Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of JazzWorld, spoke at CNN Global Perspectives in Doha, Qatar, on 29 October. During a session titled “The Sovereign Stack,” Ibrahim advocated for a model where citizens play a meaningful role in developing and shaping artificial intelligence.
He stated that AI sovereignty must extend beyond ownership to allow people to contribute to the intelligence that influences economies, institutions, and daily life. Ibrahim said, “In AI, we talk about the human-in-the-loop approach. At the country level, we need a citizen-in-the-loop approach.”
The JazzWorld chief noted that genuine sovereignty requires citizens to participate in creating AI and influencing its deployment. Different nations face varying constraints regarding computing infrastructure, chips, energy resources, models, and applications.
Pakistan must transition from consuming AI to contributing to its development by creating systems that reflect local languages, cultural contexts, and economic requirements. JazzWorld is currently building AI capabilities across its digital ecosystem while engaging with academia and the government to strengthen locally relevant capabilities.
Trust is a fundamental requirement for meaningful AI sovereignty, Ibrahim said. Ibrahim added, “Technology gives you capability. Transparency lends credibility to that capability. But trust is ultimately what determines whether you have earned the right to remain at the table.”
Emerging economies risk limiting the pool of innovation and talent needed for domestic AI if they lack broader access to skills, tools, and infrastructure. The event included Rajit Nanda, CEO of DataVolt, and Dr. Mohammed Soliman, Director of AI and Compute Infrastructure at McLarty Associates.
Other attendees included Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Founder of Mal, Dr. Chaouki Kasmi of EDGE Group and TACTICA AI, Rama Chakaki, President of Qatar Science & Technology Park, and H.E. Abdulla AlMisnad, Chairman and Managing Director of QAI.
