Hello there, I try not to make sweeping statements but I’m sure many of you have had your share of frustrating moments trying to squeeze into a tight parking spot. It’s one of those challenges we all wish to avoid, right? Well, the future might be closer than you think. At Gitex 2024, <i>The National'</i><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/10/15/gitex-2024-how-robot-parkie-will-lift-your-car-and-fit-it-into-a-tight-parking-space/" target="_blank"><i>s</i> Nick Webster introduced us to Parkie</a>, a new autonomous parking robot from Korea’s HL Mando that promises to change how we park. Imagine this: you step out of your car and the robot slides underneath, effortlessly lifting and manoeuvring it into the tightest of spaces, even those impossible to access manually. Although this technology is geared towards commercial use in places such as hotels or offices, it offers a glimpse into the future – where parking could be automated and stress-free. Sounds promising, doesn’t it? <b>The Big Story</b> <b>In brief | </b>Speaking at the two-day <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/2024/10/17/watch-live-wef-dubai/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a> event, the UAE's AI minister <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/2024/10/16/ai-will-get-out-of-hand-without-boundaries-uae-minister-warns/" target="_blank">warned that governments must introduce boundaries</a> for artificial intelligence or risk losing control of the technology. “We do not have time to afford to wait for this to get out of hand,” <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2024/09/11/dubais-tech-experts-not-technocrats-will-decide-ais-future-says-minister/" target="_blank">Omar Al Olama</a>, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said at the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/2024/10/16/world-economic-forum-in-dubai-climate-action-and-emerging-technologies-in-focus/" target="_blank">annual meeting of the Global Future Councils</a> in Dubai on Wednesday. Mr Al Olama compared the situation to the advent of social media, with governments only now trying to tackle technology that emerged more than 15 years ago. “So today, we're talking about the issues that social media is causing … and some of the guidelines that we are needing,” he said. “But I'd say social media was a problem in 2008, 2007 – and today we're talking about potential solutions. And we have seen the impact in politics … in mental health … in the crises we're seeing.” <b>Why it matters</b>: Experts and ministers are stressing the need for proactive regulations to address AI's rapid evolution and its implications for national and international security. “The pretext to everything that we're doing in the UAE is awareness – understanding what are the trends and what are the tides that are shifting,” he said. Mr Al Olama added that the challenges posed by AI are not new. He noted that technology has historically been used for beneficial and harmful purposes. “You’re speaking about this as if it's a new phenomenon, but it's not. It's been a phenomenon since the advent of the technological age,” he said. He called for a shift from reactive to proactive approaches in regulating AI, emphasising the need for urgency. <b>Quoted | </b><i>"If decision-makers are aware of what is happening around them, they'll be able to take the right decisions”</i> <i>– Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications</i> <b>Moment in the sun |</b> Is solar power finally ready to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/2024/10/18/solar-power-plants-climate-change/" target="_blank">deliver the renewable promise? </a> <b>Weekend wellness |</b> What a new study says about <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/2024/10/18/four-day-working-weeks-improve-mental-health-and-do-not-affect-profits-study-finds/" target="_blank">mental health and a four-day working week</a> <b>Future of travel |</b> How <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/aviation/2024/10/19/from-flight-bookings-to-complaints-how-ai-will-transform-the-future-of-travel/" target="_blank">AI will affect flight bookings</a>, customer service and more The World Health Organisation has certified Egypt as malaria-free, marking a significant public health milestone for the country. The achievement is the culmination of a nearly 100-year effort by the Egyptian government and people to eradicate the disease, which has been present in the country since ancient times. <b>This is a signal:</b> Anytime something takes 100 years to accomplish, lessons are certainly learned along the way. Those lessons learned in Egypt will be applied to other countries seeking to eradicate malaria, and in turn, you'll start to see progress be expedited in those countries. Countless partnerships with NGOs and other countries helped Egypt to make this happen, and that too is something worth replicating in other global health efforts. Team work, as they say, makes the dream work. Will the rise of data centres is <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2024/10/21/nuclear-energy-amazon-microsoft-data/" target="_blank">lead to a nuclear renaissance?</a> Opinion: What <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2024/10/17/economy-prosperity-india-china-uzbekistan-g20-nobel-prize/" target="_blank">creates prosperity?</a> How Merit is <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2024/10/21/how-merit-is-pushing-boundaries-of-corporate-engagement-and-rewards-market/" target="_blank">pushing boundaries of corporate engagement</a> and rewards market Despite budget cuts, Britain <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/health/2024/10/20/britain-plans-tech-revolution-in-health-despite-budget-cuts/" target="_blank">plans tech revolution in health care</a> Astronauts reveal <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/space/2024/10/19/astronauts-reveal-alarming-climate-change-impact-seen-from-space/" target="_blank">alarming climate change impact</a> seen from space