Transforming Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square into a hub of creativity, innovation and public dialogue, the third round of the Tahrir CultureFest (2-4 April) celebrated the city’s vibrant artistic and intellectual heritage while exploring its future over three days.
Organised by The American University in Cairo (AUC), the festival brought together thousands of artists, scholars, students, families, and cultural enthusiasts, to engage with Cairo’s layered history, its evolving urban landscape, and the transformative potential of technology and artificial intelligence.
Under the theme Future C-AI-RO, it offered a multidisciplinary programme featuring immersive exhibitions, live performances, interactive workshops, panel discussions and TEDx talks. By blending tradition with innovation, the event provided a platform for dialogue, experimentation, and visionary ideas, inviting participants to imagine the Cairo of tomorrow while celebrating the city’s rich heritage.
“This year’s theme invites us to reflect together on the kind of city we want Cairo to become,” Ahmed Dallal, AUC president, said in his opening remarks, “on how we can shape our future responsibly, building on our history while contributing to innovation and new ways of thinking”.
He highlighted the connection between the festival’s theme and AUC’s academic mission, emphasising the university’s active engagement with questions of technology, artificial intelligence, creativity and entrepreneurship in the service of a more inclusive and sustainable urban future.
Dallal also underscored the significance of the festival’s setting. “The Khairy Pasha Palace is a space that has stood at the heart of Downtown Cairo since the 19th century and has been part of AUC’s programmes for over a century,” he said. “This campus has brought people together for blending, dialogue, and cultural exchange. Today, we continue to build on this legacy.”
The festival opened with the projection light show, Whispers of the Walls, which tells the historic story of the Khairy Pasha Palace and its transformation into the American University in Cairo campus. The show traces the building’s journey, from its original sketches and construction to its present role as a vibrant centre of learning and culture.
Four major exhibitions set the tone for the festival. I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore by Hassan Ragab presented immersive, AI-driven projections of Cairo’s visual culture, exploring the interplay and highlighting the gap between human memory and machine interpretation. Time Will Tell, co-curated by Hana Al-Beblawy and Malak Shenouda, featured works by Agnes Michalczyk, Ahmed Magdy Abdallah, Karim Fouad, Nelly Al-Sharkawy and Omar Kayal, all examining the possible environmental, technological, and cultural futures of the city.
Anah: Conversations with AI by Samia Mehrez and Amr Ali explored ethical and emotional dimensions of human–AI collaboration through interactive multimedia installations, sculptures from recycled materials, and a live AI persona named Anah. Future C–AI–RO, displayed at the AUC Legacy Gallery, showcased student-led visual identity projects inspired by the festival’s theme.
On its second day, the AUC Tahrir campus opened its doors to families, offering a programme that balanced intellectual depth with creative energy through a diverse lineup of talks, workshops, performances, and family-friendly activities. Key highlights included a walking tour by Qahraweya that explored some of Downtown Cairo’s historical landmarks, a panel titled “Digital Resurrection: How Medical Imaging Is Transforming Egyptology”, in which Sahar Saleem, professor of radiology at Cairo University, demonstrated how CT scanning and facial reconstruction technology is reshaping our understanding of ancient Egypt. Moataz Darwish, associate professor of practice at the Heikal Department of Management, AUC, led an interactive workshop on scenario thinking for Cairo’s future, inviting participants to map multiple possible urban outcomes.
Family and children’s programmes featured animations screening, storytelling, puppet shows, and the bilingual play Tomorrow’s World, written and directed by Emma Davies for Sitara entertainment.
Evening performances featured dance by the Cairo American College Varsity Dance Team, followed by a fusion symphony by AUC alumnus Hisham Kharma, whose work blends live strings and Middle Eastern influences with electronic elements and immersive sound design, creating a dynamic musical journey across cultures and generations.
The final day focused on artificial intelligence and its impact across media, education, the economy, and the arts. The first panel, Behind the Screen: How AI Is Changing What We Read, Watch and Believe, addressed the ethical challenges of AI-driven media. Moderated by Khaled Ezzelarab, associate professor of practice and director of the Middle East Studies Programme at AUC, the discussion brought together Haitham Al-Sawy, head of the Digital Transformation Project at AlGhad TV; Mona Magdy Abdel-Maqsoud, assistant professor at the Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University; Dina Samak, managing editor of Ahram Online; and Alaa Al-Ghatriefy, editor-in-chief of Al- Masry Al-Youm and author of Media in the Age of AI. The panel explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creation, production and distribution of media content across journalism, television and digital platforms in Egypt, while raising pressing questions about credibility, ethics, and public trust in an increasingly AI-driven media landscape.
Speaking during the session, Al-Ghatriefy stressed that the rise of artificial intelligence does not mean abandoning traditional journalistic practices. He noted that the field has recently shifted from simple chatbot interactions to more advanced, and potentially more dangerous, AI-powered browsing systems, calling for a rational and balanced approach that integrates AI while upholding professional standards and journalistic ethics. He warned that AI tools are increasingly becoming primary sources of information, posing what he described as an “existential threat” to journalism, reflected in a noticeable decline in traffic to news websites by 30-40 per cent at the start of 2026.
While producing content has become easier, he emphasised that verification remains the real challenge, arguing that fact-checking is journalism’s “lifeline”. As misinformation grows, he added, the value of the journalist as a verifier increases, making human oversight and professional judgement essential within newsrooms. Journalism, he concluded, will not disappear but will instead redefine itself, with survival depending on the human touch and technological awareness.
Abdel-Maqsoud highlighted audience perceptions of AI-generated content, noting that several studies show a decline in credibility once audiences know content is produced by artificial intelligence. While not opposing investment in AI, she stressed the need for cautious and informed engagement. She also pointed to the growing intersection between AI development and neuroscience, explaining that many models attempt to replicate human cognitive processes. This, she warned, grants them significant power to influence and potentially manipulate human thinking. While such technologies hold promise in fields like healthcare, they also carry risks, including the commercial exploitation of behavioural data, similar to how algorithms have previously been used to shape social media experiences.
For his part, Al-Sawy emphasised the efficiency AI brings to media production, noting that tasks once performed by teams of four or five people can now be handled by a single individual supported by AI tools. However, he maintained that journalists will not lose their jobs as long as they continue to differentiate themselves, develop new skills and adapt to the demands of digital transformation. Meanwhile, Dina Samak stressed that the growing volume of misinformation has placed the question of trust at the centre of journalism today. The danger, she explained, lies not only in the spread of false information but in the audience’s diminishing ability to distinguish truth from falsehood due to constant exposure.
“Credibility is not tied to whether a media outlet is established or new, but to the rigor of its verification processes,” she argued. “While AI can assist in gathering and processing information, verifying facts remains a fundamentally human responsibility. Journalism is about representing a public voice and reporting what actually happens on the ground.”
She emphasised that AI can only recycle information, while original reporting, critical thinking, and engagement with real communities remain the core of journalistic work. The real risk, she concluded, begins when AI is seen as a substitute for journalists, overlooking the audience’s sensitivity to authenticity and credibility.
The second panel, Higher Ed in the Age of AI, examined how universities are preparing students for an increasingly AI-driven world. Moderated by Hoda Mostafa, director of the Centre for Learning and Teaching at AUC, the session brought together Ghada Al- Shimi, dean of Undergraduate Studies and the Academy of Liberal Arts at AUC; Yasser Al-Shayeb, professor of rock engineering applications in heritage and archaeology at Cairo University; and Khalil Elkhodary, professor of mechanical engineering and associate dean for undergraduate studies at AUC.
The discussion highlighted the growing pressures on higher education institutions to adapt to rapid technological change, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to disrupt traditional models of teaching and assessment. Speakers emphasised that universities, often slow to evolve, must rethink conventional methods such as exams and standardised assignments in favour of more flexible and meaningful approaches. A shift towards experiential and project-based learning was identified as essential to fostering critical thinking and deeper student engagement, with AI positioned as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human interaction.
Panelists also stressed the importance of context in developing AI systems, noting that many existing models are trained primarily on Western data, which raises questions about cultural relevance. They pointed to emerging efforts to develop localised AI models better suited to regions such as the Middle East and Africa. At the same time, discussions addressed the regulatory constraints facing universities, which can limit innovation in teaching methods, while highlighting alternative approaches such as oral examinations, continuous assessment, and more transparent evaluation systems.
The conversation ultimately called for a more holistic and human-centred vision of education, one that prioritises creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability over rote learning. Speakers underscored the need for collaboration among educators, institutions and policymakers to drive meaningful change, while reaffirming the central role of both students and faculty in shaping a more responsive and future-ready educational system.
The panel, AI and the Economy: Opportunities and Implications, examined the impact of artificial intelligence on Egypt’s labour market, digital governance, and the broader economic landscape. Moderated by Omniya Mohamed, a graduating senior majoring in economics, the discussion featured Samer Atallah, associate professor of economics and associate dean for graduate studies at AUC’s Department of Economics; Abdulazim Ghoniem, director of ICT and AI operation projects at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology; and Soha Samy ElKabany, technology technical leader at IBM Egypt.
The session explored both the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, including its potential to reshape employment patterns, enhance productivity, and drive economic growth, while also raising critical questions around workforce readiness, regulatory frameworks, and equitable access to emerging technologies in an increasingly digital economy. Drawing on recent global reports, speakers noted that nearly 40 per cent of jobs worldwide are expected to be affected by AI, with higher exposure in advanced economies and more limited impact in low-income countries. Routine and repetitive tasks were identified as the most vulnerable to automation, while creative, cognitive, and interpersonal roles remain more resilient.
In the Egyptian context, the panel pointed to existing structural challenges, such as informality, youth unemployment, and low labour force participation, which could be further amplified by AI if not addressed through targeted policies and investment in skills development. The digital divide was also highlighted as a key factor shaping AI’s impact, with an emphasis on the need to expand digital literacy and access to ensure more inclusive growth.
The discussion also addressed Egypt’s national AI strategy, which focuses on ethical AI, infrastructure development, data accessibility, and building local talent, alongside strengthening governance frameworks and international cooperation. A balanced approach was emphasised, one that supports innovation while maintaining effective regulation and responsible use.
The first TEDx AUC Tahrir Square: Human Forward at AUC CultureFest featured eight speakers from architecture, business, psychology and the arts, discussing human-centred innovation and reclaiming agency in a digital era. Notable speakers included Basma Rady, Karim Al-Shafei, Lamia Kamel, and Mohamed Aboulnaga Nagaty.
The festival concluded with a series of powerful musical performances on 4 April. The Salute to Gaza Choir, founded by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, delivered a moving performance that transformed themes of displacement into expressions of hope and solidarity. Following this, AUC’s student music club, Musicana, presented a three-act concert, The Sound of Intelligence, led by renowned artist Amr Mustafa, showcased the integration of AI in music creation and exploring how technology can expand the boundaries of artistic expression.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 9 April, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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