This week, I had the pleasure of participating in a discussion among artists and creatives on heritage, national patrimony and Vision 2050. It was a fruitful discussion that gave me hope for the future.
Malta’s heritage practitioners and creators are innovative and uncomfortable with the status quo. Their desire for continuous change and innovation means that our arts and culture sectors have a bright future.
Vision 2050
Coupled with that is Vision 2050, which aims to ensure that the current positive situation of these two sectors will only improve. I have had the occasion, in the recent past, to state that the best is yet to come. Following this week’s discussion, I am now more than confident that the best is truly yet to come.
Tomorrow
We took some time to discuss past achievements, but we did not dwell too much on that, for we must look at the future and ensure that it is even better than today.
What particularly struck me was the enthusiasm and determination of our heritage practitioners and creators to further strengthen these sectors. They know that to keep our competitive edge in these key sectors of our economy, which today employ hundreds of people and which is crucial for our tourism industry, we must find ways to be innovative and at the forefront of changes that heritage protection and culture are continuously going through.
AI
Artificial intelligence was one of the topics that we unavoidably discussed. I say unavoidably because we cannot discuss the imminent future without discussing how we can use AI to our advantage.
AI is being described as the fourth industrial revolution, and in many ways, it is. It is already shaping key sectors of our economy and the way we live. Take telemedicine, for instance. AI has, and is, revolutionizing this sector, especially in medical imaging, but also in providing medical services to people in remote areas of the world.
In the US, a multinational company has also introduced a virtual human in its boardroom from which the company’s directors benefit using the AI’s rapid data-collection capabilities to take swifter and more informed decisions on the future of their company.
The virtual human
AI is also being used to address infrastructural challenges across the world, including traffic congestion.
Future cities are being designed that depend entirely on AI. There are, of course, deep ethical issues involved. The virtual human, at least for now, is devoid of empathy and conscientiousness. It can therefore decide, in a company setting, for instance, that the best way to deal with an organization in difficulty is to shed workers. Or it can be used by people with sinister intentions to cause unprecedented harm to people worldwide, including through cyberattacks and the spread of diseases. But used well, and that in itself is the subject of vociferous debate across the globe, AI can be beneficial to mankind.
AI and Art
It is being used rapidly in the arts and cultural sectors. For instance, in art museums worldwide, AI is used to bring art closer to the people and also to identify emerging trends. Artists are already collaborating with AI tools to generate ideas and enhance creativity. For example, artists are using AI to create music, poetry, and visual art.
Embracing technology
Vision 2050 emphasizes the importance of AI to help artists and creatives. It was a point which came to the fore during this week’s discussion, and how AI can serve as a tool to expand artistic possibilities. I believe the arts, heritage and cultural sectors need to embrace further this relatively new phenomenon, which is changing the world as we know it.
I strongly believe that AI can be a partner, rather than a replacement, for our artists and creators - allowing artists to co-create with intelligent systems, leading to innovative collaborations and new art forms.
AI can certainly be used to further democratize culture and the arts by making them more accessible to people, whilst AI-powered tools will allow more people to create and express themselves, thus broadening participation in the arts.
AI in Venice
At the last Venice Art Biennale, Malta’s pavilion was heavily based on the use of AI. I Will Follow the Ship, by local artist Matthew Attard, was an AI-driven artwork inspired by historical ship graffiti found in Malta, exploring themes of hope, survival, and the connection between humans and technology.
Innovation is key
While our commitment as a government towards the preservation of cultural heritage remains at the forefront, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in the coming years. But to succeed, we need to be innovative and creative.
No to status quo
Because this is what we want, as a country, and as a government that supports these sectors: We want artists, creators, designers who are not only able to think outside the box but who dare to be different, shockingly, positively, different.
Malta at the centre
Let us all together set a goal: To make Malta a center for contemporary art and cultural innovation. I am confident that we will achieve this ambitious target successfully together.
Saving lives
A young prospective mother was recently taken to court, accused of trying to terminate her pregnancy.
A medical doctor reported her to the police after the woman sought medical help. The doctor did his job because, as we speak, the law obliged him to do so.
The young lady walked out of court with a suspended sentence. As expected, this led to a vociferous debate. The government decided that this situation must be addressed, for as things are, a woman might be reluctant to seek medical help, fearing that she will end up in prison.
Amendments shall now be made to the Professional Secrecy Act whereby doctors shall no longer be obliged to report such cases to the Police, unless they have the patient’s consent. This is not abortion through the door, or even through the window.
This government does not have the electoral mandate for the introduction of abortion, but it is the right decision to ensure that a prospective mother’s life is never put in jeopardy for fear of criminal prosecution.