DOHA, Qatar

The 12th World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), a Qatar Foundation initiative, opened Monday at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha under the theme “Humanity.io: Human Values at the Heart of Education.”

Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of the Qatar Foundation and mother of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said in her opening remarks that education systems around the world face mounting challenges, noting that some regions remain largely unrepresented in international awards for scientific research and discovery.

Pointing to the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, she said the very purpose of education must be reconsidered. “The pace of change now surpasses our limits and our ability to adapt. This reality brings risks that we can neither downplay nor ignore,” she said.

She warned of the dangers of detaching knowledge from ethics. “When education is stripped of values and morality, it becomes clear how easily it can turn into absolute evil,” she added, stressing the need to keep human values at the center of learning and ensure that science does not become a harmful force.

Qatar’s Minister of Education and Higher Education, Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, echoed that message, saying: “No matter how the world changes, the ability of nations to progress remains dependent on their ability to keep humanity at the heart of their vision and decisions.”

“When humanity is our starting point and our goal, change becomes a field of expansion and growth, and transformations become opportunities that deepen knowledge and open doors to collaborative actions,” she said.

‘AI not exaggerated enough’

Author and former Google X Chief Business Officer Mo Gawdat said artificial intelligence is transforming the world far faster and more powerfully than many assume.

While many believe AI’s impact is overstated, he argued the opposite. He cited AI’s expanding role in scientific discovery, noting that a Google AI model recently identified a new method in mathematics.

Gawdat said the future of education will depend less on memorizing facts and more on asking the right questions, adding that AI can be a global equalizer if guided responsibly. “The difference is not in the technology but in how we use it,” he said.

No better way than storytelling

Author Laila Lalami said AI’s predictive tools raise serious ethical concerns, which she tackles in her latest novel.

She highlighted the power of fiction to illuminate complex issues, saying one strength of storytelling is that it creates “a small, self-sufficient world.”

Pointing to the importance of narrative in learning, Lalami said: “As a species, we have never found a better way to deliver information than through stories.”

She stressed that students must preserve the learning process by making mistakes, rather than relying on ready-made answers from AI.

Founded in 2009, WISE serves as a global platform promoting innovative education models and cross-sector cooperation.

Anadolu is the summit’s global communication partner.