{
  "id": 8986737,
  "title": "AI will play major role in Lebanon, country's Finance Minister says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ai-will-play-major-role-in-lebanon-countrys-finance-minister-says-8986737",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-21T18:58:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2026/09/21/lebanon-finance-minister-ai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Artificial intelligence will play a major role in Lebanon's future as the country seeks economic stability, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber stated on Monday. During a discussion at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Jaber emphasized that AI is not only set to transform Lebanon but also the world.\n\nLebanon's Minister of State for Technology and AI, Kamal Shehadi, announced that 2,500 residents participated in an AI training program organized by Zaka, a Middle East-based online education platform. Shehadi emphasized the goal of making Lebanon the nation that masters AI faster than any other and integrates it into various sectors, including higher education, healthcare, creative industries, manufacturing, and business services.\n\nThe Ministry of Finance has developed an AI spokeswoman, Sawt Al Malia, to communicate economic developments. Instead of relying solely on written statements, Sawt Al Malia makes announcements, showcasing Lebanon's commitment to embracing AI.\n\nJaber also addressed the country's bank restructuring efforts, the 2027 draft budget, and the impact of conflict on Lebanon. In August, Lebanon and the World Bank signed a $150 million loan deal to support the transformation of the country's digital infrastructure, aiming to improve access to government services for Lebanese citizens.",
  "summary": "Artificial intelligence will play a major role in Lebanon's future as it seeks a path to economic stability, Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber said on Monday. Mr Jaber was responding to a question from The National during a discussion at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia have invested heavily in AI, as…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "AI will play major role in Lebanon, country's Finance Minister says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ai-will-play-major-role-in-lebanon-countrys-finance-minister-says",
        "published": "2026-09-21T18:58:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}