In brief
A dialogue was held by students from Umm Al Qaiwain University in Abu Dhabi to discuss using smart technologies to combat misinformation in crises. The session attracted cybersecurity, policing, AI and media specialists, and highlighted the dual role of intelligent systems in both generating realistic content and aiding detection. Participants stressed the need for a verification culture and human oversight in rapid response.
On Saturday 7 November 2026, students from Umm Al Qaiwain University organized a dialogue session in Abu Dhabi to explore how smart technologies could help detect and counter misinformation during crises.
The discussion, part of the students’ graduation project titled “Truth in Times of Crisis: From Rumor to Smart Response,” was hosted by the College of Mass Communication and brought together experts in cybersecurity, policing, artificial intelligence and media.
Key Participants and Themes
Participants included Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government; Brigadier‑General Abdullah bin Salman Al Nuaimi, Deputy Director of the Operations Department at Ras Al Khaimah Police General Command; Saeed Rashid Al Shehhi; media professional Mohammed Al Ahmad; and Isa Al Manaei, a TRENDS researcher specializing in AI.
Al Manaei highlighted how intelligent systems have evolved beyond simple question answering to "search multiple sources, generate text, images and video, and perform complex tasks with a degree of autonomy." He cautioned that while these capabilities can accelerate analytical work, they also make realistic digital content easier and cheaper to produce, increasing the threat of misinformation.
"They are no longer limited to answering questions but can search multiple sources, generate text, images and video, and perform complex tasks with a degree of autonomy."
Al Manaei warned that the speed with which misinformation can spread on social media means it can reach large audiences within minutes before authorities or media organizations have time to verify or correct it. He emphasized that crises intensify this challenge by heightening demand for information while decreasing the time people spend verifying content.
The session underscored the need for a verification culture, human oversight in AI‑driven responses, and institutional responsibility to protect the information environment and strengthen trust in reliable sources.
