Brief
UAE AI minister says AI agents cannot decide on people’s livelihoods
Omar Sultan Al Olama announced a red line on AI use in government, limiting automation to low‑risk services and introducing continuous auditing.
By Felo News Desk · Published
UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Sultan Al Olama told a panel at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders in Dubai that no AI agent will be permitted to make decisions that affect a person’s livelihood.
What happened
During the "Trust Test for Agentic AI" discussion on 14 October, Al Olama said the rule applies "especially at this point, because we don’t know the true capabilities of technology". He added that human life and livelihood are "invaluable" and cannot be assigned a dollar value.
What the reports add
The minister disclosed that the UAE aims for AI agents to deliver 50 % of federal government services within two years. Mapping of services showed about 70 % could tolerate limited AI use, while the remaining 30 % pose error risks that exceed the government’s tolerance and are therefore excluded from automation. Low‑risk tasks such as passport renewal are slated for AI agents.
What was said
Al Olama said, "We don’t think that human life or human livelihood is something that has a dollar figure value to it. It’s priceless," as reported by Khaleej Times. He also warned that global debate should focus on the most extreme risks, naming autonomous weapons that can decide to kill as a clear example of decisions that must not be left to machines.
How it came about
The announcement follows a series of UAE initiatives to embed AI in public services while managing associated risks. Earlier Felo coverage highlighted the UAE’s push for greater parliamentary involvement in UN delegations and education reforms, reflecting a broader strategy of responsible governance and international cooperation.
Key facts
- UAE Minister of State for AI Omar Sultan Al Olama said AI agents cannot make decisions affecting a person’s livelihood. (khaleejtimes.com)
- The UAE targets AI agents to deliver 50 % of federal services within two years. (khaleejtimes.com)
- Around 70 % of government services are deemed low‑risk for AI use; 30 % are excluded due to higher error risk. (khaleejtimes.com)
- An "agent control tower" will log every AI action and thought, with continuous auditing by both agents and humans. (khaleejtimes.com)
- Al Olama urged global agreement on extreme AI risks, especially autonomous weapons. (khaleejtimes.com)
Sources
- [1] khaleejtimes.com — originally reported as “'No $ sign on human life': AI not allowed to make decisions on livelihood in UAE”
