The world is still dreaming about flying taxis and driverless cars, while Dubai is making AI-driven transport a reality. This is what the world’s first Chief AI Officer, Sol Rashidi, has to say. Not only that, but she also explained how Dubai is an ideal location for AI transportation. One might think, how is an AI so safe to drive a car? If so, when can the models be available in the market? Here’s everything that Rashidi spoke about at the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport event. Read more.
World’s First Chief AI Officer: How Dubai Puts People First in AI
Who Is Sol Rashidi?
Sol Rashidi is the world’s first Chief AI Officer (in 2016). She held executive-level positions at multiple Fortune 500 companies worldwide. She recently spoke at the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport. It’s a two-day event (September 24–25, 2025). There, she emphasised how Dubai is such a perfect place to test and grow AI-powered transportation (meaning driverless cars and flying taxis). And much more.
Why Transportation + AI Is a Big Deal
- According to Sol Rashidi, the use of AI in transportation is exciting, but the world thinks otherwise.
- She also acknowledges that it’s such a sensitive industry because of the safety concerns.
- Despite her excitement, Sol Rashidi believes that safety comes first, without which the idea won’t work.
The “What-If” Testing
- According to her, the driverless vehicles shall only be approved after every failure scenario is tested.
- Example: “What if the brakes fail?” “What if the camera doesn’t work?” “What if the road sensors break?” “What if there’s a bug and AI fails?” And more.
- She says, if there are 200 different uses of AI, then each one of them should be tested a hundred times for “what ifs.”
Dubai’s People-First AI Approach
- Here she praises that Dudai is a unique and perfect place to test the AI transportation designs.
- She stated that, in Dubai, the AI is specially designed to work with people and not forced.
- Dubai is putting its people’s trust first and working towards its safety with AI.
From Small Tests to Real Life AI
- Many places can be ideal for pilot projects (meaning trials), but the deal is to move from:
Pilot → Production → Mass Adoption
- For this to be successful, there comes the role of data management, governance, and security.
- And for the masses to adopt AI, safety and trust need to be built first. That’s the reason why Sol Rashidi thinks Dubai is well prepared.
What’s Already Happening in Dubai
- In some areas (selected) of Dubai, testing of autonomous taxis has already started.
- The city is preparing for the future of AI transport. Additionally, the city may witness the launch of commercial driverless taxi services by early 2026.
Shubham Kumar
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