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Al Jazeera Conference:

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in Media

11-12

January

Sheraton Doha

First Day: 11 January 2025

9:00-10:00

Reception & Registration & Opening for Technical Exhibition

10:00-10:15

Conference Opening

10:15-10:35

Keynote Address| 

Future-Proofing Media: Adapting to the Age of AI

The rapid rise of AI tools, from multimodal models to autonomous AI agents, is transforming the media landscape at an unprecedented pace. For media professionals, this revolution brings both opportunity and challenge: how do we adapt and thrive in a world where automation threatens to overshadow human creativity? Join AI pioneer Abran Maldonado as he explores the future of AI in media and its implications for professionals in the field. Discover strategies to coexist with AI, leverage its strengths, and remain indispensable in a rapidly evolving industry. This keynote provides a roadmap to staying relevant, valuable, and innovative in the AI-driven future of media.

Speaker

Abran Maldonado| OpenAI Ambassador

10:45-12:15

1st Session: Innovative AI Tools in Contemporary Media Technology

This session reviews the latest AI tools produced by major technology companies to introduce leading AI programs, through interventions provided by experts and officials at Microsoft, Google, Cisco, IBM, and Zeotap. Based on their deep experience, they provide simplified explanations of the latest AI applications and tools used in the journalism profession.

Speakers

  • Dr. Yusri Mhedheb| Senior Digital Advisor – Google Cloud.
  • Rabih Saad| Sr. Manager of Solutions Engineering – Cisco.
  • Daniel Heer| Founder & CEO of Zeotap.
  • Chady Haddad| Director of Data & AI and Innovation – Microsoft.
  • Vinicius Vasconcellos| Sr. Consultant and Head of Media Practice – IBM.

12:15-13:40

Lunch Break and Prayer Time

13:40-14:10

Conversation with Fanar

This session will spotlight the “Fanar” LLM and its innovative solutions tailored to Arabic media and Arabic speakers. Fanar is an AI platform focused on supporting and enhancing the Arabic language. It was developed by the Qatar Computing Research Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University with support from Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The discussion will explore the platform’s functionality, the technical and cultural challenges faced during its development, and key issues surrounding the future of Arabic AI and its unique challenges.

Speakers

  • Dr. Ahmed Elmagarmid| Executive Director, Qatar Computing Research Institute
  • Dr. Mohamed Eltabakh| Principal Scientist, Qatar Computing Research Institute

14:15-15:30

2nd Session: AI Insights in Al Jazeera Media Network

This session highlights the role of AI in developing media work in Al Jazeera Network, by reviewing the applications and smart tools used in the network’s channels and various sectors. Additionally, the session explores the role of AI in collecting, processing and disseminating news, and the emergency plans followed, to confront any technical problem or error that may occur as the result of using this technology in newsrooms.

Speakers

  • Ramzan Alnoimi| Director of Network Creative – Al Jazeera Media Network
  • Asef Hamidi| Director of News at Al Jazeera Channel (Arabic)
  • Dr. Mohamed Benamoun| AI Expert – Al Jazeera Media Network
  • David Hostetter| Director of Product Development & Innovation – Al Jazeera Media Network

15:30-15:40

Group Photo

15:40-16:15

Coffee Break and Prayer Time

16:15-17:45

Workshop One

Part One: Revolutionizing Media Landscapes: Leveraging Google Cloud AI for Enhanced Content Strategy and Viewer Engagement

Trainer: Mohammed Khodr – Google

Description

In-depth exploration of how artificial intelligence is transforming the media industry. This workshop, led by Google Cloud’s AI team, will delve into the advanced AI tools and technologies reshaping media content creation, distribution, and engagement. The session will cover AI-driven analytics, predictive content performance models, and automation in media workflows, aimed at boosting operational efficiencies and personalizing viewer experiences.

Part Two: Winning the AI Era: How CDPs Help Media Companies Turn Data into Market Leadership

Trainer: Mohamed Ali – Zeotap

Description

This session explores how AI-powered Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) are transforming the media industry.

Discover how unifying fragmented data and leveraging predictive models can help media companies deliver hyper-personalized audience experiences, optimize ad targeting and enhance monetization. With insights from Zeotap’s expertise and Google Cloud’s advanced AI capabilities, attendees will gain actionable strategies to lead in the AI era.

16:15-17:45

Workshop Two – Revolutionizing News Production: Using AI to Create Video Reports in 15 Minutes.

Trainer: Dean Arnett| Media Production Consultant – Thomson foundation

Description

This masterclass explores the transformative impact of AI on news production, demonstrating how AI-driven video editing tools streamline processes like scene selection, voiceovers, real-time enhancements, and error detection. Participants will learn how these tools revolutionize video storytelling by enabling faster, scalable, and more creative workflows.

Beyond efficiency, the session examines the ethical dilemmas posed by AI, such as over-reliance, diminished authenticity, and challenges to editorial integrity. Through debates and discussions, attendees will critically assess the balance between speed and quality in news production.

The masterclass also highlights lesser-known AI applications that enhance newsroom efficiency and creativity while addressing ethical considerations. Participants will leave equipped with the knowledge and strategies to harness AI responsibly, ensuring journalistic integrity in an evolving media landscape.

Second Day: 12 January 2025

9:00-10:00

Technical Exhibition

10:00-11:15

3rd Session: AI in Newsrooms: Exploring Successful Implementations

This session reviews pioneering experiences in using AI tools in the media, by featuring successful examples from various media organizations around the world. These include the experiences of: Reuters, the Washington Post, the Associated Press, and Unlimited News, to highlight the importance of employing AI and modern technologies in the journalism profession.

Speakers

  • Troy Thibodeaux| Director of AI Products and Services – AP

  • David Wilkinson| Executive Director – Reuters Imagine

  • Joey Marburger| VP of Content Intelligence at Arc XP – Washington Post

  • Takashi Uesugi| No Border CEO – Journalist & Entrepreneur

11:20-12:00

Fellowship Research Review

This part reviews the research of Al Jazeera Fellowship, which was devoted this year to studying the impacts of AI on the journalism profession. This section will address the challenges facing journalism in light of the increasing reliance on AI, and the opportunities that this technology may provide for developing journalistic practices in the future.

12:00-13:30

Lunch Break and Prayer Time

13:30-15:00

4th Session: Addressing the Challenges of AI in Media

This session addresses the impact of AI on the journalism profession from an academic perspective, and focuses on aspects related to the Arabic language, the “algorithmic bias,” and the values and ethics of journalism. The session addresses important topics, including, AI’s reshaping the future of journalistic work, and the challenges associated with public trust in machine-generated content, in addition to cybersecurity issues and the necessity of developing educational curricula and training programs to keep pace with rapid technical developments.

Speakers

  • Dr. Marc Owen Jones| Associate Professor – Northwestern University

  • Dr. Reema Diab| The Founder and CEO of the non-profit organization Galaxy for Technology

  • Dr. Amani Alabed| Assistant Professor – University of Doha for Science and Technology

  • Giles Trendle| Media Consultant

  • Abdulrahman Al Shafi| Director of the Cyber Security Strategies and Policies

15:00-15:10

Group Photo

15:10-15:40

Coffee Break and Prayer Time

15:45-17:15

Workshop One – AI in Media: Hands-On Tools, Ethics, and Creative Collaboration

Trainer: Abran Maldonado| OpenAI Ambassador

Description

Join AI thought leader Abran Maldonado for a 90-minute deep dive into the tools reshaping the media landscape. This interactive workshop will provide step-by-step tutorials on essential AI technologies, including multimodal video tools, AI agents, and advanced video editing platforms. Beyond the technical skills, you’ll explore the ethical and bias limitations of these tools and learn how to customize and refine them through collaboration with subject matter experts. Whether you’re a journalist, creator, or media strategist, this session will equip you with practical knowledge and strategies to navigate the intersection of AI and media responsibly and creatively

15:45-17:15

Workshop Two

AI for Al Jazeera: The Opportunity and How Al Jazeera is Avoiding Pitfalls

Trainer: Muhammad Ejaz| Al Jazeera Media Network