The real reason why UAE has appointed a minister for artificial intelligence

The second largest economy of the Arab world is quietly switching from oil to Artificial Intelligence. In a world first, the UAE on Thursday appointed a minister of Artificial Intelligence, which is also the first such acknowledgement by the Arab world that these indeed are the technologies that are going to shape economies around us. Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, 27, will spearhead UAE's ambition to be at the forefront of the global technological revolution, which will see it planning to build homes on the planet Mars by 2117. The UAE plans to have a fully functioning city of 600,000 people on Mars. "We aspire in the coming century to develop science, technology and our youth's passion for knowledge," tweeted Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the country's vice president and prime minister, when he announced the project -- known as "Mars 2117" -- earlier this year.