Day 2 WGS: Sessions with UAE’s AI minister, Google’s Pichai and more

Dubai: The 12th edition of the World Governments Summit (WGS) enters its second day on Wednesday with a packed schedule featuring a distinguished lineup of global leaders and key discussions aimed at shaping the future.

The proceedings start with a standout session featuring Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the UK and founder of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, discussing how technology is reshaping governance.

Meanwhile, another plenary sessions will feature talks on overlooked health trends, the future of tourism, the state of the Arab World, reimagining governance, and more.

A much-awaited conversation will take place later in the day, with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, sharing the stage.

Pichai, the Indian-origin CEO, will attend the Dubai event after participating in the AI Action Summit in Paris, where he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We discussed the incredible opportunities AI will bring to India and ways we can work closely together on India’s digital transformation,” Pichai wrote on X.

Here at the WGS, Pichai is expected to engage in an insightful chat with Al Olama on the role of technology and how it is reshaping the future.

The three-day summit will host more than 30 heads of state and government, international organisations, government delegations, and 6,000 participants. Several key forums will feature more than 300 leading speakers, including presidents, ministers, experts, thought leaders, and decision-makers, as well as more than 30 ministerial meetings and roundtables attended by more than 400 ministers.

Notable speakers sharing their views today include Boris Johnson, former UK Prime Minister; Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka; Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar; Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of Uganda; and Louise Araneta-Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines, among others.