84% of organisations across the GCC reported using AI in at least one business function, up from 64 percent two years earlier. National strategies project substantial gains in non-oil economic output from AI over the coming decade. The Gulf is not alone, investment in AI is almost ubiquitous, as countries fear being left behind in the AI revolution. Fears that tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Midjourney will lead to job losses have failed to materialise to the extent feared. However, the much vaunted productivity gains have also failed to materialise. Yet other, perhaps more important concerns remain, such as the impact of AI on humanity, and crucially, our brains, and the essence of what makes us human — the soul. By “soul” I mean the spiritual breath of life placed within humans. For some that may be the divine or immortal entity that exists beyond the material world. For most it will be the entity that possesses consciousness, free will, and a moral capacity. At a recent event held in Education City by WISE, entitled Trust Me, I’m an Algorithm?, we discussed the impact of AI on higher ed. Specifically, we talked about the need to harness AI and avoid the type of cognitive offloading that AI is allowing. (Cognitive offloading is where we ‘offload’ our thinking to machines, theoretically sacrificing a learning opportunity). Yet the longer I spend in higher education the more despondent I become. I worry what dependence on AI is doing to our ability to think independently and critically. When I teach students I use a useful metaphor about the jewel wasp put forward by Matt Simons in *Plight of the Living Dead: What Real-Life Zombies Reveal about Our World — and Ourselves. The jewel wasp hunts cockroaches several times its size, but it does not kill them. It stings twice, once to paralyse the front legs, then precisely into the brain, depositing venom in two spots that govern the roach’s drive to move and flee. The active ingredient includes dopamine. Dopamine is the same neurotransmitter the human brain releases at a social media notification. It’s often referred to as the feel good chemical. The roach is not injured; it can walk, right itself, and run if it chooses. What it loses is the impulse to use those intact abilities on its own behalf. It is, by every sign, content, grooming itself calmly as if nothing is wrong. But it has effectively become a zombie. When the wasp tugs the stump of an antenna, the roach follows it into a burrow where the wasp’s larva will eat it alive, and never resists. The roach becomes a living host, placated through dopamine, directed by an external entity that uses its body as a host. The fairly obvious comparison is that social media, and now AI, are the things that are slowly supplanting our ability to think independently and critically, in many cases feeding us dopamine as we celebrate the technologies that may be responsible for the decline of our ability to act independently. We may be alive, but we are slowly dying, succumbing to the power of external technologies. The empirical work describes the negative impacts of AI. In a 2026 study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Oxford, and UCLA, participants solved ordinary problems, fractions, reading comprehension, some with an AI assistant that could solve them outright. When it was removed, those participants were far more likely to give up or answer wrong, an effect that appeared after about ten minutes. As co-author Michiel Bakker of MIT frames it, persistence, the willingness to stay with a hard problem, is what lets a person learn at all. It is the first faculty to atrophy, and the one the others depend on. A skill that goes unused inevitably decays. A separate study from MIT’s Media Lab recorded the brain activity of people writing essays: those who let a language model write showed lower engagement and weaker memory signatures, and afterwards could not reliably explain what they had submitted. They produced competent work and retained nothing from producing it. What are we as humans if we cannot remember the work we produce? Writing is thinking, and thinking is a key element of what defines our humanity. The common argument is that we should ban the tools. The issue is how to frame the choice as one between AI that replaces human reasoning and intelligence amplification (IA) that enhances it, between a tool that returns the answer and one that questions, and sometimes withholds it so the user has to think. The first is cheaper, easier, and requires us to use less of our brain. The second is the only one that leaves the user more capable. The thing is, it is easier to say this than realise it in practise, but these are key questions that we need to grapple with. The Gulf’s AI race is usually framed in terms of economic diversification, geopolitical influence, and technological leadership. But beneath the language of infrastructure and productivity lies a deeper question about what these systems are doing to us as human beings. The danger is not that AI becomes human, but that humans become less so; less thoughtful, less reflective, less capable of independent thought. Such elements are central to creativity, morality, and learning itself. They are central to our identity too, whether as humans, or what makes us uniquely Khaliji. This does not mean rejecting AI. It means recognising that convenience is not always progress, and that intelligence amplification must take precedence over intellectual substitution. Training people in AI also means drawing attention to the deeper questions about the human condition and AI. The question for the Gulf is therefore not simply whether it can be a leader in the AI revolution, but what steps it is taking to prevent eroding the very human capacities it hopes to cultivate.Marc Owen Jones is an associate Professor of Media Analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar, a UNESCO Fellow, and author of several books including Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East