Paris – On Monday morning, a high-level international conference titled “Counter-Terrorism in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” was held at the French Senate in Paris. The event was jointly organized by French Senator Nathalie Goulet and the TRENDS Research & Advisory Center based in Abu Dhabi.

The conference shed light on the growing challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) in combating terrorism and violent extremism. Participants discussed how AI technologies can be utilized to enhance security and stability both locally and globally, while also exploring international experiences and the latest innovations in the field.

The event featured a distinguished lineup of international speakers and experts, including:

• H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the Government of the United Arab Emirates
• Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, known as the “Imam of Peace”

•Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory

• Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli, Global Risk Expert at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), Switzerland

• Mr. Priyank Mathur, Founder and CEO of Mythos Labs, United States

• Mr. Serge Stroobants, Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa at the Institute for Economics and Peace, Belgium

• Alongside a number of researchers and experts from TRENDS

The conference brought together ambassadors, policymakers, security officials, AI specialists, and counter-extremism experts under one roof, aiming to develop shared strategies to confront evolving terrorist threats in the digital age.

Among the conference’s highlights was a thought-provoking address by Dr. Wael Saleh, advisor at TRENDS, who explored in depth the challenges associated with applying AI tools to counter-terrorism, particularly in countries lacking digital infrastructure or those considered technologically underdeveloped.

The conference concluded with a pressing and still unanswered question: How can artificial intelligence be effectively deployed to fight terrorism in countries that lack the fundamental technological infrastructure? This question is expected to serve as a catalyst for future discussions and research in upcoming forums.