For so many people, their main direct interaction with artificial intelligence is the ubiquitous chatbots. Chatbots, common on consumer and government websites, were once considered cutting-edge due to their obvious ability to “think” and naturally engage with users.
Given the breakneck speed with which AI is developing, such digital assistants were always destined to give way to something qualitatively different. Agenttic AI (think-to-act technology) is attracting the attention of many companies and governments. But in the UAE, it has been adopted systematically across the government.
It was announced this week that 80,000 workers, ranging from government ministers to junior officials, will be trained to become these AI agents. The program, described by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is the largest AI training program launched by the UAE government and supports the country’s goal of providing half of all national services using such AI within two years.
This is an important evolution for government efforts. Agentic AI is autonomous technology that actually performs tasks in response to prompts, rather than just providing answers and suggestions. Once trained for a job, agents can be left to perform that job with minimal supervision. In the world of commerce, AI agents can manage workflows and customer interactions, or be taught how to compare prices. Technology companies can rely on AI agents to build, test, and debug apps.
For governments, smart systems have the potential to improve productivity and efficiency by redesigning policies, processes, and procedures. The UAE will develop a purpose-built digital platform powered by Agentic AI tools to support federal employees through personalized learning pathways tailored to their role and skill level.
By embarking on this training program, the UAE will once again have a head start in the race to make the most of AI. By deploying Agentic AI across government rather than just one or two key departments, Emirates is transforming AI from a tool used by a few experts to a core capability.
With the goal of building a more globally competitive nation, the UAE is already transitioning from a digital government to a next-generation government. Humans will remain at the heart of public services, but with tools to run faster, speed approvals, automate policy implementation and provide real-time support.
As a pioneer in AI, the UAE is uniquely placed to embark on this journey and see what Agentic AI can do. The company has the necessary digital infrastructure, in-country expertise, and a proven track record of successfully powering government services with AI, including the TAMM app in Abu Dhabi.
Although the two-year schedule is ambitious, it will provide an opportunity to see what works and what doesn’t. It should result in government services being delivered to people in a faster and smarter way.
