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We organized a full-day symposium (October 26, 2024) with the mm:museum as part of their exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" at Northwestern Qatar this year. Three panel discussions took place which we are bringing you in three episodes on their podcast. This is the second of the three where our experts delve into the nuances of Arabic Natural Language Processing (NLP) and its intersection with artificial intelligence (AI). Moderator Dr Wajdi Zaghwani who is an associate professor at Northwestern University Qatar, speaks with Salma Elkhaoudi – a PhD candidate at Stanford University focusing on the social impact of Arabic large language models – and Professor Nizar Habash – a leading expert in Arabic NLP at NYU Abu Dhabi. Topics covered include the challenges of developing Arabic AI models, the importance of preserving dialect diversity, and how AI influences cultural identity and language in digital spaces. The panel also touches on the ethical considerations of AI use, the role of academia and industry in advancing Arabic tech, and the importance of digital literacy in understanding AI's capabilities and limits.00:00 Introduction02:01 Meet our Panelists & Overview03:09 Discussion on AI & Arabic Cultural Identity 05:34 Technological Evolution in NLP07:24 Complexities of the Arabic Language15:07 Technical & Cultural Challenges24:44 Improving Arabic Representation33:03 Preserving Arabic Richness36:45 Fluency vs Accuracy in AI44:56 Understanding Human vs Machine Intelligence46:41 The Importance of AI Literacy & Future of Arabic AI49:38 Challenges & Opportunities in Arabic AI52:42 Balancing Fast Innovation With Cultural Sensitivity01:07:19 Value in focusing on Fusha & Arabic Dialects01:15:40 Open Q&ANizar Habash is a Professor of Computer Science at NYU Abu Dhabi and director of the CAMeL Lab, specializing in natural language processing and computational linguistics. His research focuses on machine translation, morphological analysis, and Arabic dialects. Author of Introduction to Arabic Natural Language Processing, and over 250 publications, he is a recipient of the King Salman Academy for Arabic Language Award (2022) and the Antonio Zampolli Prize (2024).Connect with Nizar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/nizarhabashSalma Elkhaoudi is a PhD candidate in the anthropology of science at Stanford University, with a focus on the development of Arabic-trained AI and its sociocultural implications in the Arab Gulf. Her research explores how ideas about the Arab past and future are being brought into relation with each other through AI. She has spent several years working as a technology and AI researcher in the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.Read more about the 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/Hosted by Wajdi Zaghouani 👉 https://x.com/wzaghouaniWajdi Zaghouani is an associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, specializing in AI and computational linguistics with a focus on Arabic data analytics, social media analysis, fake news detection, and hate speech. He has secured over $6 million in research funding, primarily through competitive grants from the Qatar National Research Fund, including for projects like the MARSAD Social Media Observatory and Hate Speech Detection. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Zaghouani also serves as an associate editor for journals like Journal of Natural Language Engineering and Frontiers in AI.Read more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/ FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2nABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We organized a full-day symposium (October 26, 2024) with the mm:museum as part of their exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" at Northwestern Qatar this year. Three panel discussions took place which we are bringing you in three episodes on their podcast. Past guest Ibrahim Abusharif moderated the first panel with experts Amanda Abou Abdallah, Rana Kazkaz, and Hussein Fakhri who come from leading media organizations. They explored the evolving role of the Arabic language across diverse media platforms, covering a variety of critical topics including the evolution of Arabic content creation, the issues in needing to humanize Arab narratives, the impact of censorship, the future of Arabic language in media, and the importance of developing original and authentic Arab stories. They highlight the potential for growth and the need for a robust infrastructure to support original content creation from the Arab world.00:00 Introduction01:02 Panel Introduction 01:33 Exploring Arabic & Media03:01 Panelist Backgrounds04:33 The Importance of Arabic Content 10:04 Challenges & Opportunities in Arabic Media27:47 Censorship 37:53 Controversy & Class Issues38:57 Advice for Aspiring Content Creators39:35 Challenges in Arabic-Language Storytelling42:31 Economic Models & Funding in Film Industry46:23 Linguistic Diversity & Representation57:01 AI and Future of Content Creation01:09:49 Dehumanization & Authentic Storytelling01:15:50 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAmanda Abdallah is the founder and creative chief of Khateera, a platform dedicated to supporting Arab women on their journey to self-realization. She has over 14 years of experience as a director and media strategist. Her diverse portfolio includes edutainment shows, commercials, fiction shorts, docu-series, and transformative social change campaigns. Her work has reached over half a billion views, leaving an indelible mark on the regional content landscape.Connect with Amanda 👉 https://www.instagram.com/amanda.abaa/Explore Khateera 👉 https://www.instagram.com/khateera__/Hussein Fakhri is the Chief Commercial Officer at Katara Studios, where he plays a pivotal role in driving growth and shaping the studio's creative impact on the entertainment industry. He began his career in advertising technology and digital marketing, honing his expertise in innovative strategies. He went on to establish successful ventures in advertising, film production, and talent services in Doha, further cementing his reputation as a visionary leader in the creative industries.Connect with Hussein 👉 https://www.instagram.com/hose20/Explore Katara Studios 👉 https://www.instagram.com/katarastudios/Rana Kazkaz is a filmmaker and associate professor in residence at Northwestern University Qatar. Her films have been recognized at the world’s leading festivals including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, Tallinn, Tribeca, and Abu Dhabi. With a focus on Syrian stories, her producing, screenwriting, and directing portfolio includes The Translator, Mare Nostrum, Deaf Day, and Kemo Sabe. She is a member of the Académie des César and was awarded fellowships with the Buffett Institute, MacDowell and the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.Connect with Rana 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ranakazkaz/Hosted by 👉 Ibrahim N. Abusharif Watch out episode with Ibrahim 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spBfkEC2r4EIbrahim Abusharif is an associate professor in Journalism and Strategic Communication, specializing in narrative journalism, religious studies, and storytelling decolonization. His research focuses on religion and media intersections, digital disruptions, and the framing of Middle Eastern and Muslim narratives in Western journalism. His work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and more, and he has edited over 30 books and translated Islamic texts.Read more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/ FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2nABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Muntasir Al Hamad joins us on the media majlis museum podcast to talk about teaching Arabic as a second language. We talk about designing language, teaching curricula, and working with students of different native languages, while tackling the nuances of amiyya, fasiha and fusha. We get some of the local flavor that dialects offer us through language, and take a look at a 600-year-old manuscript from Ottoman Turkey that addresses learning Arabic as a non-native speaker.Muntasir Al Hamad is a specialist in comparative Semitic languages syntax and grammar, currently an associate professor at Qatar University who is also working at its Arabic for Non-Native Speakers Center.Connect with Professor Al Hamad 👉https://www.linkedin.com/in/%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-69734173/?originalSubdomain=qaRead more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/Hosted by:Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/ FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2nABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Classical Arabic, MSA, and Fusha — all names that the Arabic language goes by. This conversation with Professor Ahmad Al-Jallad takes us through the origins and evolution of the Arabic language. Tracing back to the pre-Islamic and Nabatean Aramaic history through to the modern day, this episode is for grammar-nerds and Arabic speakers alike. We learn about where Arabic "came" from, what it means to define a language, and how it remained so stable despite instability in the region.Professor Ahmad Al-Jallad is a philologist, epigraphist, and historian of language. His work focuses on the languages, writing systems, history, and cultures of pre-Islamic Arabia and the ancient Near East. Some of the areas he has contributed to include Quranic studies and the history of Arabic, including recent work he has done on the Safaitic and Paleo-Arabic scripts. He is currently professor in the Sofia Chair in Arabic Studies at Ohio State University. Connect with Professor Al-Jallad 👉 https://nesa.osu.edu/people/al-jallad.1Read more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/Hosted by:Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/ FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2nABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How does language affect the way we see the world? This is the question that the upcoming exhibition at the Media Majlis Museum "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" seeks to address. For the first episode of this podcast powered by afikra, we sat down with Amal Ali, curatorial exhibition manager at Northwestern University Qatar, to dig deeper into what this exhibition is all about. We talk about the relationship between language and identity, the unique nature of Arabic as a language with many dialects, and how its perception impacts its speakers. We also learn about how borrowed and loanwords in language point to cultural gaps and imbalanced exchanges through history — with the word for "orange" in Arabic being a prime example.Amal shares how the university community has been involved in the development of this exhibition, how she sought to explore questions of preservation and conservation of language, and the limited digital presence of the Arabic language compared to the number of people who speak it in the world.Amal Ali is a museum curator and cultural producer based in Qatar. She's currently a curatorial exhibition manager at Northwestern University in Qatar.Connect with Amal 👉 https://www.instagram.com/amalgam8or/Read more about mm:museum's 2024 exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" 👉 https://mediamajlis.northwestern.edu/en/whats-on/exhibitions-programs/the-limits-of-my-language-are-the-limits-of-my-world-27-aug-2024-05-dec-2024Connect with the mm:museum at Northwestern University Qatar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/themediamajlis/Hosted by:Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2nABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra FOLLOW & RATE THE MEDIA MAJLIS MUSEUM PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-majlis-museum-podcast/id1763784587» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3p87MwQuJWOXG9X3h7NBuU» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1056900096THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl6JKXIPDF5oHzzMEc_veM2nABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide explore.afikra.com🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly https://explore.afikra.com/podcast-network⚡ Become a member: https://explore.afikra.com/insiders🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra