The School of Business at the American University in Dubai (AUD) hosted a dynamic fireside chat titled “How Culturally Relevant is AI?” The session gathered students and faculty to examine how cultural and linguistic nuances are shaping the future of artificial intelligence across the MENA region and influencing organizational interaction with emerging technologies.
Featuring industry experts Marwa Khost, Consumer Communications Lead (AI Focus) at Google, and Wissam Badine, Executive Creative Director at DeafCat Studios, the conversation centered on making AI more culturally intelligible and aligned with regional communication practices, with a key theme emphasizing that successful adoption of AI in the region depends on systems that understand Arabic dialects and local communication nuances.
Through practical examples and industry insights, the speakers highlighted how culturally aware AI can enhance user experience by creating interfaces that feel natural to regional users, build trust by ensuring outputs align with local values and ethical standards, and enable more meaningful interaction by moving beyond basic translation toward true contextual and human-centric understanding.
The discussion also touched on evolving workplace trends, such as the management of autonomous AI agents and the critical necessity of maintaining human oversight in decision-making processes.
Dr. Farah Arkadan, Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing, highlighted the importance of the educational value of bringing global tech trends into a local context. She said:
“Contextualizing AI by connecting it to our everyday lived realities and experiences encourages students to reflect on the importance of culturally relevant technology. This will inspire meaningful discussions in our classrooms about the future of AI and business.”
The fireside chat underscores AUD’s ongoing commitment to fostering industry engagement. By providing direct interaction with leading professionals, the university continues to empower students to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape while championing the cultural and regional contexts that will define the future of technology.
