KARACHI, November 2: The seventeenth edition of SOT Events, organized by Beaconhouse, has officially launched at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi. This year’s theme, “Guardians of the Future: Shaping Tomorrow with Generative AI,” centers on future-oriented discussions over the course of two days.
For the past 24 years, SOT Events has led important conversations that influence the future of society. The 16th edition in 2023 focused on the transformative potential of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its significant effects on the world. This year, SOT delves deeper into AI’s expanding role, exploring its impact on various industries, its influence on creativity, and its challenges to conventional ideas of ownership and responsibility.
The event brings together thought leaders, experts, and changemakers from various fields, providing a platform for in-depth reflection and forward-thinking discussions. Through panel discussions, workshops, debates, interviews, and keynote speeches, SOT aims to uncover valuable insights and solutions for an ever-evolving world.
Day 1 featured a diverse range of discussion topics, including social issues, health, wellbeing, gender diversity, climate change, fashion, education, and cyber safety. A unique aspect of SOT is the inclusion of AI avatars that participate as panelists in the conversations.
The event kicked off with a keynote address by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Other notable participants included Sanam Saeed, Mohib Mirza, Vaneeza Ahmad, Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, Zoraiz Lashari, Nafisa Shah, Mohsin Naveed Ranjha, and Tapu Javeri.
With over 30 engaging sessions scheduled over two days, SOT 2024 features more than 100 influential speakers, including social media personalities like Mooro and Faiza Saleem, media figures such as Tina Sani and Nadeem Baig, esteemed educators Dr. Sohail Naqvi and Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra, renowned journalists Wusat Ullah Khan and Amber Rahim Shamsi, celebrated athletes Haider Ali and Faiqa Riaz, and IT experts Dr. Basit Riaz Sheikh and Jazib Zahir, among many others. Additionally, this year’s event includes an interactive science exhibition developed in collaboration with MagnifiScience.
Kasim Kasuri, Chair of SOT Events and CEO of Beaconhouse School System, remarked, “As we navigate changes in AI, the central theme of SOT, Guardians of the Future, gains new significance. AI is transforming every aspect of our lives, making it crucial for us, as individuals and communities, to step forward as guardians—mentors, leaders, and advocates shaping a future that is both inclusive and forward-thinking. At SOT, we aim to explore how we can thoughtfully integrate AI into our lives, ensuring future generations inherit a world enriched with technology while remaining grounded in human values.”
SOT is a free event series open to the public that began in 2000 and is organized by Beaconhouse as part of its social responsibility initiative. Over the years, SOT conferences have featured more than 1,000 thought leaders and changemakers from around the globe, including heads of state, prime ministers, leaders of major global organizations, and distinguished figures from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE, and many other countries.
