Poets & Thinker Ep 2 – AI Policy-Making in Service of Humanity: From Davos and Washington DC to Riyadh with Manail Anis Ahmed
What if our approach to AI and technology development is overlooking the most fundamental human value – dignity? In this episode we explore this question and how to approach global AI governance.
First off, a massive thank you to everyone who’s listened to episode 1 of Poets & Thinkers. It’s been very exciting to receive your feedback, please keep it coming. And make sure you comment, like, rate, share, and subscribe as it helps so that more people can discover the show. I appreciate the support!
In episode 2, I speak with Manail Anis Ahmed who’s an educator, thought leader and convener on technology and society. Manail is adjunct faculty in Biotech Entrepreneurship at Johns Hopkins University, expert on education, technology & society, and contributes to the AI Governance Alliance at the World Economic Forum.
As a global citizen who has shaped educational institutions in the Middle East and led AI policy research, Manail brings a unique cross-cultural perspective that challenges Western-dominated tech narratives.
Manail takes us on a journey across continents, revealing how different societies are navigating the AI revolution through their unique cultural lenses. She unpacks how Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation of women’s workforce participation offers surprising lessons for the West, and how technology workers in Africa are demanding dignity in the digital economy. Manail makes a compelling case for placing human dignity at the center of our technological future.
In this enlightening discussion, we explore:
Why technology development needs to prioritize dignity over innovation
How the Global South is being exploited in AI development while being excluded from its benefits
What Saudi Arabia's approach to women in the workforce teaches us about structural change
The natural connection between women and entrepreneurship that venture capital overlooks
Why “people, planet, and profit” must expand to include resilience and prosperity
Throughout our discussion, Manail articulates a powerful critique of hyper-capitalism and technological determinism. The United States, once the model for prosperity, now shows concerning signs of social fragmentation as its middle class splinters. “We are so insistent on protecting the right to innovation that we forget to protect the right to dignity,” she observes, providing a cautionary tale for developing nations tempted to adopt Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” mentality.
As we navigate the future of humanistic business leadership, Manail suggests moving beyond profit-first thinking toward resilience and context-specific prosperity. The fundamental question becomes: how can we build systems where people and societies don’t just function but truly thrive, while preserving our planet?
The answer may determine whether our technological future enhances or diminishes our humanity.
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