Fares Akkad, regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at multinational technology company Meta, says the Arab world can take advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) faster than other regions.
That's because much of the region's population is under 30 years old, highly involved in technology, and there are fewer restrictions on AI, he said in a recent conversation with Alphanal Media.
Meta is the parent company of Facebook and also owns and operates the internationally popular social media platforms Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads. Mr. Akkad has been serving as regional director for the Middle East and North Africa since 2022.
AI will transform education
Akkad believes that artificial intelligence is the single most transformative force in global education. “AI will fundamentally change the educational landscape,” he says.
He noted that Meta has not only released its own digital assistant Meta AI in the region, but also, more importantly, released Llama's large-scale language model as a free, open-source technology. “This will enable developers and innovators, especially young people, to train and test AI without incurring significant costs,” he said.
Akkad believes this openness is particularly beneficial for the Arab world, which has a large young and tech-savvy population. “This region has an opportunity to innovate faster than other parts of the world, especially in areas where AI regulations are becoming increasingly strict,” he said.
But while young people are quick to adopt new tools, policymakers and institutions around the world are struggling to keep up.
“This revolution is moving much faster than the Internet revolution,” Akkad said. “Education systems everywhere, not just in the Arab world, are becoming difficult to maintain.”
He argues that rather than resisting students' use of AI, universities should build systems that benefit from it.
“If students are using AI to enhance their research, improve their jobs, and build projects that once took companies weeks, we shouldn't be competing against that,” he said. “Society that learns how to interact constructively with AI will help shape the values and cultural norms that will be embedded in future technologies.”
immersive technology
Meta is investing heavily in immersive learning through virtual reality (VR) devices like the Quest headset.
“Education is one of our most important application areas,” says Akkad. “Immersive environments create a sense of realism that traditional classrooms cannot provide.”
He explained how students could virtually explore a rainforest or stroll through Spain's historic Andalusia while interacting with 3D cultural or scientific content. “These experiences deepen learning and stimulate curiosity,” he said.
Meta has launched the region's first Metaverse Academy in Saudi Arabia, offering a nine-week program that trains students with no prior experience to build immersive applications for Quest and other Metaverse-related technologies.
The Metaverse is a virtual reality space that many companies, including Meta, envision and are working to create as the future of the Internet. But recently, interest and spending has shifted toward AI-powered devices.
In both VR and AI, many of the applications Meta is developing “reflect local culture, including music, heritage, and community needs,” Akkad said. “When you give young people the tools, they innovate in ways that enrich society.”
He highlighted Meta's new smart glasses that integrate AI to function as a hands-free assistant that understands audio, visuals, and context.
Support for content creators
A key part of Meta's strategy in the region includes supporting digital creators, including journalists, to transition away from traditional formats.
“Creators are at the heart of our platform. We help creators transform their storytelling into digital formats and provide free tools for video editing, music copyright, and production,” Akkad said.
Meta also allows creators to connect with advertisers, profit from collaborative campaigns, and earn money through donations and in-app commerce.
“This combination of training, tools and financial mechanisms will create a healthy ecosystem for creators,” Akkad added.
charity partnership
Akkad told Alfanar that Meta has a system that allows users to support verified charities through digital fundraising.
Lebanon-based Takreem Foundation's Shining Star of Hope is a charity supported by both Mehta and Alfanar Media. It supports forgotten actors and other members of the creative community who are struggling and affected by Lebanon's financial crisis.
Mr. Akkad praised those efforts. “We lack role models who show young Arabs that it is possible to succeed in science, culture and the arts despite the challenges,” he says. “Takureem’s work honoring such figures has a huge impact on society.”
“Our goal is to help tell their stories,” Akkad said. “We will provide technical and financial support to spread this extremely humanitarian message.”
