Saudi Arabia is making a significant investment in its future with the launch of a new programme aimed at training over 1,000 engineers in artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative, called AIM, is a collaboration between the National Program for Information Technology Development (NPITD), the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.AIM goes beyond just training. It aims to establish a comprehensive AI ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. This includes developing the necessary infrastructure, fostering collaboration between industries and government entities, and supporting the creation of new AI-powered businesses. All of this aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom's ambitious plan for economic diversification and technological advancement.At the heart of AIM lies the upskilling of Saudi Arabia's workforce. The program will train over 1,000 engineers in machine learning and AI, equipping them with the expertise needed to drive innovation and contribute to the development of the country's AI sector.The potential economic benefits of AI are undeniable. According to global consultancy PwC, AI is expected to contribute over $135 billion to the Saudi economy by 2030, representing a significant boost to the kingdom's GDP.By investing in AI training and fostering a supportive ecosystem, Saudi Arabia is taking a proactive approach to securing its place in the future. This initiative has the potential to transform the country's economy, create new job opportunities, and position Saudi Arabia as a leader in the field of AI.

Dubai, UAE – The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) today announced the findings of its second Digital Wellbeing Global Report as well as the inaugural launch of its Global Digital Wellbeing Index. The Digital Wellbeing Global Report identifies unique insights on the fast-changing relationship of people with technology and how they aspire to gain more control over in the digital realm. The Global Digital Wellbeing Index provides a country-level benchmark and a path to action for policymakers looking to improve digital wellbeing for the populations they serve.2024 Digital Wellbeing Global ReportThe basis of the new Digital Wellbeing Global Report is a survey of 35,000 members of the public, all over 18 years of age, in 35 nations across five continents, more than double the number of participants in the first Digital Wellbeing Global Report in 2021. Ithra, along with partners, designed and completed the largest-of-its-kind survey to provide valuable knowledge on how people view their digital lives.The findings of the updated survey offer unique insights across six pertinent themes: Balanced use of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), social media, gaming, work, and government regulation. Notably, a key discovery is the widespread support for pausing further AI development until regulations are established. A substantial 78% of the UAE public views AI as a positive force. Additionally, residents in the UAE express confidence in their government's capacity to regulate internet content. Globally, respondents of all ages are increasingly adopting conscious digital consumption habits, with a majority now choosing to spend their online time intentionally rather than engaging in purposeless scrolling.Introducing the Global Digital Wellbeing Index to drive action towards higher digital wellbeingIthra also announced the inaugural edition of the Global Digital Wellbeing Index (DWI), a country-level assessment which ranks 35 countries based on 94 selected indicators derived from policy analysis, statistical data, and survey results across 12 pillars. The index aims to help stakeholders find new evidence-based solutions to optimize opportunities and minimize potential negative impacts of digital technology.The 12 pillars assessed are: Social cohesion; Mental health; Physical health; Ability to disconnect; Information quality; Cybersafety; Connectivity; Social connectedness; Education and skills; Work, productivity, and income; Entertainment and culture; and Access to services and goods. The research highlights leaders in each of the categories, as well as the areas where policymakers and businesses can focus their efforts.Ithra’s DWI reveals that Canada leads the ranking in digital wellbeing followed by Australia, Singapore, Estonia, and France. Within the 12 pillars, leadership and best practice emerge from different parts of the world. Examples include Saudi Arabia which excels in connectivity, China which has supportive policies for digital mental health in place and was a front runner in recognizing digital addiction, and Colombia, which is improving digital literacy and awareness for young women through dedicated programs. In addition to achieving 100% score in connectivity, the UAE leads in social connectedness, reflecting advanced digital infrastructure and remarkable social engagement.? Its "Digital Wellbeing Program" and the Council for Digital Wellbeing, promote digital literacy, safe online behavior, and quality content exposure. The Index also highlights common challenges across countries which require focus, like the ability to disconnect.Announcing the findings, Wadha Alnafjan, Head of Digital Wellbeing (Sync) at Ithra, said: “Accelerating potential and inspiring minds is the core ethos of everything we do at Ithra. This deep data dive for this global survey reflects thousands of hours of hard work by several teams. In turn, this shows our collective passion, enabling us to better understand how talent and creativity can thrive at home and across international borders in a vastly digital era.”She added: “These exclusive insights are especially important in today’s world, as we live in the most transformative time in modern human history – and technology is a primary driver of that change. Already, approximately 65% of the global population are online, equating to more than 5 billion people. The DWI clearly shows that the many stakeholders engaged in the digital ecosystem need to take action to ensure that digital technologies have a positive impact on humanity. We hope that this research will enable actors to drive ambitious measures to protect the most vulnerable from negative side effects of technology.”Fahad AlBeyahi, Lead of Sync’s Research Workstream at Ithra, highlighted the importance of continual improvements: “The benefits of the hyper speed, convenience, and learnings we gain from embracing digitalization in our lives is nigh impossible to summarize. Equally, no system is perfect. Finding solutions to today’s challenges will present even more opportunities, so we must keep learning and exploring.”He added: “Embedding digitalization into our lives brings endless potential, but also challenges that can be resolved with effective management. The survey highlighted negative and harmful experiences still prevalent across social media, calls for more regulation around AI and for people to have greater transparency over data collection.”Top Findings under Six Key Global Themes of the survey:A Healthier Balance: People are finding a better balance in their use of technology and are increasingly aware of its negative impact on their health. In the UAE, the number of people spending too much time online has declined by a fifth in the past two years.All Eyes on AI: Artificial intelligence is dominating people’s lives, but many do not understand it. In the UAE, the majority of the public feels AI is a force for good.A New Era of Social Media: Countries with more active social media use view it as a force for societal good, but many are concerned about online bullying. A quarter of respondents have been bullied online, and this is even higher in the UAE (at 29%).Gamers Take the Reins: Most gamers, and around two-thirds in the UAE, say it has a positive impact on their lives, but for the more avid ones, gaming is an escape mechanism.Impact of Flexibility at Work: Though digital technology enables hybrid and flexible working; it is affecting personal boundaries. Some remote working is now the reality for many across the world, but in the UAE, most still work in person.Regulations are Vital: The public is calling for greater regulation of technology, and data collection is their biggest concern. In the UAE, people have confidence in their government’s ability to regulate content on the internet.Top Findings from the Global Digital Wellbeing Index:Gulf countries top the digital connectivity ranking, with UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait in the top 5 positions, reflecting perfect scores in 4G coverage and Internet penetration. Dedicated support and awareness for physical health is key to balance growing exposure to digital technologies. Right to disconnect measures show decisive action to promote digital wellbeing policies and have potential to be adopted more widely as they are currently present only in a third of the index countries.Many countries have embraced digital education and training, but middle-income countries need to emphasize digital skills, such as digital safety tools or the ability to verify misinformation into curricula.Support for digital mental health holds great promise in aiding vulnerable individuals. The UAE's 'Digital Wellbeing Program,' initiated in 2018, aims to raise awareness about online risks and challenges while promoting safe and positive usage of digital technologies and the Internet. The establishment of a Council for Digital Wellbeing in 2020 further drives progress in this area.Misinformation and disinformation pose risks to digital wellbeing that require action around the worldPromoting cyber-wellness is key to counter cyberbullying which remains a challenge in many countries.Online activism is an important vehicle for social connection and some of the least affluent countries lead the way in this space.The report can be downloaded at sync.ithra.com.

Dubai-based speech AI startup CAMB.AI has raised a $4 million seed round. CAMB.AI specializes in instantaneously dubbing any performance in over 100 languages, dialects, and accents using the original voices with their nuances. Led by Courtside Ventures, the investor group includes TRTL Ventures, Blue Star Innovation Partners, Ikemori Ventures, and Eisaburo Maeda. Dubai Future District Fund were early investors in CAMB.AI, and the company was part of the Dubai Future Accelerator cohort in 2023, as well as named a Future 100 Company of the UAE.The funding will power CAMB.AI’s continued growth and progress seen since the company was founded in 2022. Since then, CAMB.AI has broken several technological barriers with their MARS TTS and BOLI Translator, built from the ground up for voice localization.CAMB.AI’s state-of-the-art techniques don’t just translate speech; they capture and convey the speaker’s original tone and nuance – preserving emotion with less than three seconds of input. This ensures that the translated content remains as powerful and engaging as the original, maintaining the speaker’s intended impact. The largest collection of resource languages, CAMB.AI has the ability to translate Afrikaans, Malay, and Basque, a testament to the company’s commitment to making global communication more inclusive.“This technology is truly remarkable,” said Vasu Kulkarni, Partner at lead investor Courtside Ventures. “Growing up in India, a land of over 700 languages, I saw first-hand how difficult it was to consume the plethora of content out there when you couldn’t understand it. For NBA fans in India to now potentially be able watch Steph Curry while listening to the indelible Mike Breen commentating in Hindi is going to globalize the game even further.”Founded in the UAE by father-son duo of Avneesh Prakash, CEO, and Akshat Prakash, CTO, who spent a half-decade researching and building the technology, CAMB.AI has seen over 100M views of its dubbed content and already counts Major League Soccer, Tennis Australia, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Nick DiGiovanni, Narin Beauty, BeerBiceps, and many other live sports properties, media companies and individual mega-creators as clients.CAMB.AI was also used in Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja’s horror film Three, which debuted two months ago at the Red Sea Festival in Saudi Arabia as the world’s first, fully AI-dubbed multilingual feature film.“I wanted to ensure my movie was able to be viewed by a global audience in any language,” said Nayla Al Khaja. “Only CAMB.AI could capture the emotional nuances blended with the horrific content and create a truly authentic experience for my viewers.”Despite the expansive reach of top-notch digital content, a substantial segment of the global population misses out on the essence of that content due to linguistic barriers. Traditional methods of translation and dubbing sometimes fall short in preserving the original emotion, subtleties, and colloquialisms that render each piece of content unique. CAMB.AI offers revolutionary dubbing, using proprietary state-of-the-art Generative AI technology to deliver colloquial, contextual translations, zero-shot cross-lingual voice cloning, cross-lingual time sync, background score preservation, and more, at a fraction of the time and cost of others in the space.“This is a monumental day for CAMB.AI and we are excited to have an investor group that sees our vision and will help us grow,” said Avneesh Prakash, CAMB.AI CEO and Co-Founder. “We’ve already seen amazing adoption of our technology and we expect this funding to fast track further development and global expansion.”The company was recently selected, from a pool of 600+ companies, by Major League Soccer to be part of the inaugural cohort of the MLS Innovation Lab; with MLS planning to test CAMB.AI’s translation technology across their vast media ecosystem. The company was also selected for the exclusive 2024 AO Startups Program, a joint-venture between Tennis Australia, Wildcard Ventures and Techstars, with CAMB.AI’s technology most recently used to provide AI multi-lingual dubbing and translation from the 2024 Australian Open."Making content that is more accessible and personalized for our global fans is an absolute priority for the AO,“ Machar Reid, Head of Innovation, Tennis Australia. “CAMB AI has the potential to deepen our connection with these audiences in a way not previously thought possible."

Developments in Artificial intelligence (AI) have been impacting businesses, governments, and economies across the world, and the Middle East is no expection. Advancements in AI, especially generative AI (GenAI), are leading to a once-in-a-generation shift. This is opening vast new opportunities and transforming industries, modes of operation, and career paths.The Cisco AI Readiness Index has revealed that 95% of respondents have an AI strategy in place or under development, but only 14% are fully ready to integrate AI into their business. In the UAE, the Index indicated that strategy readiness stands out as the most developed aspect, with 73% of organizations deemed “fully prepared”.Cisco’s AI predictions for 2024 focus on what organizations can do to adopt and integrate AI while adopting trust and security measures and regulations, and how innovators can leverage that technology to remain competitive. Reem Asaad, Vice President, Cisco Middle East and Africa, commented: “The immense potential of AI and data analytics is expected to generate monumental benefits for the Middle East. The region is continuously pioneering technology adoption, and we are seeing companies exploring new ways to harness the power of AI for operational efficiency, revenue and market share growth, and harnessing innovation to adapt to customer needs.”She added: “This year's AI trends reflect a deepening sophistication and caution in AI development and deployment strategies, with an eye to ethics, safety and the evolving regulatory landscape. Trust between people and the AI systems and tools they use is fundamental and non-negotiable. That means providing clarity on what AI can and cannot do with new data transparency and responsibility frameworks, new efforts to educate people and businesses about how disruption might happen, teaching the skills that will be needed for new AI-enabling and -enabled jobs, and new ways to collaborate with the best interests of people at heart.At Cisco, we are already integrating differentiated AI capabilities into our portfolio — and doing it responsibly. We see a future with AI that’s innovative, efficient, and trustworthy, not to mention more sustainable and equitable.”1. GenAI will fast expand into the business world with GenAI-powered NLIs, customized LLMs, tailored B2B applications and business context.Natural language interfaces (NLIs) powered by GenAI will be expected for new products and more than half will have this by default by the end of 2024. GenAI will also be leveraged in B2B interactions with users demanding more contextualized, personalized, and integrated solutions. As a result, observability for AI will grow.2. A movement for responsible, ethical use of AI will begin with clear AI governance frameworks that respect human rights and values.Adoption of AI is sitting at the intersection of innovation and trust. Yet, 76% of organizations don’t have comprehensive AI policies in place. There is mostly general agreement that we need regulations/policy and industry self-policing and governance to mitigate the risks from GenAI.We must also ensure that consumers have access to and control over their data.With the rising importance of AI systems, available public data will soon hit a ceiling and high-quality language data will likely be exhausted before 2026. Organizations need to shift to private and/or synthetic data which opens the possibility for unintended access and usage.3. Consumers and companies will face increased risks from AI-generated disinformation, scams, and fraud, prompting tech companies and governments to work together for solutions.In 2024, AI-enabled disinformation, scams, and fraud will continue to grow as a threat to businesses, people, and even candidates and elections. In response, we’ll see more investments in detection and risk mitigation.We’ll also see more collaboration between the private sector and governments to raise threat awareness and implement verification and security measures. Businesses must prioritize advanced threat detection and data protection, regular vulnerability assessments, updating security systems, and thorough audits of network infrastructures. For consumers, vigilance will be key to protecting identities, savings, and credit.4.  Unleashing the future of AI-driven customization, enterprises will embrace the power and potential of API abstraction.In the year ahead, businesses will seek innovative ways to leverage the immense power and benefits of AI without the complexity and cost of building their own platforms. Application programming interfaces (APIs) will play a pivotal role. With access to a vast array of AI capabilities through APIs, teams will automate repetitive tasks, gain deeper insights from data, and enhance decision making.This year will also mark the beginning of a race to API-driven customization where organizations can choose and combine APIs from various providers, easily tailoring AI solutions to meet unique and novel requirements.5.  Continued modernization will yield collaboration, modern converged platforms, and a little help from AI, to reveal a new programming experience – and better software.As organizations continue to modernize, software development will change with novel tools, approaches, and technologies. Programmers will leverage platforms and collaboration – and even a little help from AI – to centralize toolkits and unlock newfound efficiency so they can focus on delivering exceptional digital experiences.Some will continue struggling with disparate point solutions, leaving security gaps and software supply chain issues. Innovators will use AI to speed up delivery and handle tedious tasks like testing for defects and errors. Along the way, collaboration tools and AI assistants will be trusted companions as teams tackle the intricacies of security, observability, and infrastructure. Humans checks and balances must ensure AI-based decisions are fair, unbiased, and aligned with ethical and moral values. We believe AI should augment human decision making, not replace it entirely.

In this exclusive interview, Adgully Middle East delves into the professional journey of Sarah Qazi – Business Lead, Home Care, Unilever, a seasoned leader in the home care industry. With over 15 years of experience and a diverse background spanning various geographies and categories, Sarah has played a pivotal role in the success of Unilever's Home Care Arabia division. Join us as we explore her highs and lows, her role as a business lead, successful marketing strategies, and insights into the evolving landscape of the home care sector. Excerpts:Kindly share your professional journey with us. What can you say about your highs and lows?Over the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of developing my career across various geographies and categories. I have worked in both local and regional roles, focusing on innovation mix creation and market deployment. My experiences have been primarily based in Pakistan and the Middle East. Having joined Unilever as a management trainee in 2006 in the finance function, I fell in love with creating magical experiences for consumers, triggering a move to marketing. One of the highs has been the wealth of diverse marketing experience I have gained across food, refreshment and home care, with exposure across South Asia and MENA.In my current role, I am the business lead for Home Care Arabia, and I double hat as the marketing lead for our beautiful brands as well. Juggling this dual hat has had its highs and lows. From the initial lows of dealing with change after coming back from maternity leave to taking this new challenge to the high of building a team that is on a transformation journey of success. I don’t have many other lows to quote, but the ones I can recall have always been about disappointment in not being recognized or promoted for my efforts. They have been short-lived enough not to feature in my list as I have learnt every step of your professional journey is meant to happen at the right time.Being the Business Lead of Home care Arabia (Unilever), what are your responsibilities? What is the most that you enjoy in your work profile?My primary responsibility is to serve our consumers, giving them a brand experience that serves their needs and serving my team across functions, enabling them to maximize their potential, removing roadblocks to their success. It goes without saying that I am responsible for delivering my business P&L and building beautiful brands in the process. What I enjoy the most still is to get neck deep into a problem or opportunity and find a creative, unexpected way to solve it.You have been working in Unilever since 2006, what changes have you seen in the company in the last decade?Unilever has always been a company built on great brands with great people and an amazing culture. I believe we have become more focused on delivering superior product experiences powered by purpose for a sustainable future. The biggest headline change has been the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan which was introduced in 2010 and was the first of its kind in the industry. This has brought focus on delivering a vision to make sustainable living commonplace using the power of our operations, people, and brands.Could you please share some of your successful marketing strategies that have proven effective for clients in the home care segment?For home care as a category where product efficacy and value for money are both key, what I have seen work is to find ways to differentiate. There are many ways to differentiate beyond the obvious, whether it is to differentiate our products, our proposition or even our selling approach. Differentiating our proposition from conventional wisdom of dirt being the bad guy to turning it on its head being an enabler of growth and development is one such example. Premiumising with newer product benefits appealing to a younger audience which I believe is another one set to conquer Gen Z.Given the expansive nature of the home care segment, what specific elements within the home care portfolio tend to attract the most customer attention? Additionally, which aspects contribute the most to overall profits in this industry?If you think, is there one product in your home that you all use, it would be laundry detergent. It is the widest penetrated segment and has a big opportunity for us to leverage. Home care as a category is traditionally lower profits so premiumising remains a focus area to bring more profits.With your expertise in marketing, how have you observed the industry's evolution over the years? What notable changes have occurred in this sector?Some of the obvious ones are the rise of social media influencers driving purchase decision-making, exponential growth in e-commerce as a buying channel and a lot more consumer awareness about the science behind products. Being contextual with popular culture with brands drives a lot of agility in how we look at advertising and building consumer experiences.How has the increasing prevalence of AI across industries impacted the home care sector? Specifically, has AI simplified processes or introduced complexity within the home care sector?AI has the potential of truly simplifying consumer life in this category. If you think about the future of washing machines or dishwashers in the context of AI, it can be game-changing. We are ready to embrace AI in how we work, we must get more comfortable with it. I believe it can simplify processes and bring extreme efficiency. We must find a way to unlock their potential safely.What are your thoughts on women's empowerment in the Middle East, and how have you witnessed changes in this regard over the past decade?I am beyond impressed by the focus on women’s empowerment in the middle east. It is called out as a focus area both in public and private sectors. 50% women in the UAE cabinet reflects the focus on women’s empowerment. in the UAE is an inspiration to many. Recently I was privileged to attend the Annual Middle East Women Leaders’ Summit which blew my mind on the amazing progress made by women entrepreneurs, companies lead and run majorly by women trail blazing their way to success. There is also a growing awareness that women are decision makers, users, and shoppers of many FMCG products so bringing their perspective in the industry is crucial to designing experiences that win their hearts. Companies like Unilever are increasingly focused on enhancing diversity within their workforce. In Unilever UAE, we have moved the needle substantially with women in mid & senior management roles going up from 23% in 2014 to 47% in 2022.What would be your advice to women who aim to reach where you have?This could end up being a long one, so I will try to be sharp and precise. Embrace yourself fully with your vulnerability, emotions, and amazing capacity to nurture. This is an inherent strength we have as women, and too often we try to hide it for fear of judgment. The journey to success will be unique for each of us; we should wear our achievements and struggles both proudly. The second one is something I have learnt recently leading a lean in circle for women in Unilever based out of Dubai. We all need a support circle, to share our resilience, to lean in, learn and get inspired. We have the tendency to shoulder all our burdens ourselves but sharing and seeking support can make it lighter and help take care of ourselves better.

Basingstoke, UK – 11th December 2023: A new study from Juniper Research, the foremost experts in telecommunications markets, found the average revenue leakage per 5G roaming connection will decrease from $1.72 to $1.20, as operators leverage AI-based segmentation. Revenue leakage refers to the value of services provided but not monetised.This reduction in revenue leakage will be driven by the implementation of AI-based segmentation solutions to monetise data-centric users. Specifically, this approach allows operators to reduce 5G standalone revenue leakage through the improved allocation of resources and new pricing; reflecting its higher QoS (Quality of Service). The difference is that 5G standalone networks leverage the 5G core, whilst 5G non-standalone relies on 4G infrastructure.Find out more about the new report, Global Roaming Clearing Market: 2023-2028, or download a free sample.AI Crucial to Developing Advanced Segmentation SolutionsAI-based segmentation will enable operators to better monetise emerging roaming services; using machine-learning models to detect and differentiate traffic types and segments in real-time.Research author Alex Webb remarked: “AI-based segmentation will differentiate enterprise traffic by use case; enabling premium billing of mission-critical 5G standalone connections, thus reducing revenue leakage.”Non-standalone and Standalone Networks Must Be Monetised DifferentlyThe report recommends operators implement AI segmentation tools to help reduce revenue leakage from 5G roaming on standalone networks. The higher throughput and lower latency offered by these networks needs to be reflected in operators’ pricing.By separating standalone from non-standalone roaming traffic, operators will be able to apply individual pricing strategies for each of these networks; ensuring pricing reflects QoS. Operators must utilise these tools to identify enterprise traffic suitable for use case-dedicated network slices, as this reduces revenue leakage, by optimising network resource distribution.

Wavemaker MENA, part of GroupM, and Perfetti Van Melle MEAP, proudly announce a groundbreaking achievement with their latest campaign for the iconic lollipop brand, Chupa Chups. By seamlessly integrating creativity with AI technology, Chupa Chups has become the pioneer brand in transforming children’s imaginative ideas into vibrant personalized ‘lollipop worlds’. The "AI World of Lollipops" campaign creates a captivating digital playground where children can freely express their creativity through text prompts, unleashing a world of enchantment with the swift touch of AI magic. The response has been nothing short of extraordinary –from both children and parents alike.  This success story not only marks the initial phase of an exciting campaign journey but also serves as an inspiration, sparking novel methods to forge meaningful connections between brands and consumers through AI.  The accompanying photo showcases the unique 'AI World of Lollipops' crafted by Wavemaker MENA's Managing Director, Marc Ghosn, and Perfetti Van Melle MEAP's Managing Director, Milad Rouhana. Give it a go and create your own Lollipop world here. (https://newsfeedsmartapp.com/chupachups/)Unleashing Creativity Through AI: A Journey of InnovationPerfetti embarked on a roadmap towards transformation under the leadership of Milad Rouhana, as Managing Director of MEAP in 2022. Since then, this key theme has resonated from brand to agency with the need and desire to be open to new opportunities and exciting ways of approaching media. Milad, together with Wavemaker MENA's Managing Director, Marc Ghosn and their respective teams, positively provoke and challenge one another to reach new heights. This attitude runs between partners and was crucial for realizing the 'AI World of Lollipop's campaign.'The creative process behind "AI World of Lollipops" began with a strategic exploration of emerging market trends, highlighting the potential of AI in brand engagement. This was followed by brainstorming sessions between the media agency and Perfetti, with the objective of bringing joy to children through inspiring them to unleash their limitless imaginations. The result: a conceptualized AI platform where children could express themselves and bring their wildest dreams to life.The Wavemaker MENA team experimented with various AI models before selecting Stable Diffusion as their partner due to its impressive output quality and efficiency. The seamless integration of Stable Diffusion into the bespoke Chupa Chups website enabled users to type their imaginative ideas and the AI engine would translate them into a visual reality. Metrics of Success: Beyond ExpectationsThe success metrics of the campaign surpassed initial expectations, with 265,000 visits to the AI platform and 86,000 personalized AI images generated in a month. In addition, through the live dashboard tracking system built by Wavemaker and Perfetti, an overwhelmingly 99% positive sentiment was achieved across social media.One of the campaign's standout features is its personalized touch. This level of personalization not only resonates deeply with users but has also made the images exceptionally shareable. Users have expressed great excitement in sharing their personalized creations across social media, fostering a sense of community around the campaign.Milad Rouhana, Managing Director of Perfetti Van Melle MEAP, commented, "Together with Wavemaker MENA, we have demonstrated how tech and creativity can collaborate seamlessly to surprise and delight consumers. The success of 'AI World of Lollipops' has left us eager to expand this innovative campaign across other international markets, and to see where the continued excitement around it can take us.”Marc Ghosn, Managing Director of Wavemaker MENA, added, "We take immense pride in our team's accomplishments for "Al World of Lollipops." The results are a true testament to the creativity and ‘next era’ thinking injected into the campaign from start to finish. Our teams lead with 'positive provocation', and this approach has brought true business meaning to this campaign. To make the impossible possible, you need partners ready to take the leap of faith and trial new tech and tools. We thank Perfetti for achieving greatness and look forward to reaching new milestones in our next phase of the Chupa Chups, 'AI World of Lollipops' journey."

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Over-confidence is leaving consumers in UAE open to becoming victims of fraud, according to Visa’s annual Stay Secure study released today. Despite more than half of respondents (61% vs. 56% global average) claiming to be savvy enough to sidestep online and phone scams, the reality is that nine out of ten (90%; similar to global) are likely to disregard the warning signs that suggest online criminal activity.Conducted by Wakefield Research in countries across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), Visa’s 2023 Stay Secure Study finds that just over one in two people (54%) in the UAE has been a victim of a scam at least once compared to the global average of 52%. Even more alarming is that 17% of the victims have been tricked multiple times, against the global average of 15%.“In today’s digital-first world, scams are evolving in sophistication with criminals using new approaches to trick unsuspecting consumers. Whether it’s a parcel held up at customs, a streaming subscription claiming to have expired, or a free voucher for a favorite brand, scammers are adopting extremely persuasive tactics to deceive their victims. With the rapid growth in digital payments, it is essential now more than ever that consumers in the UAE understand the language of fraud and act with a high level of caution. We thank our partners at Dubai Police for their support in bringing our important education campaign to local consumers,” explains Neil Fernandes, Visa's Head of Risk for Middle East and North Africa.The Stay Secure Study is a part of Visa’s annual Stay Secure Campaign, which reflects Visa’s commitment to raising consumer awareness, strengthening education, and building confidence to combat social engineering threats. The campaign aims to pave the way for a secure and seamless digital payments experience.“Costly Confidence”: The Disconnect Between Awareness and ActionKey Findings of the Visa Stay Secure Study:Knowledgeable or naïve. It is concerning that those who consider themselves more knowledgeable are more likely to respond to a requested action from scammers compared to those who say they are less knowledgeable, including a positive news (79% to 74% for UAE vs global 74% to 67%) or urgent action (72% to 61% for UAE vs global 65% to 55%).People worry about the vulnerability of others. While respondents feel confident in their own vigilance, over half (51% vs. 52% globally) are concerned that their friends or families will fall for a scam email offering a free gift card or product from an online shopping site. Over a third (33%; vs 36% global) of respondents are concerned about children or minors, as well as retired people falling prey to online scams.What makes people suspicious. In addition to notices involving orders, product offers, or feedback, people are most suspicious of password requests. Less suspicious types of communications are updates regarding delivery or shipping (just 45% listed as a top three source of suspicion; 42% globally), marketing communications regarding a sale or new product offering (44% vs. global 41%), or an invitation to provide feedback on a recent experience (42% vs global 37%) – all of which can be used by scammers.Overlooking telltale signs. Only 60% (vs global 57%) reported looking to ensure a communication is sent from a valid email address, while 51% (vs global 52%) will check if the company name or logo was attached to the message. Fewer than half of correspondents look for an order number (40%; global 45%) or an account number (45%; global 43%). Interestingly, only 29% vs 33% globally look to ensure words are spelt correctly. Decoding The Language of FraudScammers try different approaches to craft messages that appear genuine and compel recipients to take immediate action. The Visa Stay Secure Study identified prevalent patterns in the language most associated with scams – and how vulnerable respondents in the surveyed countries are.Orchestrating Urgency: Cybercriminals often feign urgency to spur people into action, such as clicking a link or responding to a sender. Up to 37% of respondents (compared to 40% globally) will fall for messages about a security risk, such as a stolen password or a data breach, while a notice from a government entity or law enforcement can trick 35% (vs 36% global).  Sharing Positive News: 77% (vs 71% global) of respondents would take action if a message had a positive hook, like “free gift,” “you’ve been selected,” or “you’re a winner.” Gen Zers are more likely to act on a giveaway (38% vs 39% global) than a notice from the government (30% vs 31% global), while 42% (vs 44% global) of respondents would click on a link or reply to a message that offered a financial opportunity.Action Required: 66% (vs 60% globally) would respond to action-required phrases though respondents are most suspicious of requests to reset their password.Spot The Signs: Education and Awareness to Catch Scams in ActionThe survey corresponds with the launch of Visa's eight annual "Stay Secure" social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram (@VisaMiddleEast, @DubaiPolicehq) in partnership with Dubai Police.Consumers can better protect themselves by taking a few extra moments before clicking, including understanding the language scammers use.Among simple but effective best practices:Keep personal account information to yourself.Don’t click on links before verifying that they’ll take you where they say they will.Regularly check purchase alerts, which provide near real-time notification by text message or email of purchases made with your account.Call the number on corporate websites or the back of your credit and debit cards if you are unsure if a communication is valid.  

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Microsoft has released a whitepaper titled "Accelerating Sustainability with AI: A Playbook" ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), taking place at Expo City in Dubai from November 30th to December 12th. The playbook outlines a comprehensive strategy for governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in propelling the transition to a net-zero, climate-resilient, and nature-positive future.Commenting on the release of the paper, Samer Abu-Ltaif, CVP and President of Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMA) at Microsoft said, “Climate change is the defining issue of our generation, impacting our communities and natural environment like never before. We are at a critical moment for environmental sustainability, and it is vital that government leaders, businesses, and civil society work hand in hand and use every tool available to us, including AI. In line with our commitment to share our learnings, innovations, and best practices with decision-makers, researchers, data scientists, developers, and others, we hope this will serve as an important resource and a catalyst for how to unlock the full potential of AI for a sustainable future."The playbook highlights the three unique, and most crucial abilities, that AI possesses for overcoming bottlenecks that exist on the path to net zero. This includes the ability to discern patterns, predict outcomes, and optimize performances in complex systems; the ability to accelerate the discovery and development of solutions like low-carbon materials, and climate-resilient crops; and finally the ability empower the sustainability workforce of the future.Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Vice President and Chief Data Scientist of the AI for Good Lab at Microsoft – and one of the authors of “Accelerating Sustainability with AI: A Playbook,” - noted that while AI is already contributing to sustainability-related discoveries, its true transformative potential is only just beginning to be realized. “The challenge now is to prime the global technology, energy, and policy landscape to encourage AI innovation. This will enable the deployment of solutions that accelerate decarbonization, which will enable the development of even more sustainable AI operations, and in turn, can enable AI to scale the deployment of more sustainability solutions. It is a continuous cycle of innovation and progress.”Microsoft’s playbook offers a five-point approach to help achieve this continuous cycle which includes: investing in AI to accelerate sustainability solutions; developing digital and data infrastructure for the inclusive use of AI for sustainability; minimizing resource use in AI operations; advancing AI policy principles and governance for sustainability; and building workforce capacity to use AI for sustainability.Microsoft will showcase the playbook at COP28, where the company is participating as a Climate Supporter and Climate Innovator partner in a dedicated booth, along with 20 of its global partners. The company will showcase how its Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability suite is building AI into many of its products and solutions to help customers make more impactful decisions toward net-zero goals. It will also unveil how its AI for Earth and AI for Good programs are helping to place the latest AI technologies into the hands of changemakers globally, who are developing innovative solutions to address many environmental challenges.Discover Microsoft's latest sustainability innovations at Booth #70 in Hall 1 at the Technology and Innovation Hub in the Green Zone. To learn more about the insights in Microsoft’s AI playbook, click here. 

Cairo, Egypt - IBM announced the general availability (GA) of watsonx.governance in early December to help businesses automate AI lifecycle governance and proactively manage risk and compliance. This expands IBM’s industry-leading AI governance capabilities to help clients govern machine learning and generative AI tools, applications, and models in one place. Watsonx.governance is one of three software products in the IBM watsonx AI and data platform, along with a set of AI assistants designed to help enterprises scale and accelerate the impact of AI with trusted data. The platform also comprises the watsonx.ai next-generation enterprise studio for AI builders and the watsonx.data open, hybrid, and governed data store.   In the first release of watsonx.governance, clients using LLM models within watsonx.ai — including IBM-developed and various third-party models, such as Llama 2 and those from the Hugging Face community — will be able to govern them on the cloud. Consistent with IBM’s approach to open AI, IBM is expected to expand these capabilities in 1Q24 to allow clients to govern third-party AI models from any vendor — on cloud or on-premises — to orchestrate governance processes across their entire organizations. Watsonx.governance also can help clients facilitate compliance with internal policies, industry standards, current and future regulation. IBM believes in regulation at the use case level, with responsibilities on companies to operate trustworthy AI. To do this, there needs to be an understanding of how and with what data models are trained, how they arrive at their recommendations, and whether they are routinely screened for harmful bias. These priorities — transparency, explainability, safety and fairness — are the foundation of multiple proposals advancing worldwide for the regulation of AI. IBM watsonx.governance is designed to help clients manage their AI and prepare to meet those regulatory requirements head on.  IBM offers automated capabilities that cover all three major pillars of AI governance — lifecycle governance, risk management, and compliance. Expanded capabilities for LLMs include:  Monitor new LLM Metrics: Monitor and alert in both inputs and outputs of LLMs when pre-set thresholds are breached for quality metrics and drift, instances of toxic language — including hate, abuse, and profanity — and Personal Identifiable Information (PII).  Visibility into LLM development: Automatically collect information about the model building process, while explaining decisions to mitigate hallucinations and other new risks.  Transparency of AI Lifecycle for LLMs: Automatically document model facts across all stages of the lifecycle, monitor for drift for text models, and track health details such as data size, latency, and throughput to identify bottlenecks and compute intensive workloads.  Validation Tools for LLMs: Enable prompt engineers to map LLM outputs to provided context/reference data for Q&A use cases to determine whether the LLM is appropriately influenced by the reference data to help ensure it is relevant to the output.  IBM fosters open innovation and collaboration to help clients deploy AI in a transparent and responsible way. IBM Consulting helps clients scale responsible AI with both automated AI model governance and organizational AI governance that encompasses people, process and technology from IBM and strategic partners. Our consultants have deep skills in establishing organizational culture and accountability, AI ethics boards, training, regulatory and risk management and mitigating cybersecurity threats, all using human-centric design.IBM’s commitment to trust and transparency forms the foundation for its products. Recently, it announced intellectual property protection for its IBM-developed watsonx models. Watsonx.governance is a continued investment in helping to foster responsible AI practices across various business domains and industries.  

United Arab Emirates: IBM today announced that watsonx.governance will be generally available in early December to help businesses shine a light on AI models and eliminate the mystery around the data going in, and the answers coming out.While generative AI, powered by Large Language Models (LLM) or Foundation Models, offers many use cases for businesses, it also poses new risks and complexities, including training data scraped from corners of the internet that cannot be validated as fair and accurate, all the way to a lack of explainable outputs. Watsonx.governance provides organizations with the toolkit they need to manage risk, embrace transparency, and anticipate compliance with future AI-focused regulation.As businesses today are looking to innovate with AI, deploying a mix of LLMs from tech providers and open sources communities, watsonx enables them to manage, monitor and govern models from wherever they choose.  “Company boards and CEOs are looking to reap the rewards from today’s more powerful AI models, but the risks due to a lack of transparency and inability to govern these models have been holding them back,” said Kareem Yusuf, Ph.D, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Growth, IBM Software. “Watsonx.governance is a one-stop-shop for businesses that are struggling to deploy and manage both LLM and ML models, giving businesses the tools they need to automate AI governance processes, monitor their models, and take corrective action, all with increased visibility. Its ability to translate regulations into enforceable policies will only become more essential for enterprises as new AI regulation takes hold worldwide.”IBM Consulting has also expanded their strategic expertise to help clients scale responsible AI with both automated model governance and organizational governance encompassing people, process and technology from IBM and strategic partners. IBM consultants have deep skills in establishing AI ethics boards, organizational culture and accountability, training, regulatory and risk management, and mitigating cybersecurity threats, all using human-centric design.Watsonx.governance is one of three software products in the IBM watsonx AI and data platform, along with a set of AI assistants, designed to help enterprises scale and accelerate the impact of AI. The platform includes the watsonx.ai next-generation enterprise studio for AI builders and the watsonx.data open, hybrid, and governed data store. The company also recently announced intellectual property protection for its for IBM-developed watsonx models.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become so seamlessly integrated into our day to day lives, you may not even notice when you’re using it. From asking Siri for a song to following Waze on your way to work, AI is redefining the way we communicate, work and play. The retail sector is one industry that has been transformed by the rise in AI technology. The e-commerce industry achieved a record USD 5.7 trillion in sales in 2022, accounting for 20 per cent of all retail sales around the world.And while some of the AI functionality has become ingrained in the way we shop, such as online chatbots offering purchasing support, or the behind-the-scenes roles of inventory management and supply chain networks, the really thrilling transformations are taking place in the form of experiential retail. Here are some of the key ways AI is transforming the way we shop.Personalising the processLeading the AI charge are major online marketplaces Amazon and Alibaba, whose use of AI has contributed to a massive market share – Amazon clocked up 5.9 billion direct visits in April 2023 alone. Both retailers use predictive analytics to help personalise the customer experience, analysing previous purchases, popularity and user search patterns to sift through the millions of products available on their marketplaces. Amazon draws on usage pattern analysis to accurately predict when a regular shopper will need to restock on household necessities, such as diapers, laundry detergent or their morning coffee, giving the user a nudge when it’s time to stock up. The Sephora app personalises the experience by customising suggested products within the shopper’s expected budget, delivering a better overall user experience and a higher conversion rate.Virtual reality fitting roomsOne of the exciting transformations we’re seeing is the creation of virtual reality fitting rooms. This form of blended reality allows shoppers to ‘try on’ clothing, shoes and cosmetics from the comfort of their living rooms using AI and augmented reality (AR) – think Adidas sneakers, ASOS clothing, and Charlotte Tilbury lipstick. Early adopters Walmart and Macy’s have been more recently joined by luxury brands such as Gucci and Hugo Boss, with the global virtual fitting room market now predicted to grow from USD 4.03 billion in 2022 to USD 14.87 billion by 2029.   Visual search technologySee something you like, but aren’t sure of the brand? Visual search technology such as ASOS’s Style Match feature allows users to upload an image of a style they’re looking for, and then offer personalised recommendations of similar items to buy. The tool uses machine learning and AI computer vision technology to analyse the image and then share suggestions based on colours, shapes, and patterns.Gamification of shoppingYou may not have realised at the time, but eBay was one of the first retailers to ‘gamify’ retail, with its virtual bidding system adding a new level of thrill to the shopping experience. From that initial dopamine rush, the gamification of shopping has evolved into the interactive experiences and experiential retail we have today – from Pepsi’s QR codes featuring AR football stars to digital avatars from the likes of Roblox, Prada, and Balenciaga – all designed to keep users on retail sites for longer, building brand loyalty and conversions. According to Boston Retail Partners, 87 per cent of retailers plan to implement gamification within the next five years, making it a key area of development for experiential retail. Behind the scenesSome of AI’s other roles in experiential retail are less obvious but no less impactful. From the chatbot that helps you locate your missing order, to the prompt telling you when stock is running low on that pair of sneakers in your wish list, AI technology streamlines the online shopping process from the moment you start browsing until the time it lands in your hands.AI can even make the retail experience more sustainable. Personalisation and virtual try-ons have been shown to reduce the number of returns a shopper makes, cutting back on transport and packaging – a win for shoppers, retailers and the environment.

Dubai Chambers has successfully concluded the inaugural edition of Dubai Business Forum under the theme ‘Shifting Economic Power: Dubai and the Future of Global Trade.’ Hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the transformative global event took place from 1-2 November at Madinat Jumeirah.Over two exciting days of discussions and dealmaking, the forum attracted more than 2,000 global changemakers, business leaders, industry experts, investors, and economists from 49 countries. A total of 24 high-level plenary sessions and talks featuring 32 distinguished speakers were held as part of the event. The sessions delved into the roles of globalisation and digital transformation in connecting economies and shaping the future of global trade, as well as the impact of emerging markets on the shifting economic landscape and the importance of driving FDI in priority sectors.Bringing together key public and private sector stakeholders from across the globe, the forum created a platform for global corporations and fast-growth businesses to forge partnerships, cultivate international networks, and unlock new opportunities. The networking and thought leadership sessions at the forum enabled participants to explore strategic economic partnerships, opening new horizons for business, trade, and investments.Reflecting on the forum’s resounding success, His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers said: “The impact of the Dubai Business Forum speaks volumes about the emirate’s strategic position in an increasingly interconnected world. By hosting such a wide cross-section of speakers from all over the world with expertise in diverse strategic fields, the forum offered unique insights into Dubai’s growing role in shaping international trade and the global economic landscape. In addition to serving as a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, the forum also proved highly rewarding for those seeking networking and partnership opportunities.”His Excellency added: “The Dubai Business Forum has created a seismic shift in the global business landscape. With the presence of international business leaders and significant economic players, the forum has played an instrumental role in advancing the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and shaping the emirate’s future as a dynamic hub at the epicentre of the global marketplace. The event reflected the emirate’s continuing success in attracting foreign direct investment and supporting business expansion, further reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leading capital of the global economy.”Anchored on four key pillars, the forum’s thoughtful agenda addressed Globalisation, Foreign Direct Investment, Digital Transformation, and Emerging Markets. Key plenary sessions highlighted Dubai’s strategic position as an international hub connecting economies and the crucial roles of SMEs and trading blocs in accelerating global economic development. The discussions also examined the importance of advanced technologies in transforming business and the future of the workforce, as well as driving global growth.Another key component of the Dubai Business Forum was The Future Theatre, which hosted TED-style talk keynote sessions examining a thoughtful mix of eight thematic pillars. The platform took a deep dive into the future of industries, trade hubs, investments, economies, IoT, robotics, AI, and cities. Hosted in a more intimate setting, the insightful experiential sessions tackled future trends that are poised to catalyse growth across economies, industries, businesses, and societies.More than 550 business meetings were scheduled through the forum’s app, and the event also saw over 20 deals signed as part of The Deals Hub, a dedicated platform for global business leaders and investors to forge and announce major business initiatives, partnerships, investments, and commercial alliances.Notable deals involving Dubai Chambers included the establishment of a new China Innovation Centre and an MoU for the launch of an ‘Innovation Corridor’ with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, as well as an agreement with PT Bank Syariah Indonesia – the largest Sharia bank in Indonesia – to enhance the sharing of banking and finance intelligence.Additionally, the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) announced the launch of a VC fund worth AED 500 million to finance technology startups and contribute to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by promoting the growth of SMEs in various emerging sectors.Previously known as the Global Business Forum (GBF), the Dubai Business Forum supports the D33 agenda’s drive to double the size of Dubai’s economy over the coming decade and consolidate the emirate’s position among the top three global cities worldwide. The forum successfully boosted engagement with key international stakeholders to accelerate the growth of trade and investments. The event is closely aligned with Dubai Chambers’ strategic objectives of attracting international business and investments to the emirate, supporting the global expansion of Dubai-based companies in targeted markets, and further enhancing Dubai’s favourable business environment.

Anthology, a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, today announced the results of its 2023 global research study: Comparing Global University Mindsets and Student Expectations. Findings revealed 56 percent of students in the Emirates feel that artificial intelligence (AI) will transform teaching and learning methods.More than 5,000 higher education leaders and current students from countries around the world, including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United States, Brazil, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, participated in the survey.Findings revealed that students in UAE are among the most frequent users of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, with 32 percent saying they use the tools weekly. Their adoption of AI is more than three times that of their peers in the United States and the United Kingdom. And this trend is likely to continue as 80% of the students surveyed in UAE indicated that their use of generative AI tools will increase in the next six months.The study also finds that students (36 percent) in UAE are very comfortable with using AI chatbots to get quick answers to their questions, compared with only 13 percent in the United Kingdom.  When asked what role they think AI will play in higher education, 56% of students in the UAE believe it will revolutionise teaching and learning methods. They also believe in AI's collaborative potential, with 40 percent saying they believe AI will enhance students' engagement and interactivity. In addition, 38% of UAE student respondents feel artificial intelligence can provide personalised learning experiences."Personalised learning experiences remain the sought-after goal for educators worldwide. By understanding the needs of each student, teachers can target the areas that require focus and boost productivity,” said Bruce Dahlgren, chief executive officer at Anthology. “I’m excited to see students embracing AI and the opportunities it can deliver to support them on their learning journey.”A third of the university leaders in UAE acknowledged AI could create new challenges to identifying plagiarism, however they also cited a number of areas where AI tools could have a positive impact on higher education, mainly focused on increasing efficiencies for the instructors such as assisting in course building (33%) and drafting assessment questions (31%). “We are still at the early stage of understanding all of the different ways AI will impact education,” continued Dahlgren. “As a pioneer in applying advanced technology in education, including AI, the enthusiastic endorsement from students and university leadership in UAE is highly encouraging. It demonstrates a region where schools are ready to adopt AI to enrich student experiences and deliver much better outcomes."Anthology recently announced a host of new features facilitated by artificial intelligence, including AI Design Assist, a tool that helps instructors quickly create engaging learning experiences in Anthology's Learning Management System, Blackboard Learn Ultra. All product features that leverage AI are developed following Anthology’s Trustworthy AI program and commitment to responsible, lawful and ethical use of AI. Anthology will showcase these new AI features and other advancements in their portfolio of EdTech solutions at Anthology Together Middle East in Riyadh, 13-14 November.

Raiven Capital today announced the launch of a new venture capital fund with a target size of USD125 mn in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. The fund will focus on founders developing tech in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Distributed Ledger Tech, with a particular emphasis on digital platforms disrupting value chains in FinTech, cybersecurity and sustainability-focused sectors.  Investing in innovation in early and growth-stage tech companies in the GCC, South Asia, and North East Africa and enabling them to blossom into leaders by connecting them to markets and capital pools in Europe and North America, via Raiven’s new Dubai hub, is what we are most excited about, noted General Partner, Raiven Capital, Paul Dugsin.“The fund will serve the needs of the local startup ecosystem, enabling them to become regional and global competitors, while at the same time, Raiven’s existing community of startups and investors will now have access to all advantages of the Middle East and the broader region that arcs between East Africa to India for their own ventures.”Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer, DIFC Authority, said: “We welcome Raiven Capital to DIFC. Raiven’s focus on nurturing early and growth-stage AI, IoT and distributed ledger tech startups through the launch of this new venture capital fund shows strong confidence in Dubai’s economy, talent-base and future-forward entrepreneurial ecosystem. The firm’s presence in DIFC will not only benefit the local startup community in taking the future of tech to new heights, but also provide Raiven’s global network of founders and partners with access to a wealth of resources in the MEASA region and beyond.”General Partner, Raiven Capital, Supreet Manchanda noted the fervour around Dubai’s ecosystem and the opportunities it presents: “We are thrilled to be in a place growing exponentially. Founders are eager to contribute to global innovation. The government’s robust support for entrepreneurship is impressive, and unlike any other place at this time. We look forward to meeting the best and brightest in Dubai and DIFC in particular. There are great things ahead.”The Toronto-based fund is creating bridges between its home country and Dubai, an exciting development. “We are thrilled that Raiven Capital, a Canadian venture capital fund, is the first-of-its-kind to obtain a licence to operate its second fund in DIFC in Dubai. Raiven has ambitious plans for the region connecting Canada, the UAE and other high growth tech ecosystems. We look forward to working with them,” said Tracy Reynolds, Canada’s Consul General in Dubai.The tech industry in the UAE and regionally has recently seen substantial expansion. Yet, funding is falling behind the quick speed of change and technological adoption. This is drawing global technology businesses and international venture capitalists to the region. Raiven’s fund further accelerates growth of the venture ecosystem to meet the increasing demand for technology products and services.MENA venture capital funding in the third quarter of 2023 saw USD250 mn raised across 78 deals, a 32 per cent increase compared to the second quarter of 2023, according to MAGNiTT’s MENA Venture Investment Premium Report.

The National Experts Program (NEP) today launched 13 reports written by its 30 participants, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and the importance of embracing its technologies to help address challenges and accelerate growth in the UAE’s key national sectors.The in-depth reports focus on how emerging AI technologies could disrupt and propel sectors that are strategically important to the UAE’s development, with NEP 3.0 participants analyzing ways in which their respective sectors can leverage the technologies effectively. The participants gained an understanding of AI as part of NEP’s ‘AI Journey’ through engaging workshops and sessions.Abu Dhabi’s dedicated AI university, Mohamed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) helped equip the participants with crucial AI knowledge including organizing a two-day visit to the institution where they saw the applications and innovations of AI.The reports explore topics aligned with key economic sectors that are of strategic importance to the UAE. These are: Economic Development; Health and Well-Being; Policy and Government Services; Community Development and Social Services; Mobility and Logistics; Education; Tourism and Hospitality; Culture; Food and Water Security; and Advanced Sciences and Research.Among the topics examined in the reports are: the applications of AI in wildlife ecology, including marine research and conservation; the role that AI can play in changing the dynamics of the space sector to tackle national and international challenges; and how AI can empower microgrids and reinvent electricity markets.The reports come at a time in which the UAE is accelerating its efforts in adopting advanced technologies with government entities using AI in vital sectors and keeping in line with digital advancements. It is also projected that AI could contribute $320 billion to the Middle East economy in 2030.His Excellency Ahmed Talib Al Shamsi, Director of the National Experts Program, said:  “At a time where AI is already transforming every industry and is developing rapidly, it is imperative to be one step ahead and understand the impact these advanced technologies can have on our future and how they can affect the way we work or live.”“Therefore, the NEP 3.0 curriculum was carefully planned to include AI as part of the learning journey where the country’s future leaders had the opportunity to enhance their understanding and learn from experts throughout the program.“By applying their own learnings to their AI reports, these papers reflect great insight on a wide range of vital areas such as space, transport, and health, exploring the meaningful role that AI can play on these sectors.“As the UAE continues its efforts to build and advance its knowledge-based economy, these AI reports not only give a new perspective from the leaders of tomorrow but their expertise offers a fresh approach of how day-to-day operations can be enhanced in the various sectors.”Since being established in 2019, NEP has helped develop 61 Emirati specialists across 43 sectors enhance their knowledge, enrich their leadership skills, and contribute to strategic projects of national importance.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella visited the UAE today to experience first-hand how the latest advancements in cloud and AI are supporting UAE organizations across every industry. While speaking at the Microsoft ‘AI, a New Era’ event, Nadella met with local business leaders, government officials and developers and emphasized the role of AI in unlocking new opportunities to accelerate the UAE's digital economy and transforming the lives of its people.“This new age of AI will drive innovation and has the potential to expand opportunity and growth around the world – including in the UAE,” said Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “It’s inspiring to see so many developers and businesses in the Emirates already applying AI to address business and societal challenges.”Microsoft has had a presence in the UAE for more than 30 years and chose the country as the location for its first data centres in the Middle East. Microsoft’s cloud regions are considered a key driver behind the country’s digital transformation, serving as foundations for the deployment of modern technologies, including AI. A PwC report has predicted a US$320 billion AI industry in the Middle East by 2030 and singled out the UAE as likely to have the largest percentage share for AI in its economy out of any nation in the region: close to 14% of 2030 GDP.During his keynote, Nadella announced the upcoming availability of Azure OpenAI Service from the company’s UAE cloud datacentres. The service, which will be available later this month, provides access to a suite of powerful AI models, including GPT-4, Codex, and DALL-E 2, which can be used to develop innovative AI applications such as virtual assistants, content generation, code generation, image editing tools, and more.He highlighted some of the ways UAE organizations are leading AI transformation and innovation in key industries:  The UAE Ministry of Education is partnering with local start-up ASI, founded by 20-year-old Quddus Pativada, to develop a personalised AI tutor which will act as an Arabic and English study companion for UAE students to help them improve their learning beyond the classroom. The tutor will be rolled out across the UAE’s schools. The partnership aligns with the ministry’s drive to incorporate AI into the educational system, announced during the World Government Summit (WGS) 2023.The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi is developing a unified, digital experience for patients, which will allow them to provide holistic, on demand healthcare services in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. An AI powered patient assistant, running on Azure, will provide instant access to unified medical records and make searching for a doctor and scheduling appointments effortless.G42 released a Large Language Arabic Model, Jais, which will be available through Azure Services and will boost the ability to create original Arabic content for close to 100 million underserviced Arabic language internet users.DeepOpinion, co-founded by Dr. Ahmed Al-Ali, is embedding AI models in existing automation workflows running on Microsoft Azure and integrating with Microsoft Power Platform, allowing organisations to reduce repetitive tasks and reduce workplace accidents caused by human error.

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) launched its next phase of events for its community of entrepreneurs under the ‘Growth Series’ theme. The series kicked off with an engaging seminar -highlighting the significance of the latest social media strategies, the digital marketing revolution and the pivotal role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in achieving substantial digital success for companies.The session stood out as a groundbreaking and enlightening platform, allowing participants to delve into discussions about utilising advanced social media strategies to reach a broader range of potential customers. It emphasized the importance of exploring digital marketing to achieve the uttermost results in their business’ digital growth and success. Furthermore, the digital experts provided valuable insights and shared their experiences, shedding light on effective digital marketing and content implementation strategies aimed at boosting market awareness for SMEs and new startups.RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “In today's dynamic business landscape, digital marketing and impactful content are not just assets—they are the lifeblood that fuels growth, innovation, and connection. With the integration of AI, the horizons of what's possible have expanded exponentially. Every touchpoint, every click, every digital interaction, opens a door to unprecedented opportunities. But seizing these chances requires more than just understanding; it demands mastery and the agility to evolve. Our commitment is to ensure that our community of businesses recognises the immense value of social media, digital marketing and AI realms, and are equipped to harness their full potential. By organising events like these, we aim to bridge knowledge gaps, foster collaborative learning, and introduce a future-ready digital mindset. With the right tools, insights, and strategies, we're confident our clients can break barriers and redefine success in their respective industries.”During the informative session, experts delved into the latest innovations in AI, discussing how businesses can utilise AI tools for content creation, editing, and implementation. Attendees expressed their concerns about emerging digital trends and the challenges of aligning the right strategies with their business objectives. Addressing these concerns, specialists offered deep insights and outlined a framework of best practices for them to adopt.Clients across various sectors frequently attend RAKEZ community events, consistently gaining valuable insights and recommendations to enhance their business strategies. Nazira Connolly Founder and Operations Manager of EVAP Investment LLC Said , “I have been a regular participant of RAKEZ events, and I hold them in high regard. In today's market, these events are invaluable for staying current with digital trends and aligning with modern technology. Today's session has deepened my understanding of the importance of social media strategies, brand protection, and enhancing brand recognition. As a result, I’m now committed to investing in our company's website to showcase our work and achievements effectively. The event not only benefited my company's growth but also provided a platform for networking with industry peers and enriched my understanding of corporate tax intricacies.”Similarly, Meenal Karani Founder of Boss Lady of Business & Bicep said , “The theme of today's event is profoundly relevant for any business aspiring to enhance brand visibility and reach their customers. While we have been utilising social media for our online presence, today's insights have equipped us to use these platforms more efficiently. We have gleaned key takeaways on how to leverage social media platforms to reach more and more customers, identify the right audience and their needs - as well as the role of AI in generating highly engaging content. Consequently, our focus will now extend to incorporating Facebook and WhatsApp Business into our social media strategy.”Meanwhile, Ahmad Yahia Executive Director of Premier Business Solution Services, who regularly participates in RAKEZ events, affirmed the positive impact of these gatherings on the business community. He noted: "As the proprietor of a business consultancy firm, I came here today with the clear objective of understanding the tremendous potential of social media to broaden our outreach and connect with a wider clientele. RAKEZ consistently delivers invaluable insights, fostering connections, and offering innovative solutions that help us elevate our consultancy services to new heights. The impact of these events reverberates throughout our business operations, enhancing our ability to serve our clients effectively and navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape."RAKEZ remains committed to empowering entrepreneurs and businesses with knowledge, connections, and innovation - As a staunch supporter of SMEs and startups, RAKEZ offers an ecosystem that ensures successful business ventures in the UAE, bolstering a vibrant business community, gearing up for an exhilarating digital horizon.

Criminal activities surged in the first half of the year, with Check Point Research (CPR) reporting an 8% increase in global weekly cyberattacks in the second quarter, marking the highest volume in two years. Familiar threats such as ransomware and hacktivism have evolved, with criminal gangs modifying their methods and tools to infect and affect organizations worldwide. Even legacy technology such as USB storage devices regained popularity as a vehicle to spread malware.One of the most significant developments this year was the evolution of the ransomware landscape. Data derived from over 120 ransomware “shame-sites” revealed that in the first half of 2023, a total of 48 ransomware groups reported breaching and publicly extorting more than 2,200 victims. There have been several high-profile cases this year including the attack against MGM Resorts, which shutdown major Las Vegas sites for several days and is likely to cost millions in remediation.Check Point’s cybersecurity predictions for 2024 broadly fall into six categories: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Supply chain and critical infrastructure attacks; cyber insurance; nation state; weaponized deepfake technology and phishing attacks.Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning:? Rise of AI-directed cyberattacks: Artificial intelligence and machine learning have dominated the conversation in cybersecurity. Next year will see more threat actors adopt AI to accelerate and expand every aspect of their toolkit. Whether that is for more cost-efficient rapid development of new malware and ransomware variants or using deepfake technologies to take phishing and impersonation attacks to the next level. ? Fighting fire with fire: Just as we have seen cybercriminals tap into the potential of AI and ML, so too will cyber defenders. We have already seen significant investment in AI for cybersecurity, and that will continue as more companies look to guard against advanced threats.? Impact of regulation: There have been significant steps in Europe and the US in regulating the use of AI. As these plans develop, we will see changes in the way these technologies are used, both for offensive and defensive activities."Our reliance on AI for cybersecurity is undeniable, but as AI evolves so will the strategies of our adversaries. In the coming year, we must innovate faster than the threats we face to stay one step ahead. Let's harness the full potential of AI for cybersecurity, with a keen eye on responsible and ethical use, " – Sergey Shykevich, Threat Intelligence Group Manager at Check Point Software Technologies. Supply chain and critical infrastructure attacks:? Zero trust in the supply chain: The increase in cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, particularly those with nation-state involvement, will lead to a shift towards "zero trust" models that require verification from anyone attempting to connect to a system, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network. With governments introducing stricter cybersecurity regulations to protect personal information, it will be essential for organizations to stay ahead of these new legal frameworks.? Supply chain still a weak link: The rate of incidents involving the supply chain remains a challenge for organizations and the impact can be far reaching. This will continue to be a trend next year if organizations fail to carry out stricter evaluations of third-party suppliers.? Strengthening Security Protocols: Recent breaches highlights the critical importance of stronger security protocols in the supply chain. As cybercriminals target smaller downline suppliers to access bigger companies, organizations must demand stricter evaluations and implementation of security protocols to prevent further attacks.Cyber insurance: ? AI in Insurance: Like all industries, AI is set to transform the way that insurance companies assess how cyber resilient prospective customers are. It is also going to provide opportunities for these companies to offer cybersecurity services directly. However, it is crucial to note that AI alone cannot solve all cybersecurity challenges, and companies must balance security with convenience. ? Preventative approach to reduce premiums: With rising costs of cyber insurance and talent shortages, organizations will begin to shift from reactive security to more effective defensive security. By demonstrating preventative action against cyberattacks, organizations may see their premiums reduced.Nation state attacks and hacktivism:? The staying power of cyber warfare: The Russo-Ukraine conflict was a significant milestone in the case of cyber warfare carried out by nation-state groups. Geo-political instability will continue into next year, and hacktivist activities will make up a larger proportion of cyberattacks, specifically DDoS attacks, with the key aim to disturb and distrupt? Masking hidden agendas: While many hacktivist groups use a political position as a reason to launch attacks, they may be masking ulterior motives. We could see blurred lines between hacktivism and commercialism with threat actors choosing ransomware attacks as a revenue stream to fund other activities. Deepfake technology will be weaponized: ? Deep fake technology advances: Deepfakes are often weaponized to create content that will sway opinions, alter stock prices or worse. These tools are readily available online, and threat actors will continue to use deepfake social engineering attacks to gain permissions and access sensitive data.Phishing attacks continue to plague businesses:? Phishing and legitimate tools: Software will always be exploitable. However, it has become far easier for threat actors to “log in” instead of “break in”. Over the years, the industry has built up layers of defense to detect and prevent intrusion attempts against software exploits. With the relative success and ease of phishing campaigns, next year will bring more attacks that originate from credential theft and not vulnerability exploitation.? Advanced phishing tactics: AI-enhanced phishing tactics might become more personalized and effective, making it even harder for individuals to identify malicious intent, leading to increased phishing-related breaches. Ransomware: Stealthy Exploits, Enhanced Extortion, and AI Battlefields? Living Off the Land Tactics Prevail: The adoption of “living off the land” techniques, which leverage legitimate system tools to execute attacks, is expected to surge, especially in light of successful takedowns of malware networks like Qbot by agencies such as the FBI. This subtler approach, harder to detect and thwart, underscores the necessity for sophisticated threat prevention strategies, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR) that can pinpoint device and network behavior anomalies.? Data Risks Amidst Ransomware Defenses: Despite organizations bolstering their defenses against ransomware, incidents of data loss or leakage are likely to ascend. A contributing factor may be the increasing reliance on SaaS platforms to store sensitive data as part of application services, presenting new vectors and vulnerabilities that malicious entities can exploit.? Ransomware Reporting Nuances: The observed increase in ransomware attacks will require discerning interpretation, potentially being inflated due to newly instituted reporting mandates. It is imperative to dissect these statistics judiciously, understanding the dynamics of reporting protocols in analyzing the true scope and scale of the threat."The use of artificial intelligence by ransomware attackers will become more advanced, requiring organizations to not only focus on preventing attacks, but also enhancing their incident response and recovery plans to mitigate the potential impact. As attacks become more sophisticated, organizations need to evolve their approach to security to stay ahead of the game." – said Daniel Wiley, Head of Threat Management and Chief Security Advisor, Infinity Global Services at Check Point Software Technologies. As cybercriminals continue to evolve their methods and tools, organizations need to adapt their cybersecurity measures. In 2023 we have witnessed several large-scale attacks. In today’s threat landscape, companies not only have to prioritize their own security protocols, but also scrutinize the security practices of their third-party suppliers. With the rise of AI-enhanced cyberattacks, zero trust models, and deepfake technology, it is more important than ever to invest in collaborative, comprehensive and consolidated cybersecurity solutions. We must stay vigilant and agile in the face of the expanding attack vector, and work together to create an effective defense against cyber threats.

Dubai:  Project Management Institute (PMI), the world's leading organization for the project management profession, is empowering millions of global project professionals worldwide to adopt, embrace, and leverage artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and generative AI (GenAI). PMI is developing the tools, resources, and learning opportunities – including a free, introductory online course entitled “Generative AI Overview for Project Managers” – project professionals need to leverage AI powered technology while preserving the human touch in project management. According to McKinsey, GenAI and other technologies have the potential to automate work activities that absorb 60 to 70 percent of employees’ time today. But tools cannot automate interpersonal skills, the invaluable and very necessary skills project managers bring to projects. Communication, problem-solving, collaborative leadership, and strategic thinking – skills PMI calls “power skills” – will continue to be crucial to project success. In fact, PMI research finds that organizations that place a high priority on power skills are significantly better at completing projects that meet business goals. Additionally, they waste less investment due to poor project performance compared to the global average (4.8 percent vs. 5.2 percent), and far less than organizations that put a low priority on power skills (8.8 percent). “I see an incredible opportunity to elevate the leadership role of project professionals in their organization, thanks to the AI-driven disruption,” said Pierre Le Manh, President & Chief Executive Officer of PMI. “Project professionals are natural learners, problem solvers, innovators and they get things done. Now is the time for us to lead the AI transformation of organizations.” STAY CURRENT AND SHARPEN SKILLS AT THE AI IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT PAGE ON PMI.ORG To keep up with the latest developments in AI technology, project professionals must prioritize continuous learning. The Artificial Intelligence in Project Management Resource Center on PMI.org is the destination for learning to navigate a new era of efficiency, insight, and growth. The page, complete with AI insights and learning opportunities, will be updated consistently with new, thought-provoking survey findings, thought leadership, industry analysis, academic research, and community-contributed content and publications. The varied data sources – inclusive of PMI's vast community of academic partners, enterprise partners, and millions of project professionals, combined with proprietary research – will set this content apart and make it the go-to resource for project professionals and organizations striving to leverage these tools to improve project success. PMI will post two new articles in October 2023. Key insights from these articles include: Project managers can leverage AI for project productivity and enhance power skillsAccording to the 2023 PMI Annual Global Survey on Project Management, the top three ways project managers use AI are reporting (34%), decision support (33%), and communication (26%). While AI can take on productivity tasks like planning and budgeting, project managers are also using AI as a tool to sharpen specific power skills, so their human interactions and strategic decisions are stronger. AI Adoption will only increase, so project managers need to upskill quickly to take advantage of this enormous career opportunity?The 2023 PMI Annual Global Survey on Project Management found that 82% of senior leaders said AI will have at least some impact on how projects are run at their organization over the next five years. However, unpublished PMI Customer Experience (CX) research found that only 18% of project managers report having extensive or good practical experience with AI tools and technologies, and 49% have little to no experience with or understanding of AI in the context of project management.  Building organizational resilience, leveraging technical skills, and upskilling teams will help organizations remain competitive. AI is a major disruption that requires businesses to transform. While technical skills are an important part of widespread AI adoption, it is just one piece of the puzzle. For AI to work, organizations need resilience. The BRIGHTLINE Initiative and Thinkers50 book Building Resilient Organizations, states that organizations must have a clear vision, a flexible mindset, and empowered teams to foster widespread collaboration.  BUILD FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH A NEW FREE, INTRODUCTORY COURSE – “GENERATIVE AI OVERVIEW FOR PROJECT MANAGERS” To help project professionals gain the foundational knowledge they need to master AI in project management, PMI launched a free course to serve as a gateway to learning titled “Generative AI Overview for Project Managers.” It provides learners with practical knowledge for using AI that they can apply to their projects immediately. After completing the course, professionals will earn 5 PDUs and a digital badge issued via Credly. This course is just the beginning. PMI will continue to release learning content focused on AI in project management, all created for project professionals by project professionals. The PMI community will test the learning content, ensuring it reflects the experience of project professionals who have relevant experience using AI in project management. EXPERIENCE AI IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRST-HAND AT PMI GLOBAL SUMMIT 2023 As AI takes a foothold on the project management profession, project professionals will need to embrace experimenting with these new tools and connecting with peers for lessons learned. To pave the way for professionals to do this, PMI is reimagining how project professionals can balance AI with human ingenuity at its annual event, PMI Global Summit, 25-28 October in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The event’s program features AI-focused sessions, exclusive learning opportunities, and immersive activities. Attendees will learn from AI experts and thought leaders unpacking the power of using AI and be challenged to broaden their perspectives on the use of AI. Register for the event today here. “AI is on the rise, with Goldman Sachs reporting AI investment could be near $200 billion globally by 2025, making it clear that project managers need to embrace and lead this change,” said Sam Sibley, Global Head, Emerging Products & Innovation for PMI. “With the right combination of how to best use AI on projects and the project manager’s human touch, you can do more than ever to meet every challenge that comes your way. PMI’s commitment is to support and guide project professionals at every career stage to be at the forefront of this new AI-enabled world of work.” AI brings the potential to unlock a better future with endless opportunities to improve project success rate, benefits realization, and the societal impact of projects. For project professionals who fully embrace AI and enhance their work with its capabilities, they will see career advancement opportunities. To unleash the impact of AI on the future of project management, visit the Artificial Intelligence in Project Management Resource Center.  

Dubai Internet City, a member of TECOM Group PJSC, is returning to GITEX Global 2023 as Innovation Partner for the world’s largest tech event. GITEX Global 2023, due to be held on 16-20 October at Dubai World Trade Centre, will unite inventors, academia, researchers, and developers from around the world across 10 co-located events addressing themes including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, mobility, and future urbanism.With a strong focus on emerging tech trends and innovation, Dubai Internet City’s pavilion at GITEX Global 2023 will be a hub for the world’s brightest minds using technology including AI and augmented reality to solve the world’s most complex problems. As a founding member of Dubai’s thriving digital sector, Dubai Internet City has supported regional economic diversification efforts and strengthened the local knowledge-based economy for over two decades by attracting top industry investors and innovators to Dubai. Commenting on behalf of Dubai Internet City, Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President – Commercial at TECOM Group, said: “Mitigating barriers to innovation and promoting collaborative research and development can pave the way for technology-based solutions that help to safeguard future global economic growth.“As a vanguard of tech innovation in the region, Dubai fosters business-friendly regulation and strategic support through programmes like Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ and Dubai Digital Strategy, helping to unite world-leading technology leaders for profoundly impactful breakthroughs. Dubai Internet City is a prime custodian of Dubai’s vision to nurture collaborative innovation that uses technology to address the most critical trends reshaping global society and economy. Our ecosystem will continue to connect the world’s biggest tech brands with the industry’s most ambitious innovators.”A journey through AIAttendees can expect to engage with experts and innovators based within Dubai Internet City through networking opportunities and live demonstrations of the latest tech offerings from the district.Additionally, visitors to Dubai Internet City’s stand at GITEX Global 2023 will be invited to take on an AI-powered programmed robotic arm to compete in a high-stakes interactive checkers game. The interactive experience will be presented as global tech enthusiasts continue to explore how AI stacks up against human intelligence. For an immersive experience, guests will also be guided to a ‘secret door’ inviting them into a world brought to life by actors and performers from Dubai Internet City. Dubai Internet City’s pavilion will be located at Concourse 2 of Dubai World Trade Centre. The GITEX Global Media Centre, presented in collaboration with TECOM Group, will be open to journalists and content creators attending the exhibition. Visit the GITEX Global website to register for the event.Dubai Internet City, the largest leading tech hubs in the region, is part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of business districts that include Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Industrial City and Dubai Design District (d3).

The advertising and marketing industry is currently experiencing a significant upswing, primarily due to the widespread adoption of AI, particularly in the field of advertising. Danny Azzi, a seasoned creative leader with more than 23 years of experience, has recently taken on the role of Executive Creative Director at AGA-ADK (The Network Communication Group). He has an extensive background working with multinational networks such as FP7McCann, DDB, Memac Ogilvy, and Drive Dentsu in the Middle East and GCC.In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Danny Azzi, Executive Creative Director at AGA ADK, shares insights into his professional journey, outlines his goals, and discusses upcoming ad campaigns for the new organization. He also provides his perspective on the topics of AI and the Metaverse. Excerpts: You have worked with many top companies. How has your professional journey been so far?I was fortunate to work with leading multinational agencies in the Middle East and the GCC, and to be exposed to different schools of thinking and multiple agencies’ cultures.In addition to this, working with top global and regional brands from diversified industries has enriched my experience and brought forward campaigns that were recognised in leading global and regional award shows. So, I can say that my professional journey was fulfilling and rewarding at all levels.    AGA-ADK ranks among the top communication networks in the MENA region. What are your aspirations on joining it as the Executive Creative Director?AGA ADK is part of The Network Communication Group, the largest independent network in the region; so joining them at this stage of my career offers a promising opportunity to take my professional journey to unprecedented heights.AGA ADK management and I both share the same vision on the need to foster talents and to instill a creative culture that champions brave ideas and disruptive thinking. Our aspiration is to become the go-to destination for creativity, whether it is for brands or talents.What are your basic responsibilities as the ECD of AGA-ADK? What are your target areas for the organisation?My main duty as a creative leader is to focus on the big picture by implementing a creative culture and setting a clear vision to guide the team and steer all efforts in the same direction.On a day-to-day basis, I am overseeing the creative product and managing the creative teams across different offices and markets in the Middle East. My main target areas for now are people and products, which are interlinked. Brave and meaningful ideas are byproducts of a talented team. At AGA ADK we take pride in having a diversified pool of talents, and we are working relentlessly to help them grow their careers further and sharpen their skills. In fact, we have an extensive development plan for the coming year that consists of a series of seminars and workshops, covering different topics related to communication, digital, social, AI and many more. What changes can be expected at AGA-ADK in the coming year? What are your future plans?They are not changes, but rather areas of focus. We are already present in multiple markets, and we have an ambitious plan to further grow our operations.In addition to the expansion plan, we want to be famous for the work we do. So next year is going to be all about growth and fame. What all iconic brands does AGA-ADK cater to? What are the forthcoming campaigns that we should look forward to?We have a diversified portfolio of global and regional clients across different industries like FMCG, retail, medical, governmental, real estate, destination, entertainment, transportation and many more. I don’t want to pinpoint any specific campaign as there is a lot of passionate work going into the creation of several and hopefully you will see them live in due time.What are your views about the advertisement and communication industry of MENA region? How is it shaping up?Our industry in the MENA region is facing a lot of setbacks against the backdrop of a challenging economic situation. Budgets are shrinking, the competition is getting tougher, and agencies are expected to offer more for less. On the other hand, there is always a bright side, and our region is leaving its mark on a global level through the work that is being recognized in leading award shows.Our industry is always changing and evolving. However, the way it shapes up differs from one country to the other. For instance, Lebanon is starting to witness a creative renaissance, and the UAE just like KSA is seeing tremendous growth and transformation on all levels.What changes has AI and Metaverse brought about in the ad industry? How is AGA-ADK adopting it for its progress? There is no doubt that AI is reshaping our life on all levels, especially the way we conduct business. We all should embrace it, and learn how to harness its power. In our industry, AI is making waves and having a great impact on complicated and time-consuming jobs by turning them into easy tasks.However, for me, AI is a tool, and I believe in our industry, a brave idea will always be essential to creating meaningful work, hence the importance of curious and insightful human intelligence.When it comes to AGA ADK, and similar to other agencies, we are using AI to simplify certain tasks and optimize our time. Nonetheless, I regularly advise against the team’s full reliance on AI tools and technology, in order not to hinder their creative capabilities but rather to expand them and perfect their execution through AI.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has has reached a breakthrough labour agreement with major studios in Hollywood, marking the potential resolution of one of the two strikes that have effectively halted most film and television production for nearly five months.This three-year contract agreement, following five days of intense negotiations between WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents studios, streaming services, and producers, is yet to receive approval from the guild's board and members before the strike can be officially declared over.Representing 11,500 film and television writers, the WGA hailed this deal as "exceptional," highlighting the "meaningful gains and protections for writers" it contains. They attributed this success to the unwavering support of WGA members and the solidarity of fellow unions who joined them on the picket lines for more than 146 days.As of now, there has been no immediate response from the AMPTP. It's important to note that while the WGA settlement represents a significant development, it doesn't signify an immediate return to work for Hollywood, as the SAG-AFTRA actors union's strike is ongoing.The strike started on May 2 when WGA members walked off the job due to a deadlock in negotiations, primarily centered around issues such as compensation, minimum staffing of writers' rooms, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI), and the distribution of residuals for writers of popular streaming shows, among other concerns.The writers are asking to rein in the role of AI. The strike sent so many scripted shows and other productions in a state of uncertainty, including the next seasons of Netflix’s Stranger Things. Even the Emmy Awards were also postponed to January.Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger termed in the demands of the striking writers and actors as “just not realistic." Later he retracted the statement saying he has “deep respect” for creative professionals.

Dubai: Semiconductors designed to execute artificial intelligence (AI) workloads will represent a $53.4 billion revenue opportunity for the semiconductor industry in 2023, an increase of 20.9% from 2022, according to the latest forecast from Gartner, Inc.“The developments in generative AI and the increasing use of a wide range AI-based applications in data centers, edge infrastructure and endpoint devices require the deployment of high performance graphics processing units (GPUs) and optimized semiconductor devices. This is driving the production and deployment of AI chips,” said Alan Priestley, VP Analyst at Gartner.AI semiconductor revenue will continue to experience double-digit growth through the forecast period, increasing 25.6% in 2024 to $67.1 billion (see Table 1). By 2027, AI chips revenue is expected to be more than double the size of the market in 2023, reaching $119.4 billion.<img src='https://erp.adgully.me/artical_image\137d3399d9a72de4cc98376d7263e54b.png' class='content_image'>Many more industries and IT organizations will deploy systems that include AI chips as the use of AI-based workloads in the enterprise matures. In the consumer electronics market, Gartner analysts estimate that by the end of 2023, the value of AI-enabled application processors used in devices will amount to $1.2 billion, up from $558 million in 2022.The need for efficient and optimized designs to support cost effective execution of AI-based workloads will result in an increase in deployments of custom-designed AI chips. “For many organizations, large scale deployments of custom AI chips will replace the current predominant chip architecture – discrete GPUs – for a wide range of AI-based workloads, especially those based on generative AI techniques,” said Priestley.Generative AI is also driving demand for high-performance computing systems for development and deployment, with many vendors offering high performance GPU-based systems and networking equipment seeing significant near-term benefits. In the long term, as the hyperscalers look for efficient and cost-effective ways to deploy these applications, Gartner expects an increase in their use of custom-designed AI chips. Gartner clients can read more in “Forecast: AI Semiconductors, Worldwide, 2021-2027, 2Q23 Update.”Learn how to lead through change spurred by generative AI in the complimentary Gartner webinar “How CIOs Can Lead Through Generative AI's Business Implications.”

The Dubai AI and Web 3.0 Campus has announced that it is issuing artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3 licenses supporting activities ranging from Distributed Ledger Technology Services, specialised Artificial Intelligence Research & consultancies, IT infrastructure builders, Technology Research and Development and Public Networking Services.Licenses will be issued by Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, which is currently home to an established ecosystem of tech enablers and start-ups at the DIFC Innovation Hub.The Dubai AI and Web 3.0 Campus is a dedicated campus for AI and Web3 innovation and will provide state-of-the-art physical and digital infrastructure within the DIFC Innovation One new premises, including R&D facilities, accelerator programmes and collaborative workspaces, to attract, build and scale firms in the region. The campus was launched earlier this year and is supported by Dubai’s industry-leading regulatory regime aligned with the emirate’s vision of becoming a global leader in AI and Web3.PwC estimates AI to contribute USD15.7 trn to the global economy by 2030. Another report by McKinsey determines that AI will create about 200,000 jobs in the Middle East alone by 2025. Supporting this growth, the Dubai AI and Web 3.0 Campus is positioned to become the largest cluster of AI & Web3 companies in the region attracting over USD300 mn in capital and creating 3,000 jobs by 2028. The campus will also increase accessibility and participation in Web3 development, backed by a collection of underlying technologies such as blockchain, AI, internet of things and the metaverse. Virtual assets owned in Web3 decentralised infrastructures represented about 40 per cent of the virtual-asset global economy in 2021, according to a report by BCG, and the transaction value of virtual assets is said to range between USD150 billion and USD300 billion by 2025.Mohammad Alblooshi, Chief Executive Officer of the DIFC Innovation Hub, said: “We are thrilled to announce that we are now granting innovative AI and Web3 companies licenses out of DIFC. The campus will foster a world-class nurturing environment that enables business growth and development. We are confident that by granting these licenses, we will attract more global talent and investment to the region and create a culture of collaboration and innovation. This is a notable milestone for the Dubai AI and Web3 Campus and will strengthen Dubai’s position as the business destination of choice for technology-focused companies and attract more world class talent and diversified investors to the region.”

Riyadh: PRCA MENA has announced that its highly anticipated Conference and Digital Awards 2023, will take place on November 8th at the M?venpick Hotel & Residences Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.This conference is a curated experience catering to the discerning tastes of PR and digital communications aficionados. The agenda boasts a curated selection of enlightening sessions meticulously designed to empower professionals in these domains.Anticipate thought-provoking discourse on pivotal subjects such as "Unveiling the PR Industry's Value in MENA," "Navigating the AI-PR Confluence: Embracing the Paradigm Shift," "Reshaping Saudi Arabia's PR Agencies: Navigating Dynamics and Triumphing over Challenges," and the riveting "Saudi Vision 2030 and PR: The Nexus of Distinction and Innovation."Seizing the essence of the rapidly metamorphosing PR and digital communication landscape, these sessions promise privileged access to bespoke insights and tactical approaches indispensable for triumphing in a fiercely competitive marketplace.As the sun sets on the conference, the spotlight shifts to the grandeur of the PRCA MENA Digital Awards Gala Dinner, set within the lavish confines of the M?venpick Hotel. These accolades are poised to not only commemorate, but also exalt the luminaries and campaigns that illuminate the digital communications sphere.In essence, these accolades resonate as a platform to extol and commemorate the trailblazing endeavors that are propelling the digital frontier forward.Monika Fourneaux, the Head of PRCA EMEA, said: "We are thrilled to invite you for a day filled with knowledge-sharing, networking, and inspiration. The conference and digital awards celebrations will bring together like-minded professionals, industry experts, and visionaries from across the MENA region and beyond. Together, we will shape the future of PR and digital communication, setting new standards of excellence.”

Dubai: It didn’t take long for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technologies to impact companies, as their rise is gradually shaping new business models, optimizing performance and boosting efficiency across the entire economic spectrum. Among the many sectors affected by this digital transformation, are financial markets in the GCC and beyond.On one hand, the integration of AI helps to improve data analysis and enables the swift processing of vast financial data, leading to better decision-making and risk assessment. Automated trading algorithms execute trades rapidly based on market trends and patterns, while AI assists in risk management by identifying and mitigating potential risks through data analysis.On the other hand, Blockchain technology enhances security in financial markets, guaranteeing safe and transparent transactions, which helps reduce fraud and enhances trust in regional financial markets. It also streamlines financial processes, such as settlements and record-keeping, driving efficiency and lowering costs. In Saudi Arabia, for example, Blockchain technology is being used to create a new and simple way to finance small and medium enterprises. As for Dubai, the city has been at the forefront of Blockchain adoption, with ambitious plans to become the Blockchain capital of the world, as the Emirati leadership strives to fully digitize the government by utilizing Blockchain for all government documents, which demonstrates a firm commitment to embracing this technology for various sectors.According to Ritu Singh, Regional Director of Stone X Group Inc., the combination of AI and Blockchain technologies is expected to have a profound impact on financial markets in the Middle East. Singh says: “While the specific investment capital dedicated to AI and Blockchain in this part of the world is not clear yet, their projected impact and the region's advancements indicate a growing interest and investment in such transformative technologies, which contributes to reshaping the financial landscape.”A recent PwC report has highlighted the potential for AI to disrupt markets and foster the creation of innovative services and business models in the Middle East. The report projects that the region will gain 2% of the total global benefits of AI by 2030, with the UAE experiencing the largest impact, amounting to approximately 14% of its 2030 GDP. The report further estimates that the potential impact of AI in the Middle East could reach US$320 billion, with Saudi Arabia anticipated to be one of the economies that will benefit the most from AI advancements.According to The International Data Corporation, it is estimated that the Middle East will be spending $3 billion on AI in 2023 with that amount more than doubling to $6.4 billion by 2026. The region is expected to see annual growth in spending of almost 30% in this technology over the next three years, which is the fastest growth rate worldwide over the coming years. Furthermore, more than 80% of CEOs in the Middle East believe that AI is critical to the future of their businesses, and over 70% of them are investing in such technologies.For FOREX.com, a leading trading company which has its office in Dubai and part of StoneX Group Inc., investing in AI technologies has already started. The company offers customers an AI-based Performance Analytics tool, in addition to giving them access to advanced Risk Management Performance Analytics solutions.In this line, Singh confirms: “At FOREX.com, our commitment lies in delivering the finest cutting-edge tools and market access to our esteemed customers. We firmly believe that AI will revolutionize every aspect of trading, spanning from markets to trading technology, and we are at the forefront of this transformation by offering our customers AI-based tools, such as Performance Analytics. We’ve also introduced an AI index for trading, The BITA Artificial Intelligence Giants UST Index, and other exciting offerings are currently under development.”Recently, a growing number of companies has started using The BITA Artificial Intelligence Giants UST Index, which aims at providing exposure to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector through a selection of companies that are publicly listed in the US with revenue in the AI ecosystem. This includes areas such as microprocessors, data center platforms, machine learning and autonomous artificial intelligence development, among others. Index constituents are weighted by free-float market capitalization and rebalanced semi-annually, while index values are disseminated on an intraday and end-of-day basis. The base currency of the index is USD. However, index values may be published in other currencies when applicable.

While the global news media world is being disrupted by Artificial Intelligence (AI) led by bigtime players, news organisations in the UAE have been slow in the use and adoption of AI in newsrooms, according to a paper authored by three university researchers.The findings suggest that while the UAE as a nation is adopting AI rapidly, news organizations are still experimenting with AI at a slow pace, at a time when the world is transitioning from digital journalism to ‘algorithmic journalism’, driven by AI.Algorithmic journalism refers to news articles generated by computer algorithms – the automated gathering, production, and publishing of news based on programmed algorithms.The paper was authored by Sabir Haque, an Assistant Professor of Mass Communication at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), Norita Ahmad, a Professor of Information Systems and Analytics at the American University of Sharjah and Mohammed Ibahrine, a Professor of Mass Communication at the American University of Sharjah.Primary data for the paper were collected through in-depth online interviews with 11 participants, including journalists, editors, digital managers and executives, and technologists of news organizations in the UAE.According to the paper, a majority of the interviewees agreed that most news organizations in the UAE were in early stages of AI adoption; they have just started the AI transformation processes by experimenting with this new technology and engaging employees with the needed talents to implement it. However, not all news organizations have a clear and coherent AI strategy.Based on the responses, impeding factors included editors’ traditional approach to transitioning into new technologies, many of whom are content with beginner-level AI systems in the newsrooms. One interviewee admitted that transition to disruptive technology would take longer because the senior leaders are only interested in integrating AI into limited aspects of the workflow, and some leaders lack an AI mind-set.Another participant said while the will to implement new technology is present, most news organizations do not have the resources to adopt something so disruptive. As a result, by the time they encounter the new technologies, new tools have surfaced.Most interviewees involved with B2B publishers, in contrast to those working for legacy news organizations, were, however, enthusiastic about AI adoption. According to the paper, the B2B AI strategies are driven by the younger newsreaders, the new target audiences on digital platforms, social media, and mobile devices.The authors suggest that UAE news organisations need to switch to an AI-driven newsroom, where technologists, journalists, entrepreneurs, and innovators meet to automate and generate quality news content based on an AI strategy. They cite the example of Asharq News, a 24/7 Arabic multiplatform news service, which reaches across the Arab world and beyond through a dedicated television channel and multiple digital platforms, powered by an AI system of content curation and IP technology. This system includes virtualized and on-premises content, utilizing cloud-based applications, and a hybrid architecture for content aggregation, production, and distribution.The authors point out that adoption of AI in newsroom will help news organisation to keep pace with disruptive developments, and also empower journalists by streamlining media workflows, automating mundane tasks, facilitating data crunching, identifying media trends and insights, eliminating fake news, and generating outputs.

Blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) must work together in order to increase the trust and credibility of the data used by the AI, industry experts said on Thursday.While speaking at the Blockchain in Banking Fest organised by Dubai AI & Web 3.0 Campus at DIFC Innovation Hub, Pierre Samaties, partner at Roland Berger, said the two technologies need to work together, firstly, because AI is eating up all of the data, and secondly, people are not 100 per cent sure of what is fake and what is real. While, on the other hand, blockchain is a truth machine that is ensuring that whatever is generated has a digital ID and can be traced back to a valid source.“We are now entering a new phase of the internet – Web 3.0. Web 2.0 was read and write while Web 3.0 would be read, write and own. If you log onto Twitter, you own your tweets in Web 3.0. Also, blockchain will incentivise you for sharing your data if AI wants to access it. Blockchain will make sure that it can be traced back and you get an incentive for that,” he said during a panel discussion on the “Confluence of blockchain and AI and its impact on banking”.Samaties stated that the combination of AI and blockchain will increase credibility and trust.“AI can help human prosperity if we have other counterbalances in check and it is a win-win game because we know that data AI is using is valid. At the same time, AI can produce more high-quality results if they know their personal data wallet,” he added.Olivier Crespin, strategic adviser, Giift, also stressed that the two technologies offer massive opportunities if combined.Dr Farhan Ujager, senior lecturer and programme leader (AI) at De Montford University Dubai, said blockchain provides transparency and traceability but it lacks intelligence parts and synergy with AI can give intelligence as well.“Blockchain offers trust while AI has the potential to make smart decisions but the inherited problem with AI is what if the source data is wrong. And when it comes to banking, there is a need for accuracy and smart decision.”He added that a major bank was using AI for money laundering and the foundation was blockchain, hence substantially improving its anti-money laundering process.In another panel discussion, Paul Dawalibi, CEO, Holodeck Ventures, Vasseh Ahmed, managing director, Enjinstarter and Husain Kayyal, chief revenue officer, FOO, highlighted the challenges of why blockchain is mainstream yet.

Dubai: Cisco (CSCO) announced it is reimagining the way people work with new, powerful generative AI technology. Cisco will harness large language models (LLMs) across its Collaboration and Security portfolios to help organizations drive productivity and simplicity for their workforce.Expectations are at an all-time high – organizations are grappling with how to deliver unrivaled experiences for hybrid workers, while safeguarding their businesses from sophisticated cyber threats.According to Cisco's 2023 State of Global Innovation Study, IT professionals rank generative AI as the technology most likely to have a significant impact on their business, with 85% of those saying they're prepared for its impact. Cisco recognizes the important role generative AI will play in advancing the future of work and is committed to providing hybrid workers with an efficient, safer, and more productive, work experience."Generative AI will quickly become pervasive as we see businesses and workers embrace the technology to become materially more productive," said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Security and Collaboration, Cisco. "At Cisco, we've been using AI for years. Now we're unveiling how we're incorporating generative AI into our existing products, helping customers drive real value to unlock the most secure, unrivaled work experiences possible."New Summarization Capabilities in Webex by CiscoWith every work interaction being hybrid, employees, and customers need collaboration experiences that empower them to do their best work. Within the Webex Suite, new summarization capabilities that help people get up to speed in seconds will include:"Catch Me Up" will allow users to quickly catch up on missed interactions, including meetings, calling, chats and more.Intelligent meeting summaries with key points and action items. Users can opt in to automatically generate the most important elements of a Webex meeting, extract the key points, and capture action items with owners. This will be a huge time-saver for attendees and people unable to join a meeting – eliminating the need to listen to a recording or read through transcripts.Summaries in Vidcast, the company's video messaging tool. This capability will produce highlights and chapters so viewers can navigate to the most important parts of the video quickly.New conversation summaries in Webex Contact Center will provide agents with a fast, automated way to consume long-form text from digital chats with customers as well as facilitating post-call wrap-up and resolution with customers. For example, if a customer is escalated to a call with a human agent, they expect that agent to be informed and not have to repeat their frustrations. Chat summaries provides the agent with a clear summarization of issues and resolutions already explored via self-service and a summary of the call to both the agent and customer once it ends. Moving Security from Complex to Conversational Cisco is investing in cutting-edge innovations in artificial intelligence and machine learning that will augment security staff by simplifying operations and increasing efficacy. Further delivering on its Security Cloud vision (link to Day 1 release), Cisco is previewing new generative AI capabilities to simplify policy management and improve threat response.Effective security policy creation and management is an oftentimes extremely complex but critical function of cybersecurity hygiene. There is little room for error and the process of making simple edits that won't interfere with or override previous rules is extremely time consuming and technically challenging. The volume, inconsistency, and complexity of maintaining all of these policies across all of these systems creates a significant risk that opens the door for attacks.The Cisco Security Cloud will leverage a generative AI Policy Assistant to address this problem by enabling security and IT administrators to describe granular security policies and evaluate how to best implement them across different aspects of their security infrastructure. This week's preview showed how the Cisco Policy Assistant can reason with the existing firewall policy set to implement and simplify rules within the Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center. It is the first of many examples of how generative AI can reimagine policy management across the Cisco Security Cloud.Augmenting Analysts with Machine Speed and ScaleThreat detection and response is another complex and high stakes responsibility of the security operations where time is of the essence and analysts must rapidly gain understanding of complex systems at machine scale.Cisco's security operations center (SOC) Assistant will augment security analysts with the context to make the right decisions at the right time. The SOC Assistant will provide a comprehensive situation analysis for analysts, correlating intel across the Cisco Security Cloud platform solutions, relaying potential impacts, and providing recommended actions. Significantly reducing the time needed for SOC teams to respond to potential threats.Cisco previewed its generative AI solution for Webex and Security Cloud onstage at Cisco LIVE 2023. Webex summarization, policy management and SOC Assistant Summaries will be available by the end of calendar year 2023. The additional SOC Assistant features will be available in the first half of calendar 2024.

Dubai: Effiya by Sutra, a top-notch provider of AI-enabled solutions, showcased its next generation AI capabilities in combatting financial crimes in the recently concluded Techno Meet organized by Foreign Exchange & Remittance Group (FERG) in Shangri-La Dubai on 14th June 2023. Effiya showcased how customer risk assessment, transaction monitoring and case management can be more effective and efficient by adopting effective machine learning embedded smart solutions. The event was a platform for industry experts, professionals, and enthusiasts, where they pondered over the latest technology innovations and explore how it can be leveraged to drive innovation, better business decision-making, and improve operational efficiency and customer engagement.Jigar Shah, Director at Effiya Technologies presented during the event on the ways compliance departments can leverage artificial intelligence to enhance their capabilities and become more efficient. He highlighted the critical role that artificial intelligence will perform in uncovering and managing the rapidly evolving financial crime footprints in the financial world. It equips compliance department with advanced capabilities that can go beyond the traditional approaches. The experts suggest the compliance departments proactively start implementing the change rather than waiting for the regulators to push it. The endorsement of analytical and technology adoption and the belief to slowly move away from judgemental decision making to AI aided solutions must come from the leadership.Effiya’s compliance suite comes packed with features like automated adverse media, transaction behaviour and network analysis that can be of immense help for data backed decision making. This not only saves time and costs but also enhances overall regulatory compliance - Jigar added.Effiya’ s active involvement in the fight against financial crime has been reinforced by its participation in the FERG Techno Meet 23.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has unveiled new AI-powered tools and features for advertisers and marketers. The company has introduced a new testing playground, the AI Sandbox, that will test generative AI-powered ad tools like text variation, background generation, and image outcropping. Meta is working with a small group of advertisers and plans to expand access gradually from July onwards. The company has also introduced new features in its Meta Advantage suite of ad automation tools, including switching manual campaigns to Advantage+ shopping in one click and using video creative in catalog ads. Additionally, the company is investing tens of billions of dollars annually in AI infrastructure and modeling to improve the performance and measurement of its ads system.The AI Sandbox will act as Meta's testing playground for early versions of new tools and features, including generative AI-powered ad tools. The goal is to learn what works for advertisers and make these features easy to use in our Meta's tools. The company is building tools like text variation, background generation and image outcropping to do things like make an ad’s text more engaging or improve parts of its creative.Currently, Meta is working with a small group of advertisers in order to quickly gather feedback that it can use to make these products even better. In July, Meta will begin gradually expanding access to more advertisers with plans to add some of these features into its products later this year.

Dubai: Revolutionary AI-driven cloud-based gaming platform, The Game Company, raised $5 million during their pre-seed round in December. The funds will be used to accelerate the development of The Game Company's powerful platform and leverage AI technology to create an interconnected multi-role ecosystem.Their approach to create a unique AI-driven cloud-based gaming platform has set a new standard in the industry. It has garnered the attention of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, solidifying their position as one of the most promising gaming platforms in the market.The platform downsizes the memory and processing systems that most modern games demand to be able to run smoothly. This will enable users to play any e-pastime from any device without the need for expensive consoles, or PCs. In addition to that they utilize AI technology in their platform to allow for a truly personalized experience for users based on their unique psychographics and Interests, Opinions, and Activities (IOA). The Game Company has been making significant strides in development since its pre-seed round. With their impressive $40 million valuation from this pre-seed round, the company is poised for even more growth during its upcoming funding round, with expectations of a substantial increase in valuation."The $5 million raised during our pre-seed round is a testament to our vision and our commitment to creating an unmatched gaming experience for gamers worldwide," said Osman Masud, CEO. "We are confident that we have paved the way for the next funding round, which may propel the level of gaming available to users even further."The Game Company's vision is to provide the most advanced, flexible, and inclusive cloud gaming platform that breaks down the barriers of connectivity, latency, and market economics. The company aims to create a truly immersive gaming experience that is accessible for anyone, anywhere, anytime, and on any device.

Dubai: Metaverse could unlock revenue and innovation in key growth sectors in the MENA region, according to a report "The Metaverse and its potential for MENA," prepared by Deloitte LLP for Meta Platforms, Inc. The MENA region is undergoing rapid change, with hydrocarbon-rich countries seeking sustainable growth through diversification and ambitious transformation plans. Digitalization is at the heart of these plans, with countries targeting it as a key driver of development. In parallel, consumers and business communities across the region are increasingly open to digital technologies.Based on projections of metaverse?related ICT investment globally, this study estimates that metaverse technologies could eventually support an annual economic contribution ranging from US$ $20.2 toUS $38.1 billion in KSA and US$11.6 to US$22.0 billion in Egypt, to US$ $0.9 to US$ 1.7 billion in Jordan, by 2035.Digitally mature countries such as KSA and the UAE have particular potential for near?term adoption. However, further diversification will be needed to create a dynamic private sector business environment with incentives for innovation and investment, to expand the potential for metaverse adoption across the wide range of sectors where it can create value.Elsewhere, benefits can be expected to accrue more gradually. Countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Morocco face wider gaps in digital infrastructure, skills and affordability, creating barriers especially for the adoption of the most sophisticated and transformative use cases. The report outlines the potential impact of the metaverse in MENA and how it can enable successful growth. The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space that is created by the convergence of physical and virtual worlds. It offers new opportunities for economic growth, social interaction, and innovation. The report suggests that the metaverse could provide a platform for the region to showcase its cultural heritage and offer new experiences to consumers.In countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, the UAE, and the KSA, momentum behind the metaverse is building across policymakers, businesses and consumers.The UAE and KSA seek to play a leading role in the emergence of the metaverse globally, recognizing the potential contribution towards growth and diversification targets. In the UAE, Dubai has launched a Metaverse Strategy, aiming to establish one of the world’s top ten metaverse economies.KSA, for example, has launched an initiative that will allow Muslims from all around the world to virtually touch the Black Stone at the Kaaba, an important religious tourism site. The initiative will allow people to completely immerse themselves in the experience, stimulating a range of senses including vision, hearing and smell.The Strategy envisages economic benefits of US$4 billion by 2030, focusing on transformative impacts in tourism, real estate, education, retail, and government services.34 The UAE has hosted international events – including the Dubai Metaverse Assembly and the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (‘GITEX’) in 2022 – to spread awareness and explore the metaverse’s potential.However, the report also highlights the challenges that need to be addressed to enable successful metaverse growth in MENA. These include infrastructure challenges, such as connectivity and access to digital technologies, as well as regulatory challenges, such as data protection and cybersecurity.To enable successful metaverse growth, the report suggests a collaborative approach between public and private sectors, academia, and civil society. It also suggests the need for investment in infrastructure, digital skills, and innovation.The report concludes with country profiles of MENA countries, highlighting their current digitalization efforts and potential for metaverse growth. The report emphasizes that any decision to invest, conduct business, enter or exit the markets considered in the report should be made solely on independent advice, and no information in the report should be relied upon in any way by any third party.GamingImmersive gaming is currently one of the most prevalent use cases for metaverse?related technologies, and will play a key part in the proliferation of the metaverse across MENA.MENA has one of the fastest growing gaming industries in the world, expected to more than double to a US$ 5 billion industry with 85.7 million gamers by 2025.62. MENA countries such as KSA and the UAE are investing heavily in the industry, reflecting its potential. KSA is making multibillion?dollar investments in gaming and e?sports and has launched the “Gaming And Esports Strategy” programme to boost the sector’s contribution to GDP to US$ 13 billion in eight years and generate 39,000 jobs by 2030.63.In the UAE, the government is supporting the creation of a gaming hub in Abu Dhabi, ADGaming Hub, that aims to attract international creators and gaming companies. More generally, the UAE is forecasted to reach an AR and VR penetration rate of over 50% by 2027, highlighting the ubiquity of the technology in the near future.Other governments in the region also recognize the importance of gaming, such as Morocco, where the Ministry of Youth partnered with Royal Moroccan Federation of Videogames to promote the sector. The two entities plan to increase investment, enhance the country’s youth gaming skills and promote participation in international tournaments, such as the FIFAe Nations Series 2022.Improved access to gaming could even offer players new avenues to pursue professional careers as gamers, with this trend already becoming popular in Morocco. Retail and tourism Metaverse technologies can offer consumers access to engaging shopping experiences through virtual shops, experiencing products without visiting the shop physically. Emerging examples include the launch of the first metaverse B2B marketplace in the region, based in the UAE, called “Magnati?MetaV’, which will provide shops and brands the ability to shift to multi?dimensional online commerce.85 Also, retailers such as Chalhoub Group – the largest retail operator in MENA – are already offering retail in the metaverse with products in the form of non?fungible tokens (NFTs) designed to be bought and worn by avatars.Metaverse technologies can enhance and amplify the existing tourism industry. AR, VR and MR have the potential to create a more engaging and interactive experience for visitors, for example, by restoring physical historical ruins to their original architecture or augmenting historical events into real life settings. By adopting metaverse technologies, the sector also stands to benefit from virtual visits and virtual tourism campaigns, which could motivate travelers to visit MENA countries physically after experiencing sites or hotels remotely.Egypt, for instance, has launched the ECO Egypt virtual tourism campaign which offers people the opportunity to explore some the country’s most spectacular sites through VR tours and 360° technologies and Jordan has introduced virtual reality tours to promote Petra, one of the country’s most important tourist sites.

Dubai: After launching it last February, and as part of its strategy to employ Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across all its operations and services, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced the pilot use of ChatGPT, since April 2023, on its website through Rammas, DEWA’s virtual employee, to enhance customer experience.“The wise leadership pays great attention to leveraging AI technologies across all sectors. At DEWA, we are keen to enrich the customer experience through smart services that save their time and effort using the latest AI tools. This supports the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, the Dubai 10X initiative and the Smart Dubai initiative, which aims to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. This is also part of our efforts to use AI in all our services and operations to reduce the number of visits to our customer happiness centres and contribute to shaping a new digital future for Dubai through Digital DEWA, our digital arm, that aims to make us DEWA first digital utility in the world with autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage, with the expansion of the use of AI and digital services,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.“We always strive to improve customer experience and provide our services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, efficiency and quality. This step to use ChatGPT in Rammas confirms our ongoing efforts to leverage the disruptive technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to accelerate digital transformation and provide advanced digital services with added value that enriches the experience and happiness of customers,” added Al Tayer.Since its launch in the first quarter of 2017 until the end of April 2023, Rammas has answered more than seven million enquiries. ChatGPT will contribute to enhancing its capabilities due to its superior ability to interact with users and better understand their needs. It will also improve its ability to learn, understand, and analyse customer enquiries based on available data and information to respond promptly and accurately.DEWA is working to enrich its services with ChatGPT. It is the first utility in the world and the first government organisation in the UAE to use this modern technology as part of its continuous efforts to enhance its leadership locally and globally.

Dubai: Today, IBM (NYSE: IBM) at its annual Think conference, announced IBM watsonx, a new AI and data platform to be released that will enable enterprises to scale and accelerate the impact of the most advanced AI with trusted data. Enterprises turning to AI today need access to a full technology stack that enables them to train, tune and deploy AI models, including foundation models and machine learning capabilities, across their organization with trusted data, speed, and governance - all in one place and to run across any cloud environment.Also at Think, IBM is announcing further planned advancements, including a GPU-as-a-service infrastructure offering designed to support AI-intensive workloads, an AI-powered dashboard to measure, track, manage, and help report on cloud carbon emissions, and a new practice for watsonx and generative AI from IBM Consulting that will support client deployment of AI.With watsonx, IBM is offering an AI development studio with access to IBM-curated and trained foundation models and open-source models, access to a data store to enable the gathering and cleansing of training and tuning data, and a toolkit for governance of AI into the hands of businesses that will provide a seamless end-to-end AI workflow that will make AI easier to adapt and scale.“With the development of foundation models, AI for business is more powerful than ever,” said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and CEO. “Foundation models make deploying AI significantly more scalable, affordable, and efficient. We built IBM watsonx for the needs of enterprises, so that clients can be more than just users, they can become AI advantaged. With IBM watsonx, clients can quickly train and deploy custom AI capabilities across their entire business, all while retaining full control of their data.” Clients will have access to the toolset, technology, infrastructure, and consulting expertise to build their own — or fine-tune and adapt available AI models — on their own data and deploy them at scale in a more trustworthy and open environment to drive business success. Competitive differentiation and unique business value will be able to be increasingly derived from how adaptable an AI model can be to an enterprise’s unique data and domain knowledge.The IBM watsonx platform consists of three unique product sets to address these needs:IBM watsonx.ai: A next generation enterprise studio, expected to be generally available in July 2023, for AI builders to train, test, tune, and deploy both traditional machine learning and new generative AI capabilities powered by foundation models through an open and intuitive user interface. The AI studio provides a range of foundation models, training and tuning tools, and cost-effective infrastructure that facilitate the entire data and AI lifecycle, from data preparation to model development, deployment, and monitoring.The studio also includes a foundation model library that gives users easy access to IBM curated and trained foundation models. The IBM foundation models use a large, curated set of enterprise data backed by a robust filtering and cleansing process and auditable data lineage These models are being trained not just on language, but on a variety of modalities, including code, time-series data, tabular data, geospatial data, and IT events data. An initial set of foundation models will be made available in beta tech preview to select clients. Examples of model categories include:fm.code: Models built to automatically generate code for developers through a natural-language interface to boost developer productivity and enable the automation of many IT tasks.fm.NLP: A collection of large language models (LLMs) for specific or industry-specific domains that utilize curated data where bias can be mitigated more easily and can be quickly customized using client data.fm.geospatial: Model built on climate and remote sensing data to help organizations understand and plan for changes in natural disaster patterns, biodiversity, land use, and other geophysical processes that could impact their businesses.As part of a new collaboration between IBM and Hugging Face, the watsonx.ai studio will build upon Hugging Face's open-source libraries and offer thousands of Hugging Face open models and datasets. This is part of IBM's commitment to delivering to clients an open ecosystem approach that allows them to leverage the best models and architecture for their unique business needs.IBM watsonx.data: A fit-for-purpose data store built on open lakehouse architecture that is optimized for governed data and AI workloads, supported by querying, governance, and open data formats to access and share data. The solution is expected to be generally available in July 2023 and:The solution can manage workloads both on-premise and across multi-cloud environments.Through workload optimization, with this solution, an organization can reduce data warehouse costs by up to 50 percent.[1]Watsonx.data will allow users to access their increasingly robust data through a single point of entry while applying multiple fit-for-purpose query engines to uncover valuable insights.It will also provide built-in governance tools, automation and integrations with an organization’s existing databases and tools to simplify set-up and user experience.IBM watsonx.governance: an AI governance toolkit to enable trusted AI workflows. The solution, expected to be generally available later this year:Operationalizes governance to help mitigate the risk, time and cost associated with manual processes and provides the documentation necessary to drive transparent and explainable outcomes.Provides the mechanisms to protect customer privacy, proactively detect model bias and drift, and help organizations meet their ethics standards.With the watsonx platform, clients are enabled to meet the needs of their organization in five key areas of their business: interacting and conversing with customers and employees; automating business workflows and internal process; automating IT processes; protecting against threats; and tackling sustainability goals.IBM also plans to infuse watsonx.ai foundation models throughout all its major software products going forward, for example: Watson Code Assistant: A solution, expected later this year, that taps generative AI to allow developers to generate code with a straightforward English language command.AIOps Insights: AI Operations (AIOps) capabilities enhanced with foundation models expected for code and NLP to provide greater visibility into performance across IT environments, helping IT operations (ITOps) managers and Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) resolve incidents in a more expedient and cost-efficient way.Watson Assistant and Watson Orchestrate: IBM’s digital labor products are expected to be combined with an NLP foundation model to enable enhanced employee productivity and customer service experiences.Environmental Intelligence Suite: IBM EIS Builder Edition is planned to be enabled by the geospatial foundation model and available in preview later this year, allowing organizations to create tailored solutions that address and mitigate environmental risks based on their unique goals and needs.Also at Think 2023, IBM will announce a number of additional upcoming offerings that are planned to help drive AI adoption, including:New GPU offering on IBM Cloud: Addressing the global need for foundation models, IBM is announcing new GPU offerings on IBM Cloud, an AI-tailored infrastructure designed to support enterprise compute-intensive workloads. Later this year, IBM is expected to offer full stack high-performance, flexible, AI-optimized infrastructure, delivered as a service on IBM Cloud, for both training and serving foundation models.IBM Consulting Center of Excellence for Generative AI: IBM Consulting announces a Center of Excellence for generative AI with over 1,000 generative AI experts and plans to build a watsonx-focused practice which will actively build and deploy watsonx for clients. IBM Consulting has completed dozens of client engagements infusing generative AI with IBM Watson and a portfolio of ecosystem partners through its proven IBM Garage method.IBM Cloud Carbon Calculator: An AI-informed dashboard to enable clients to measure, track, manage and help report their carbon associated with their hybrid multi-cloud journey. Based on technology from IBM Research, IBM Cloud Carbon Calculator is expected to be generally available later this year. The dashboard complements IBM’s existing sustainability solutions with a comprehensive portfolio of technology and expertise, including the IBM Envizi ESG Suite, IBM Turbonomic, IBM Planning Analytics and IBM LinuxONE, that help organizations accelerate their sustainability and business objectives.New study revealing generative AI is among seven trends shaping business: A new report from the IBM Institute for Business Value, titled Seven Bets, shares seven trends impacting business today and describes the seven bets worth making to enhance their business, including insights on why businesses should adopt an “AI-first” mindset and how leaders can most effectively capitalize on AI’s opportunities now and in the future, as well as manage the enhanced risks across their organizations.The Think 2023 broadcast can be accessed at www.ibm.com/events/think. During his keynote airing Tuesday, May 9, 8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. EDT, IBM CEO and Chairman Arvind Krishna will be joined on stage by leaders from Delta Airlines, Citi, and Red Hat to discuss their visions for creatively turning challenges into opportunities with hybrid cloud and AI. On Wednesday May 10, 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT, Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research, will give a keynote on how generative AI can be applied for business use cases.Following the flagship event in Orlando, Think on Tour will travel to more than a dozen cities around the world. For updates on confirmed cities, please visit: https://www.ibm.com/events/think/on-tour/.

Dubai: Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and OurCrowd Arabia, the Abu Dhabi based subsidiary of Israel’s OurCrowd, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly create and manage several initiatives aiming to accelerate and catalyze the growth of the AI technology ecosystem on the university’s campus in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.The MoU outlines various initiatives including:Creating an AI-focused venture capital investment fund with the aim of attracting both local and global AI technology companies to scale up globally from Abu Dhabi.Developing a strategic collaboration between MBZUAI and Integrated Data Intelligence (IDI) Limited, OurCrowd’s AI subsidiary in Abu Dhabi, on research projects in applied AI technologies across industries.Enhancing Abu Dhabi’s AI innovation ecosystem via strategic partnerships with key government and government-related entities.Providing internship and job opportunities to MBZUAI graduates through OurCrowd’s vast global network of portfolio technology startup companies and industry partners.Sultan Al Hajji, MBZUAI’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Alumni Relations, said, “Part of MBZUAI’s existence is to foster entrepreneurship and this partnership creates a mechanism for incubating startups and creating local opportunities for the university’s pipeline of talent. Through this strategic partnership with OurCrowd Arabia, MBZUAI is forging ahead with its mission to develop a dynamic, vibrant, AI ecosystem that will help to position Abu Dhabi as a global center for AI. Together, we will encourage funding to enable AI start-ups to scale up in the UAE’s capital, help to develop and commercialize AI research, and provide exciting opportunities in the field for young AI talent – including graduates and researchers from MBZUAI. The proposed initiatives are a perfect complement to MBZUAI’s and OurCrowd Arabia’s areas of expertise.”OurCrowd Arabia Executive Chairman Sabah al-Binali added, “We are honored to have signed this MoU with MBZUAI to jointly grow the AI ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. OurCrowd Arabia continues to build on its strategic relationships having started with our partnership with ADIO under its Innovation Program announced in November 2022. We look forward to continuing to leverage OurCrowd’s global experience and relationships to support the Abu Dhabi and UAE startup ecosystems.”OurCrowd Arabia, which opened in the UAE capital in 2021, is also establishing a new VC investment center in Abu Dhabi to manage deals for its existing platform and cater to emerging markets.

Dubai: Salesforce has announced plans to collaborate with Accenture to accelerate the deployment of generative AI for CRM. Together, the companies intend to establish an acceleration hub for generative AI that provides organizations with the technology and experience they need to scale Einstein GPT – Salesforce’s generative AI for CRM — helping to increase employee productivity and transform customer experiences.Significance: When deployed effectively, generative AI has the power to transform how companies do business and free employees’ time to focus on more complex and creative work. In fact, most senior IT leaders (84%) say generative AI will help their organization better serve customers. And with 67% of these leaders prioritizing generative AI for their business within the next 18 months, there is an urgent need to ensure the new technology is deployed effectively.Driving the news: The powerful combination of Salesforce and Accenture’s AI industry knowledge and connected customer experience aims to provide companies across every industry with strategies and technologies that harness generative AI effectively. By connecting to Accenture’s Generative AI and Large Language Model (LLM) Center of Excellence, the new acceleration hub will facilitate:Custom AI Strategies and Accelerators for Growth: Senior leaders from Salesforce and Accenture plan to work with customers to develop customized AI strategies using new accelerators for Einstein GPT, user interfaces, and process automation, which can help increase productivity and profit for their businesses.Innovative Use Cases for Sales and Service: These use cases will showcase generative AI’s benefits and potential return on investment, with an initial focus on sales and service. Examples of these use cases include:Sales: Generative AI can increase seller productivity with automated tasks to help drive ongoing engagement with customers and prospects.Service: Generative AI can also help improve customer experience and agent productivity for every customer service interaction with trusted CRM data, and automate knowledge management to help companies respond to the needs of their customers more effectively.Industry-Specific AI Models: Salesforce and Accenture intend to build industry-specific AI models for customers in the financial services, health, manufacturing, and public sector industries.Generative AI & Data Cloud: Using Data Cloud to connect and harmonize information, Salesforce and Accenture will explore how generative AI can learn from customer data to create more personalized experiences for customers faster.Upskilling for AI Success: Salesforce and Accenture plan to develop learning resources that help teams develop and enhance their generative AI skills, fostering the next generation of talent within the Salesforce ecosystem. Specific areas of focus include programming for Einstein GPT, AI literacy, data science and analytics, and ethics and responsible AI.The hub will also tap existing learning content on Trailhead, such as how to use AI to meet business needs, how to create ethical AI, and how Einstein GPT is transforming the future of work.Generative AI for CRM: Einstein GPT has the power to transform customer experiences with generative AI. It enables companies to create personalized, AI-generated content across sales, service, marketing, IT, and more. For example, Einstein GPT can generate:Personalized emails for salespeople to send to customersSpecific responses for customer service professionals to respond to customer questions more efficientlyTargeted content for marketers to increase campaign response ratesCode for developersSoundbites:“Generative AI has enormous potential to transform the way companies interact with customers and drive business growth. Accenture and Salesforce together have years of experience in AI and play a critical role in ensuring customers get the most value from this technology. We want to come together to bring the visionary and technical expertise needed to unlock new possibilities for AI- and data-powered CRM, driving a profound transformation in customer interactions.” – Bill Patterson, EVP and General Manager, C360 Applications, Salesforce“Generative AI has the potential to transform work and reinvent business, with large language models impacting up to 40% of all working hours across industries, changing the way companies interact with their customers and ushering in a new era of generative AI for everyone. Companies need the infrastructure and knowledge to deploy this new technology to help address their unique business needs. By combining Accenture’s industry experience with Salesforce’s technology, we plan to be well positioned to help customers solve problems with generative AI faster and more effectively.” – Emma McGuigan, Senior Managing Director and Enterprise & Industry Technology lead, Accenture

Dubai: After launching it last February, and as part of its strategy to employ Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across all its operations and services, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced the pilot use of ChatGPT, since April 2023, on its website through Rammas, DEWA’s virtual employee, to enhance customer experience.“The wise leadership pays great attention to leveraging AI technologies across all sectors. At DEWA, we are keen to enrich the customer experience through smart services that save their time and effort using the latest AI tools. This supports the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, the Dubai 10X initiative and the Smart Dubai initiative, which aims to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. This is also part of our efforts to use AI in all our services and operations to reduce the number of visits to our customer happiness centres and contribute to shaping a new digital future for Dubai through Digital DEWA, our digital arm, that aims to make us DEWA first digital utility in the world with autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage, with the expansion of the use of AI and digital services,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.“We always strive to improve customer experience and provide our services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, efficiency and quality. This step to use ChatGPT in Rammas confirms our ongoing efforts to leverage the disruptive technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to accelerate digital transformation and provide advanced digital services with added value that enriches the experience and happiness of customers,” added Al Tayer.Since its launch in the first quarter of 2017 until the end of April 2023, Rammas has answered more than seven million enquiries. ChatGPT will contribute to enhancing its capabilities due to its superior ability to interact with users and better understand their needs. It will also improve its ability to learn, understand, and analyse customer enquiries based on available data and information to respond promptly and accurately.DEWA is working to enrich its services with ChatGPT. It is the first utility in the world and the first government organisation in the UAE to use this modern technology as part of its continuous efforts to enhance its leadership locally and globally.

Dubai: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities are attracting the highest levels of investment in travel technology at present, according to innovation specialist, Plug and Play. Experts from the Silicon Valley-headquartered firm shared a range of insights into the latest investment trends on the Travel Tech Stage at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, which will conclude today at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).Speaking on the third day of the show, innovation specialists explored how travel startups are being affected by macroeconomic headwinds and fears of a global recession as part of the ‘Investment Trends Leading Travel Tech’ session.Kristie Choi, Early Stage Tech Investor at Plug and Play, noted that venture capital (VC) investment witnessed a “dramatic pullback” in the second half of 2022, a trend that continued into Q1 2023. “While this looks pretty scary, there are still billions of dollars of dry powder out there to be gained,” she told attendees. “Travel tech round dynamics tend to follow similar patterns as the wider tech market, and we are seeing an increased focus on profitability and cash efficiency in this segment.”Choi said that the travel sector was leading the curve in terms of generative AI investment and adoption. This technology is being leveraged to enhance the customer experience by facilitating trip planning, automating refunds and back-office processes, and supporting content creation. ESG is also a major focus for the travel technology sector, she explained, with sustained investments in transparent data reporting and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) serving to bolster the growth of responsible tourism. The influencer economy, meanwhile, is “driving business away” from online travel agencies (OTAs), according to Choi, as companies look to attract the Gen Z market by integrating direct booking into the channels of content creators.Following Choi’s presentation, Mike Sung, Director, Partner Success – Travel & Hospitality at Plug and Play, joined Natalie Seatter, Chief Product Officer at OAG on the ATM Travel Tech Stage for a conversation about travel technology investment trends.Speaking on the growing importance of artificial intelligence to the tourism industry, Sung noted: “It’s going to be very interesting to see how generative AI is leveraged, especially among travel suppliers in the metaverse. There’s a lot of experimentation happening in the metaverse, and for generative AI, it’s not just about text. It’s also about audio, video and graphics. I think this technology is going to ramp up the velocity of [Web3] solutions, especially for travel and hospitality.”Commenting on the need for investment in data transparency, Seatter said: “The big elephant in the room is the large cloud-based data warehouses [the industry] is using to power platforms. It’s either really hard to understand the carbon-emission cost of these platforms or no one wants to tell you how big it is – or maybe it’s a bit of both. I think that’s certainly one of our challenges.”The day-three session followed the ‘Plug and Play: Sustainable Tech – Startups Pitch Battle’ on day two of ATM 2023, which saw six new ventures compete for a range of industry support and data. Sustainable commercial food waste solutions company, Winnow, beat off stiff competition from CarbonClick, Eilago, Hotelverse, OACIS Middle East Limited LLC and Thrust Carbon to be crowned this year’s winner.The 30th edition of ATM is taking place as part of Arabian Travel Week (1-10 May 2023), a festival of events dedicated to enabling industry professionals from all over the world to collaborate and capitalise on market opportunities through exhibitions, conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, product launches and networking events.Those attending ATM 2023 in person can get involved in the conversation online by using the hashtag #ATMDubai when posting on social media channels.ATM 2023 is being held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, and its strategic partners include Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as the Destination Partner, Emirates as the Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as the Official Hotel Partner, and Al Rais Travel as the Official DMC Partner.

Dubai: Globally, workers are focused on developing their human skills, even as they see a future dominated by technology-driven work and automation, according to a new study from Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. For the latest edition of the Pearson Skills Outlook series, Pearson partnered with Google to examine how and why people across different regions are looking to upskill as they face a rapidly changing economy.Pearson Skills Outlook: Employee View, the survey of 4,000 workers, revealed that people are most interested in careers in the tech and business-related fields such as e-commerce, software services, data science, and financial services. However, they believe that they will need to focus on human skills to land these jobs or advance in their current role. They believe human skills – like problem solving, leadership, and teamwork – are the most attractive to employers now and in the future.According to the report, problem solving, decision-making, teamwork, and leadership are the key human skills that workers are actively prioritizing developing and maintaining to advance their careers. Looking to the future, most skills workers want to train for remain focused on human skills such as Leadership; Entrepreneurial skills and Project management [Tie], Problem solving, Language skills, Coding / Programming, Data processing, and Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning [Tie].The report also signals that in non-English speaking countries, learning English is emerging as a key skill for employees to advance in their careers, according to 85 percent of Indians and 77 percent of Brazilians.“This valuable new research shows that job seekers are prioritizing human skills at a time when machine learning and artificial intelligence are having an increasing influence on work,” said Mike Howells, president of Pearson Workforce Skills. “Human skills are proving critical to personal and organizational success, and workers are motivated to sharpen and develop those skills to stay competitive and advance their careers.”The study also found that the majority of workers (73 percent of Americans, 68 percent of British, 89 percent of Indians and 70 percent of Brazilians) also say they prefer to learn via their employer. And an even higher number expect their employer will increase or maintain learning and development opportunities.In a world where people are living and working longer, and having multiple careers, the Skills Outlook series provides guidance to employers, employees, and job seekers on where they should focus their training, education, and learning. While Pearson’s second Skills Outlook report, conducted in September 2022, examined skilling through an employees’ lens, the first study identified the most in-demand skills from an employer’s perspective.

Dubai:  DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCAF), a leading business aviation services provider, has expanded its fleet under management with the addition of two aircraft – a Bombardier Global 6000 and Global 5000. DCAF will operate the new aircraft on behalf of the private owners. The addition of these aircraft brings DCAF’s total number of managed aircraft to 11, further reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing private and business jet operator in the Middle East.The management contracts will see DCAF provide full Flight Operational Aircraft Management services, Continuous Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO), hangar parking and FBO handling at its facility at Al Maktoum International Airport, in addition to providing maintenance services for the two aircraft. Commenting on the new additions to the fleet, Holger Ostheimer, Managing Director of DCAF, said: “We have had a very strong start to the year with the addition of the Global 6000 and Global 5000 aircraft. The addition of these two exceptional business jets in addition to the Global 7500 earlier this year, in our 10th year of operation, reinforces our position as one of the leading operators in the Middle East. Asset owners continue to believe in our commitment to transparency, quality and delivery of service, as well as our unmatched expertise in aircraft management and we look forward to delivering on our promises.” DCAF’s core areas of business include Aircraft Management, Maintenance, FBO and Ground Handling and Business jet charter. For more information on DCAF’s hangar and services, please visit dc-aviation.ae or call +971 4 870 1800. 

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia will host the third edition of the E3 Customer Experience Conference 2023, the largest CX gathering in the region, on 16 and 17 May 2023. The Conference will explore solutions, discuss trends in the dawning AI era, and evaluate advanced technologies shaping customer service and digital workflows to deliver positive experiences.The two-day event, held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia and organised by Ejtemaat Saudi Arabia and the Saudi CX Association, aims to expand knowledge and build capabilities for businesses in the customer experience space. It is expected to attract over 500 delegates from the Middle East CX community, as well as recognised CX practitioners and thought leaders from around the world.The Conference will showcase practical strategies, tools, methodologies and initiatives that companies can use to accelerate customer-centric growth and innovation in a rapidly evolving experience economy.Recent research has shown that companies focusing on customer experience now generate 4% to 8% more revenue than their competitors. As approaches to excellent customer experience continue to change and AI slowly takes centre stage, customers are demanding fast and seamless services on the first try, leaving businesses today in the search for solutions and expertise to stay ahead of the curve.In line with these developments, the event will feature the CX Saudi Excellence Programme, led by the Saudi CX Association, which recognises excellence, innovative solutions and leaders in customer experience. The awards ceremony, adjudged by a prestigious panel, will highlight the best in the industry and serve as a platform to recognise their achievements."It is evident that the swift rise and fall of trends pose a true challenge for organisations to create an infallible plan for satisfying and retaining customers. With an overarching mission to establish the Kingdom as a CX excellence benchmark in the region, we at the Saudi CX Association look forward to welcoming the global CX community at the Conference as we work to explore and tap into the genuine potential of customer experience in ensuring the triumph of businesses and the formation of long-standing customer relationships across the Kingdom" remarked Eng. Abdullah AlGhamedi, Founder & Chairman of Saudi CX Association.“As advanced technology continues to shape customer service goals by streamlining digital workflows and improving overall experiences, it is essential to monitor customer feedback as the ultimate measure of success for businesses throughout the Kingdom. The upcoming event will provide an opportunity for CX professionals from different industries to explore solutions and gain insights into emerging trends from CX leaders across the globe,” said Abdulaziz Alosime, General Director of Customer Experience Improvement at Riyadh Municipality and the Vice Chairman of Saudi CX Association.The E3 Customer Experience Conference 2023 is a significant event for businesses and professionals interested in enhancing their customer experience capabilities. With a focus on the latest technologies and global best practices, the Conference is set to provide valuable insights and networking opportunities for attendees.

Dubai: Akhbar Al Aan has launched a new interactive campaign, ‘Be Part of the News’, aimed at fostering the knowledge and experiences of the next generation of Arab journalists. The campaign intends to help students engage in media work and employ their skills and talents in producing media content that reflects their identities and interests.The campaign targets selected universities in Arab countries, granting students the chance to become a part of Akhbar Al Aan's team and acquire valuable professional journalism experience. The initiative was kicked off in Tunisia with the Institute of Press and Information Science becoming the first institute to be a part of this campaign. Solange El Rassi, Head of PR and Corporate Communications of Al Aan TV., led Akhbar Al Aan's team and conducted an interactive seminar and workshop for the Institute's students, focusing on the global media landscape.As part of the campaign, a competition was launched, inviting students to create a documentary on a topic of their choice. The winner of the competition will have the opportunity to work remotely with Akhbar Al Aan's leading media team, which will enhance their skills and professional experience. The second and third place winners will receive cash prizes.The campaign further introduced Akhbar Al Aan and its specialized coverage and content, which aligns with its belief that every story belongs to everyone, and that audiences have the right to be informed about global events. Additionally, the campaign seeks to inspire hope and optimism in its viewers, particularly among Arab youth, through the telling of stories, one by one.Solange El Rassi, Head of PR and Corporate Communications of Al Aan TV said: “We are thrilled to launch the 'Be Part of the News' campaign at the Institute of Press and Information Sciences in Tunisia, a distinguished academic institution that has made significant contributions in the realm of education and has championed the pursuit of knowledge for upcoming generations. We are eager to interact with students, listen to their views, and showcase the diverse career opportunities available at Akhbar Al Aan, along with its distinct advantages. By participating in the news-making process from any location, students will gain valuable professional experience by working with a leading media institution, in addition to receiving financial compensation. The Institute of Press and Information Sciences presents an excellent opportunity for us to engage with Tunisia's talented youth, who have surpassed the challenges they face and demonstrated their exceptional abilities and skills in all fields.”“This campaign is a continuation of Akhbar Al Aan's ongoing efforts to support and empower Arab youth by providing them with various opportunities to enhance their skills and work. One of our significant accomplishments in this field is the launch of the interactive campaign '3eesh Al Aan Café ', which enables youth to showcase their talents and success stories and apply for full-time jobs. We, at Akhbar Al Aan, are committed to organizing periodic contests that encourage audience participation and continuously creating and sharing meaningful content that resonates with Arab youth and has a significant positive impact,” she added.Akhbar Al Aan has recently announced the launch of training sessions for aspiring media students and individuals passionate about the field. These online classes aim to teach the fundamentals of journalism, writing, publishing, and presenting and will be conducted by seasoned media professionals who will share their expertise. The courses are available at a reasonable fee, and upon completion, participants will receive an accredited certificate of participation from relevant entities. Additionally, Akhbar Al Aan has also introduced another initiative offering training sessions and part-time working opportunities where individuals can hone their skills in journalism, news-making, and reporting under the guidance of media experts at Al Aan TV.Akhbar Al Aan plans to expand the program to other esteemed Arab universities. The campaign seeks to network and engage with the media and journalism students in these universities and develop their experiences and knowledge in media, as well as encouraging them to employ creativity and innovation to achieve success and excellence.

Dubai: We’re excited to announce the launch of Binance Sensei, our new AI-powered tool on the Binance Academy platform, which can be used to enhance your Web3 learning experience!Over the course of the last year, we've seen deep-learning systems such as ChatGPT and DALL-E hit the mainstream. These AI tools have quickly become extremely popular — making 2023 a key year for AI integration. This technology holds huge potential to change how we go about routine tasks and make many types of work more efficient. You’re no doubt as eager as we are to discover the new opportunities that AI brings.Our goal here at Binance is to facilitate the worldwide adoption of Web3 by creating an ecosystem that is accessible to all, while continually embracing cutting-edge technology. As part of that vision, we place a special emphasis on education and knowledge-sharing and have established various educational initiatives and resources to help people learn about the world of digital assets.Given our commitment to education and our interest in where artificial intelligence can take us, we’re thrilled to introduce our latest AI-powered tool: Binance Sensei.What Is Binance Sensei?Binance Sensei is an innovative AI-driven learning tool seamlessly integrated into Binance Academy – the ultimate destination for free education on Web3, blockchain, and crypto. Designed to elevate the learning experience, Binance Sensei transforms how users explore and interact with educational content, ensuring a more engaging process.Binance Sensei enables users to access the wealth of knowledge available on Binance Academy in a more intuitive manner. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, all you need to do is enter keywords or questions in the interactive chat window. Binance Sensei will then swiftly provide you with an easy-to-understand response sourced from Binance Academy's comprehensive collection of articles, guides, and glossary entries, or from other reliable open sources. Users can, for example, enter the keywords “Bitcoin price today” into Binance Sensei and the bot will immediately share back a direct link to the BTC Price page.Powered by state-of-the-art ChatGPT technology, Binance Sensei has been instructed to deliver relevant and easily digestible information. This user-friendly approach makes it easier than ever to dive into complex topics or quickly grasp new concepts, catering to a wide range of learning styles and preferences.Binance Sensei's AI-powered capabilities make it the perfect companion for anyone looking to expand their knowledge in the rapidly evolving world of blockchain and cryptocurrency. With this interactive tool at your disposal, you can now explore Binance Academy's vast array of educational resources with ease and confidence.So, whether you're a curious newcomer seeking to understand the basics of blockchain or a seasoned professional looking for more complex information, Binance Sensei has you covered. This cutting-edge tool is here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring an enriching and enjoyable educational journey through the world of Web3 and crypto.What Is Binance Academy?Binance Academy is a comprehensive educational platform that offers a wealth of resources on blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and the Web3 ecosystem. Launched in 2018, Academy provides a wide range of content including articles, guides, videos, and glossary entries, catering to various skill levels and interests.Binance Academy's mission is to make blockchain and cryptocurrency knowledge accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of expertise. The platform is available in more than 30 languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, and more, reaching millions of users worldwide. Binance Academy covers diverse topics, from basic concepts to advanced trading strategies, ensuring that users can expand their understanding and stay updated on the latest industry developments.Binance Academy's content is completely free, with no advertisements and no requirement for payment or registration. This allows everyone to learn at their own pace and access information without any restrictions. Furthermore, Binance Academy offers a Learn and Earn program, which allows users to earn crypto while learning about Web3 through interactive quizzes and videos.How To Use Binance Sensei?Are you ready to harness the power of Binance Sensei to enhance your blockchain learning experience? Follow these simple steps to make the most of our new AI chatbot — available exclusively on Binance Academy.Step 1: Visit Binance AcademyTo begin, navigate to the Binance Academy website.Step 2: Locate the Bot IconOn the Academy page, you'll notice a bot icon. Click on this icon to access Binance Sensei.Step 3: Engage with Sensei via the ChatOnce the chat window opens, type in your question or keywords of interest. Binance Sensei will provide you with a concise, approximately 150-word summary (TL;DR) tailored to your needs.Step 4: Explore Recommended ReadingsIn addition to the brief summary, Binance Sensei will also suggest three relevant articles to further expand your knowledge on the topic. Dive into these resources to gain a deeper understanding and satisfy your curiosity.By following these straightforward steps, you'll quickly unlock the full potential of Binance Academy and experience a more efficient and engaging learning process. Get ready to immerse yourself in the vast world of Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency with Binance Sensei as your personal AI-powered mentor.

Ajman: H.E. Abdullah Al Muwaiji, Chairman of the Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), confirmed that the interest of the UAE in employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and accelerating the pace of benefiting from its technologies will be directly reflected in the growth of the economy, the volume of trade, and the enhancement of investment attractiveness by increasing productivity through faster and more accurate data analysis, and saving time and effort in accomplishing tasks in addition to developing government services in general and improving the quality of life.He said that during a seminar entitled "AI and Its Impact on the Economy", in the presence of H.E. Dr. Amna Khalifa Al Ali, Board member of the Ajman Chamber and Chairwoman of the Ajman Business Women Council (AJBWC), H.E. Salem Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the ACCI, the Ajman Chamber's employees.At the beginning of the seminar, Abdullah Al Muwaji welcomed the attendees, explaining that the seminar aims at enhancing awareness among the Ajman Chamber's employees of the importance of technology and its applications in the economic, commercial, and investment fields, in preparation for enhancing their knowledge about benefiting from AI techniques and providing proactive value-added services that serve the business society in Ajman.The Seminar dealt with the AI nature as it is "a revolution in computer science and technology, and it can be used in many fields to improve human life and develop societies," pointing to the diversity of its uses and utilization in various fields, including "industry, e-commerce, banking and insurance services, transportation, logistics services, and other fields.”The Seminar reviewed advanced AI technologies and their contribution to attracting direct investments by analyzing economic and trade data and predicting future trends for economies, as well as improving industrial processes and increasing productivity, in addition to integrating innovation, research, and development and benefiting from them in the economic sector in general, which increases the attractiveness of countries using these technologies as an ideal destination for investment.The attendees were briefed on the AI impact of artificial intelligence on the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (4IR) as the driving force and key driver for future industries, and on the diversity of its uses in growing industrial production, controlling automated processes, reducing costs, and improving quality.The Seminar also discussed the risks of using AI technologies, including increasing unemployment rates, increasing gaps between countries, and security and privacy by collecting and using the data of individuals and institutions.The Seminar recommended the need to take the necessary measures to achieve a balanced and orderly use of AI in a manner that preserves economic, social, and environmental interests, and protects individual and moral rights.