Doha Portal

Upcoming activations

Digital dilemma: Does AI help or harm the creative community?

Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 7:30 – 9 p.m
Link Atrium, Texas A&M University in Qatar – Education City
Portal site: Johannesburg, South Africa

In an era where AI tools like Midjourney and DALL-E have given anyone the power to become artists, the lines between traditional and digital art are increasingly blurring. Artificial intelligence, capable of generating artwork in the style of historical masters like Vincent van Gogh, has divided the art community. Some think that AI has empowered artists and non-artists alike to explore creative realms that were once inaccessible to them. Others argue that the AI revolution breaks the rules of copyrighting and undermines the intrinsic value of human creativity, and that AI art is a form of theft.

In this Portal debate, students from Texas A&M University in Education City, Qatar, and their peers from Johannesburg, South Africa, will debate whether AI enriches the artistic landscape or dilutes it. Is the growth of AI in art a reckless pursuit of innovation that compromises ethics and human creativity? Or is it a revolutionary force that democratizes art and expands the boundaries of creative expression to all?

Rise of the Rest: Who should lead in a multipolar world?

Thursday, March 28, 2024, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Faculty Conference Room, 1D02 (First Floor), Georgetown University in Qatar – Education City
Portal site: Mexico City, Mexico

What does a shift in the balance of power mean for the world? For much of the last 100 years, Western countries have dominated the global order. But now, with many nations vying for power, new regional partnerships and middle powers are on the rise. Economically, strategic alliances like BRICS are bolstering the influence of non-Western countries. And in a world that’s more digitally connected than ever, the global rise of pop culture heavyweights like Bollywood, dizi and K-pop means there’s more soft power in the hands of countries outside the historical superpowers.

At the same time, conflict is on the rise globally. Last year, the UN said there are more ongoing conflicts than at any point since World War II. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to think about who should lead. In this Portal debate, students from Georgetown University in Qatar will examine with their peers in Mexico City, Mexico, the impact of shifting global powers and answer the question: Who should lead in a multipolar world?

Global Connections

Doha Debates brings together diverse perspectives for vibrant dialogue on urgent issues. In partnership with Shared_Studios, our Doha Portal provides a curated space to learn, question and connect.

Connecting people around the globe isn’t just about computers or phones. Shared_Studios’ Portals use physical spaces—like shipping containers, school buses and even inflatable rooms—coupled with technology to make people feel like they’re sharing the same space with somebody elsewhere in the world.

The Doha Portal is a space for productive dialogue using the Majlis style of debate, which welcomes diverse worldviews and open discussion. Majlis-style debates illuminate points of agreement and common interests, rather than amplifying differences. The Portal uses these facilitated, Majlis-style conversations to connect people around the world, guiding participants to find new ideas and innovative solutions to complex issues that affect us all.