AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Integrity

This study explores the adoption of AI in the UAE’s creative industries through interviews with nine professionals, primarily Emiratis, from journalism, filmmaking, content creation, and heritage sectors. Their insights shed light on the intricate relationship between technological progress, job sta...

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Main Authors: Asma Hassouni, Noha Mellor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Journalism and Media
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/31
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author Asma Hassouni
Noha Mellor
author_facet Asma Hassouni
Noha Mellor
author_sort Asma Hassouni
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the adoption of AI in the UAE’s creative industries through interviews with nine professionals, primarily Emiratis, from journalism, filmmaking, content creation, and heritage sectors. Their insights shed light on the intricate relationship between technological progress, job stability, and the preservation of cultural integrity. One of the key observations was the dual nature of AI’s impact: while it undeniably enhances operational efficiency and reduces expenses, there are valid concerns regarding the authenticity and quality of AI-generated content and its potential impact on the development and utilization of professional skills within these industries. Despite the UAE government’s strategic initiatives to promote AI adoption, the findings revealed a notable absence of clear guidelines, placing the onus on individuals to proactively navigate the landscape of AI integration. This research challenges the prevailing narratives that often depict the Global South as passive consumers of technology as it highlights the participants’ acute awareness of the inherent biases present in AI technologies, particularly in the representation of their local culture.
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spelling doaj-art-e96fd560f2404d4e9a06bcf040cef1552025-08-20T02:42:32ZengMDPI AGJournalism and Media2673-51722025-02-01613110.3390/journalmedia6010031AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural IntegrityAsma Hassouni0Noha Mellor1College of Communication, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab EmiratesCollege of Communication, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab EmiratesThis study explores the adoption of AI in the UAE’s creative industries through interviews with nine professionals, primarily Emiratis, from journalism, filmmaking, content creation, and heritage sectors. Their insights shed light on the intricate relationship between technological progress, job stability, and the preservation of cultural integrity. One of the key observations was the dual nature of AI’s impact: while it undeniably enhances operational efficiency and reduces expenses, there are valid concerns regarding the authenticity and quality of AI-generated content and its potential impact on the development and utilization of professional skills within these industries. Despite the UAE government’s strategic initiatives to promote AI adoption, the findings revealed a notable absence of clear guidelines, placing the onus on individuals to proactively navigate the landscape of AI integration. This research challenges the prevailing narratives that often depict the Global South as passive consumers of technology as it highlights the participants’ acute awareness of the inherent biases present in AI technologies, particularly in the representation of their local culture.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/31artificial intelligencecreative industriesUAEtechnological disruptioncultural authenticity
spellingShingle Asma Hassouni
Noha Mellor
AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Integrity
Journalism and Media
artificial intelligence
creative industries
UAE
technological disruption
cultural authenticity
title AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Integrity
title_full AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Integrity
title_fullStr AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Integrity
title_full_unstemmed AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Integrity
title_short AI in the United Arab Emirates’ Media Sector: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Integrity
title_sort ai in the united arab emirates media sector balancing efficiency and cultural integrity
topic artificial intelligence
creative industries
UAE
technological disruption
cultural authenticity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/31
work_keys_str_mv AT asmahassouni aiintheunitedarabemiratesmediasectorbalancingefficiencyandculturalintegrity
AT nohamellor aiintheunitedarabemiratesmediasectorbalancingefficiencyandculturalintegrity