News

AI In The Music Industry: A Blessing Or A Curse?

Emdee Jabr, Senior Music Producer at Anghami believes the technology can improve workflows, but cautions the replacement of human creativity.

Published

3 years ago

March 13, 2024

Nour Nasir

ai in the music industry a blessing or a curse

During Riyadh’s recent XP Music Futures conference, delegates and industry thought leaders delved into some fascinating discussions surrounding the future of music production. Of particular interest was the topic of artificial intelligence and how AI tools could be integrated into the creative process of music production in new and innovative ways.

One notable attendee of XP Music Futures was Emdee Jabr, Senior Music Producer at Anghami. The industry professional has over a decade of experience and recently shared his thoughts on the emergence of artificial intelligence technology within the music industry.

Emdee believes that although AI can offer unique possibilities for musicians and producers, such as automated composition and intelligent sound processing, it lacks emotional depth. However, the Anghami producer does acknowledge that AI can significantly accelerate production workflows.

“[AI can help by] automating tasks, improving efficiency, and providing data-driven insights. However, it faces challenges in replicating human creativity, making it crucial to strike a balance between automation and human intuition to achieve a successful and innovative outcome”.

Although it’s clear that AI can work as a powerful production assistant, it seems to Emdee and other professionals that its full integration into the creative process is still very much a work in progress. The technology also raises several legitimate concerns.

Also Read: Best Music Streaming Services In The Middle East

“On the negative side of AI, concerns arise regarding job displacement, potential homogenization of artistic expression, and the risk of over-reliance on technology, potentially diluting the human touch and intuition in art. The key is finding a balance that maximizes the benefits while preserving the unique aspects of human creativity”.

As a music producer, it’s clear that Emdee Jabr sees AI as a tool still in its beginning stages. The producer is keen to emphasize the importance of utilizing human creativity and using AI for inspiration rather than entirely replacing songwriters, musicians, and producers.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.