The Director General of the UAE’s National Media Council praised the virtue of “human connection” at a global forum of young world leaders on Friday.
In a wide-ranging speech delivered to crowds at the annual event, Mansour Al Mansouri explored how our increasing reliance on technology has fundamentally changed the way people engage with one another.
Mr Al Mansouri said: “We are, of course, now living through the fourth industrial revolution – an era of cyber technology, digitisation and advanced AI.”
“But at the beating heart of every revolution,” he explained, “is the human need to communicate”.
But the era of technological advancement we are living through poses significant challenges as technology is changing the way we interact and communicate with each other.
“We are losing the crucial human engagements at the time we need it the most,” he said.
“The tech giants have radically changed the way we communicate.”
Mr Al Mansouri cautioned against new, faster forms of communication.
“Now, with emojis, we don’t even have to use words,” said.
“In this new age, we are becoming more responsive, but we are speaking less,” he added.
He cautioned that developments in new forms of quick communication on social media are causing people to “hide behind keyboards and screens” and lose out on “crucial human engagements”.
Noting the popularity of social media platforms in the UAE, Mr Al Mansouri encouraged attendees to “build connections by investing in relationships”.
“You live and breathe the revolution of technology every day of your lives, and our views and perceptions are shaped by it,” he told delegates.
Mr Al Mansouri pointed to the recent landmark space mission undertaken by UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, who visited the International Space Station in September, as an example of a moment that could never be replaced with technology.
“No emojis or algorithms could or will ever replace the wonderful moments of human connection,” he said.
Mr Al Mansouri was positive that technology would remain a beneficial force: “I’m an optimist and I believed this new age of conversation will, in the end, be a force for good.”
“The incredible power of human connection is a match for any force in the universe”
