A session organized by Writers and Readers Cafe was held at the Arts Council Karachi

Karachi (Staff Reporter) — The rapidly growing impact of artificial intelligence globally has now become an immediate challenge for Pakistan's social and educational landscape. To discuss these issues, the 135th session of Writers and Readers Cafe was held at the Josh Malihabadi Library in the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, attended by teachers, writers, and a large number of students. The session was titled: "Artificial Intelligence: An Intellectual Revolution."

Professor Dr. Shams Hamid, philosopher, futurist, poet, and founding director of Hum RI, expressed that about 64% of Pakistan’s population is youth, so it is essential to teach them the basic skills of artificial intelligence and future insight to become architects of the coming era rather than mere consumers. He emphasized that elderly citizens must also gain this knowledge to guide the younger generation.

Dr. Shams introduced the concept of relational intelligence and stated that artificial intelligence should be seen not as a substitute but as a collaborator to human creative power. According to him, "This technology cannot act alone; it requires human imagination, values, and insight. Together, humans and machines can find solutions that neither could achieve alone."

He presented global statistics showing that adopting artificial intelligence could increase productivity by 20 to 30 percent and yield savings of 40 to 50 percent in some sectors. However, he warned that these benefits will only transform society if they are directed toward disadvantaged groups in local languages, ensuring knowledge is not limited to elites.

Dr. Salman Ahmed Khatani, Associate Professor at Iqra University, futurist, and poet, said that future insight should be included in Pakistan’s education system so youth can understand upcoming changes and chart their course. He noted that in many societies, artificial intelligence is used in education for adaptive learning, in healthcare for diagnosis, in business for operations, and in cities for improved governance. Without insight, this technology can increase social divides, but with guidance, it can foster societal progress.

The session emphasized that the true success of artificial intelligence lies not only in economic gain but also in how it strengthens trust, empathy, and human dignity. Speakers stated that literature, culture, and poetry will always be essential in connecting technology with human values.

The session was moderated by Dr. Tanveer Anjum, founder of Writers and Readers Cafe, who also expressed gratitude to the participants.