More than half of all online content is now machine-generated, but users are increasingly ignoring it, according to Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Speaking during a fireside chat at Gitex Global 2025 in Dubai on Thursday, Al Olama said that around 52 per cent of all content on the internet is now created by automated systems, while human-generated material accounts for the remaining 48 per cent. However, he noted that audiences are showing a growing preference for authentic, human-created material.
“With time, we’re realizing that search engines are not picking up automatically generated content, and people are not clicking on it,” Al Olama said. “There’s simply too much of it, and much of it isn’t interesting to users.”
The minister warned that the oversaturation of low-quality or repetitive material could erode public trust in digital information and reduce engagement across online platforms.
Discussing how policymakers should address these challenges, Al Olama called for balanced and informed regulation rather than excessive oversight. “We tend to overestimate what technology can do in the short term and underestimate its long-term impact,” he said.
He explained that the UAE’s approach to managing the technology sector involves embedding expertise within government institutions. “We appointed a chief technology officer in every federal agency, and similarly across Dubai’s government departments,” he said. “These officers don’t just work within the field — they travel, explore global developments, and engage directly with experts to understand where the frontiers of innovation lie.”
Al Olama emphasised that effective policy must come from informed decision-makers. “I support proactive regulation, but it must be based on knowledge, not on fear inspired by science fiction or sensational headlines,” he said.
He added that while automation holds great promise, it is not a universal solution. “There’s an excitement that technology will fix everything — it won’t,” he said. “We need to approach this space thoughtfully, ensuring innovation continues while maintaining trust, relevance, and human creativity online.”
Gitex Global 2025, one of the world’s largest technology exhibitions, continues to serve as a key platform for international dialogue on the evolving relationship between innovation, governance, and the digital economy.
