Almost three in four (71%) retail investors in the UAE hold stocks in companies engaged in artificial intelligence (AI) development, according to a survey(1) from trading and investing platform eToro. This highlights a broad recognition of AI technology's potential as a driver of innovation and competitive advantage.UAE retail investors' engagement with AI extends beyond the stocks in their portfolio. When asked about their use or plans to use AI tools such as ChatGPT to select or adjust their investments, 39% reported they are already using such technologies. Millennials are at the forefront of this trend, with 40% of 25-44 year-olds already utilising AI technologies. They are closely followed by Baby Boomers and Gen X investors, at 39% and 38% respectively. For Gen Z investors, the proportion drops to 33%.Highlighting the central role AI could play in future investment strategies, alongside those already using AI tools, a further 52% of respondents also said they are open to adopting the technology to guide or modify their portfolio in the future. This trend defies generational stereotypes, with the older cohorts of investors leading the charge. 60% of Baby Boomers showed a keen interest in integrating AI into their investment planning followed by Generation X (58%). Younger generations show interest at slightly lower rates with 55% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials saying to be open to trying AI tools.“Microsoft’s recent US$1.5 billion investment in Abu Dhabi’s G42 is a big endorsement of the UAE’s potential as a global AI hub, which is reflected in the survey results showing widespread AI adoption by local investors and consumers, said Ben Laidler, Global Markets Strategist at trading and investing platform eToro.  “AI stocks were the performance juggernauts of 2023, leading the tech sector revival and propelling the S&P 500 into bull market territory. AI trends helped make NVIDIA and Meta the best S&P 500 stock performers of last year, with their share prices tripling. Whilst we’re unlikely to see a repeat performance in 2024, the benefits of AI’s rapid adoption are broadening across the stock market and economy as it rapidly moves from hype to reality.”AI stocks dominate UAE investment choices in Q1eToro also looked at which companies saw the biggest proportionate change in UAE-based holders on its platform quarter-on-quarter and found that AI stocks were the most popular theme in the first three months of the year.In the first quarter of 2024, NVIDIA, Taiwan Semiconductor, Advanced Micro Devices, Adobe, Intel and Microsoft all featured as ‘top risers’ among UAE investors (see Table 1).Ben Laidler added: “The increased investment in these companies is indicative of investor confidence in the AI sector’s continued growth and ability to offer substantial returns in the long term. This also aligns with the UAE’s efforts to position itself as a hub for technology and innovation.”Table 1: Stocks that have the biggest proportional increase in holders on the eToro platform among UAE-based users quarter on quarterRankCompanyIncrease in UAE-based holders QoQ1NVIDIA Corporation45%2Boeing37%3Advanced Micro Devices Inc31%4Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd - ADR31%5Adobe Systems Inc25%6Intel18%7Tesla Motors, Inc.17%8Visa13%9Apple10%10Mastercard9%11NIKE8%12Microsoft6%-Ends-The survey, commissioned by the trading and investing platform eToro, sampled 1,000 retail investors residing in the UAE. The survey was conducted from 4 April – 9 April 2024 and carried out by research company Appinio. Retail investors were defined as self-directed or advised and had to hold at least one investment product including shares, bonds, funds, investment or equivalent. They did not need to be eToro users.

Cyber Gear and Bellamy Alden Institute for AI-Enablement have partnered to create an AI Workshop for executives who wish to learn the power of ChatGPT and GPT-4 to boost the productivity of their operations. The workshop will be held on 5 March from 9 am to 1 pm at Villa Rotana Hotel in Dubai.According to Sharad Agarwal, CEO of Cyber Gear, “This workshop focuses on helping senior executives grasp the transformative power of Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4 and ChatGPT to drive operational efficiency and strategic innovation in your business.”About the TrainerFahed Bizzari is the founder of the Bellamy Alden Institute for AI Transformation and ChatGPT Accelerator.With a track record of 18 years in software development, over 3,000 hours mastering ChatGPT, two decades in entrepreneurship, and years in consulting and training, he is an international thought leader in the professional application of ChatGPT. This diverse and substantial experience makes him the authority on ChatGPT you'll want to listen to. Moreover, he's fine-tuned his communication skills with significant investments, ensuring that you're learning and truly engaged.He has a genuine mastery of ChatGPT, an intuitive understanding of its practical applications, and a knack for making the complex easily understandable. He can relate to those who are new to ChatGPT and can speak the language of professionals from all walks of life. When you learn from him, you're getting insights that are deeply informed and exceptionally well communicated.Course CurriculumEmpower Your LeadersGain LLM clarity to integrate AI seamlessly into strategic planning.Harness practical, innovative LLM applications for departmental growth.Adopt a visionary mindset for a culture of continuous AI advancement.Experience hands-on LLM tools to drive effective unit-specific solutions.Build risk awareness to navigate AI implementation challenges.Advance Your OrganisationLeverage LLMs for strategic insights, enhancing decision-making and efficiency.Boost operational productivity and cost-effectiveness through AI integration.Elevate customer satisfaction and loyalty with LLM-enhanced service models.Upskill your workforce with AI literacy, fostering a culture of innovation.Mitigate risks and protect operational integrity during AI adoption.

OpenAI's AI chatbot ChatGPT is back in the hot seat in Europe, this time facing renewed data privacy concerns from Italy's Garante data protection authority. After temporarily banning ChatGPT in 2023 over alleged EU privacy violations, Garante's investigation has uncovered further potential breaches, according to a statement on Monday.While details of the specific concerns remain undisclosed, they likely center around data collection and user consent practices during training of the AI algorithms. OpenAI, backed by tech giant Microsoft, maintains its practices comply with EU regulations and emphasizes efforts to minimize personal data usage. OpenAI has 30 days to respond to Garante's claims and defend its practices.This renewed scrutiny makes Italy the first European country to raise red flags about ChatGPT twice, highlighting the growing regulatory focus on AI and its potential privacy implications. The EU, a leader in data protection, has already taken steps towards regulating AI through its 2018 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the recent provisional agreement on AI frameworks. Under GDPR, violators can face hefty fines of up to 4% of their global turnover.The investigation and potential consequences for OpenAI serve as a cautionary tale for developers of AI systems. Balancing innovation with responsible data handling is crucial to navigate the increasingly complex regulatory landscape in Europe and beyond. Transparency, user control, and minimizing data collection remain key principles for AI developers aiming to avoid regulatory hurdles and build trust with users.

Riyadh-based Al-Moammar Information Systems Company (MIS) has made a splash in the international AI scene, snapping up a $5 million stake in leading AI research lab OpenAI. This strategic investment, announced on the Riyadh Tadawul bourse, reflects MIS's commitment to capitalizing on the explosive growth of AI and positions it as a key player in this transformative technology. The deal, secured through a private stock sale round of OpenAI employee shares, underscores OpenAI's soaring valuation, now pegged at a staggering $86 billion. Decisive Capital Management, a respected Swiss firm, advised MIS on this strategic move.This investment builds upon a recent decision by MIS's board of directors to allocate $10.7 million towards an international AI investment portfolio. By seizing opportunities in this burgeoning field, MIS aims to gain crucial access to cutting-edge technologies and propel its own growth.OpenAI, at the forefront of AI research, boasts groundbreaking achievements like ChatGPT, a large language model revolutionizing natural language understanding and innovation. With this investment, MIS aligns itself with a trailblazer shaping the future of AI, potentially unlocking valuable insights and partnerships for its own ventures.MIS's bold move sends a clear message: Saudi Arabia's tech sector is on the rise, ready to seize the immense potential of AI and redefine its role on the global stage. This strategic investment promises not only substantial returns for MIS but also opens doors for future collaborations and knowledge transfer, accelerating the Kingdom's journey towards a vibrant AI-powered future.

Authored By Marc Baillavoine, CTO, Video Network, SynamediaIf 2023 was the year that ChatGPT took over the headlines, 2024 will be the year where technologists across all industries, including video streaming, will go beyond the soundbites and start using AI to transform the user experience and business operations.For example, by the 2027 Rugby World Cup (where, as a Frenchman I believe France will fare better…), ads will be less intrusive and super-targeted, benefiting from AI-based dynamic ad insertion. AI will analyse your viewing behaviour to understand your tastes, habits and preferences. It will then insert personalised ads directly into your programming. No longer will you see the French team wearing logos from brands you have no interest in.As a fan, this enhances my viewing experience. As a technologist, this is the tip of the iceberg because the possibilities AI brings can feel endless – a feeling that energizes us to constantly innovate.Energy-inefficiency will start to become extinctThe greening of streaming is a catchy phrase – and those who haven’t caught on will no doubt be left behind in 2024.In our daily lives, we shut off the lights when we leave the room because it saves energy. Why wouldn’t we do the same for video processing? It’s this exact question that led us to the development of Quortex Play just-in-time streaming. You use it when a viewer calls for content, and you turn it off when they do. The concept is simple, but the energy efficiency impact is massive.Across all other industries, energy efficiency is a top business concern. It’s no longer a choice to think about carbon emissions, it’s an absolute must. We’re already seeing more RFPs – especially from public companies and large corporations – that require the ability to demonstrate energy efficiency in their requests, which factors heavily in their rating and decision process. In 2024, we will see the launch of more energy-efficient solutions, while not impacting viewer experience.There was once a time when the “consumerisation of IT” was all the rage in the enterprise. In 2024, we will see “the YouTube-isation of television” dominate demand in a similar fashion. Per-user, hyper-customisation of content across platforms and devices will dominate demand User experience on YouTube and TikTok is all based on previous viewing. If you watch a cat video, your feed will no doubt be filled with cat videos from other sources. Most YouTube viewers don’t care who created and owns the content, as long as it is engaging.In 2024 this level of hyper-customisation will dominate across TV and streaming, beyond the likes of Netflix who are already personalising experiences. There are technologies available to make customisation dynamic. If we look at what “just in time” technologies like Quortex Play and advanced CDNs can do, there’s no doubt that the technology is there. It’s now a matter of getting businesses on board with finding new routes to monetisation that they may have previously disregarded out of fear of losing subscriber mind-share – for example by deeply personalising their ads, providing per-user targeted ads or even adapting the content in real time, based on the individual subscriber’s taste and likes.With streaming service churn rate holding steady at 47% globally according to Parks Associates, the argument for retention centers back on content availability and user experience. Viewers will come to a service if it has content they’re interested in and the experience is seamless. There’s no doubt that linear TV as we know it will slowly fade out and be replaced by Spotify-like TV experiences that cater to each subscriber’s own personal sequence of programmes and ads.Those players – service providers and content owners alike - who recognise this first and invest in user experience and a dynamic content library will be the ones to thrive.Technologies that enable adaptive advertising will be top sellersAds will become more subtle yet more engaging. We will see ads on the football field using technology overlays that are targeted to that exact user or household. You will see your favourite character munching on the latest flavour of your preferred snack while your neighbour will see theirs – all dynamically.Today, when an advertiser purchases an ad spot, they are for a certain time slots either pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll… But in 2024, we expect ad buys to be made based on time + placement on screen. This means there could be a lower ad rate when a snack is positioned on a counter at the back of the scene compared to when the main character is eating it.What’s more, brands will benefit financially from this new data-driven ad placement strategy. Performance marketing is a hot trend in CTV today – where brands pay based on the success of their ads. Insights about click-throughs and even purchases mean brands will pay the appropriate amount based on the exact reach of their advertising. In an upcoming Tour de France, expect to compare notes with your neighbour on what ads you see on the yellow jersey cyclist’s shorts.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:– Anthology, a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, is hosting their annual conference for clients in the Middle East for the first time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.More than 150 instiutional leaders, industy experts and instructors from 56 institutions across the Middle East are expected to attend the the two day conference on 13 – 14 November. The event is hosted by senior executives of Anthology, including Chief Executive Officer Bruce Dahlgren; President of Global Markets Joe Belanardo; and Senior Vice President of EMEA, Oleg Figlin.Anthology Together Middle East will feature keynotes by Anthology leaders and panel discussions on the most important issues facing higher education today, including the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).Executives from Anthology will be joined on stage by leaders in their fields from universities across the Middle East.“Saudi Arabia is home to some of the world's leading higher education institutions,” said Anthology Chief Executive Officer Bruce Dahlgren. "We believe that these institutions, with their commitment to academic excellence, are at the forefront of shaping the future. Our choice to host this conference in Riyadh reflects our commitment to our clients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East, and our dedication to building solutions in direct partnership with our clients and the learners they serve.”Product and Report Launches at EventAnthology will launch their latest AI-facilitated feature, Authentic Assessments, at the event. Set for release in December, the feature in Blackboard Learn Ultra utilizes learning objectives and course material to develop prompts aligned to Bloom’s Taxonomy that promote critical thinking like analysing, creating, and evaluating. The feature addresses the evolving challenges of academic integrity in the era of artificial intelligence.News at the event also includes the results of a global survey conducted by Anthology on the use and perceptions of AI in higher education. More than 5,000 higher education leaders and current students from countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, Brazil, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, participated in the survey.Key findings of the report highlight the positive approval of AI in Saudi Universities:49% of students in Saudi Arabia feel that artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionise education.Students in Saudi Arabia are among the most frequent users of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, with 32% saying they use the tools weekly. Students in Saudi Arabia reported the highest likelihood that their use of generative AI tools will increase significantly in the next six months.  Download report: AI in Higher Ed: Hype, Harm, or Help, Spotlight on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.  Anthology Together will conclude with an awards ceremony, recognizing excellence in education. The following institutions will be honoured on Tuesday, 14 November:Saudi Electronic University: Excellence in Inclusion and DiversityKing Faisal University: Excellence in InnovationAl-Qassim University: Excellence in InnovationKing Khalid University: Excellence in Community EngagementAl-Baha University: Excellence in Community Engagement "Rafed"Tabuk University: Excellence in Training and DevelopmentNajran University: Excellence in Training and DevelopmentHa'il University: Excellence in Advancement and TransitionShaqra University: Excellence in Advancement and TransitionBoard Middle East: 2023 Strategic Channel Partner

Snap Inc has unveiled Lens Studio 5.0 Beta, which offers several new benefits. The announcement was made at its sixth annual Lens Fest 2023 event. The new version of Lens Studio supports more advanced AR development by collaborative teams. The new version offers several new benefits such as:Better performance for building more complex AR projects, and now projects load 18x faster. The compamny teamed up with Open AI to offer a new ChatGPT Remote API. Now, any Lens developer can leverage ChatGPT in their Lenses, unlocking new types of learning, conversational, and creative experiences for Snapchatters. Also, a new 3D face mask generator enables anyone to build their first potentially viral self-expression Lens within a matter of seconds, combining Gen AI and Snap's state-of-the-art face mesh capabilities.5.0 Beta also supports version control tools like Git for better project management. Multiple developers will be able work on projects at the same time. AR developers from around the world attended the event to celebrate the innovation and creativity of community, and share new tools for building the next generation of AR experiences. According to Snap, there are now 330,000 developers building on Snap’s AR platform who have created nearly 3.5 million Lenses, which in the last year have been viewed by Snapchatters more than 3 trillion times.The company said that its mission is to offer this growing AR community the most advanced tools available to build next-generation experiences for the Snapchat community and beyond through Camera Kit and Spectacles. Beyond new tools, Snap is continually finding new ways to support developers as they build their business and audience on its platform. Last year Snap introduced Lenses with Digital Goods so developers could build business models directly into their Lenses. Now, Digital Goods are available to any developer so they can offer exclusive AR features within a Lens that Snapchatters can unlock for a fee. A new section of Lens Explorer will promote Lenses with Digital Goods so they’re easy for Snapchatters to find and try.Snap has also seen great momentum with our Lens Creator Rewards programme which kicked off this summer, offering a monthly reward of up to $7,200 dollars for top-performing Lenses in selection regions. In the first month, more than 45,000 Lenses opted in, generating over 5 billion Lens interactions by Snapchatters.

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is poised to have a profound economic impact, with the potential to contribute an astounding $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030 and an anticipated injection of SR511 billion ($136 billion) into the Saudi national treasury, as reported by PR consultancy firm W7Worldwide, citing PwC.Moreover, AI is proving to be highly beneficial in the realm of public relations, as evidenced in a report titled "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Relations Industry," published by W7Worldwide, a prominent marketing communication agency based in Saudi Arabia. This technology empowers professionals to scrutinize extensive datasets, enabling the detection of trends and patterns that enhance their comprehension of target audiences. This data-driven insight, in turn, facilitates the optimization of social media campaigns, the identification of potential influencers, the assessment of PR effectiveness, and the anticipation of forthcoming market and business trends.Additionally, AI chatbots and virtual assistants, like "ChatGPT," enhance user experiences by overseeing a wide array of tasks, including responding to customer inquiries, scheduling appointments, and even conducting interviews. This delegation of routine tasks liberates PR professionals to focus on more strategic responsibilities, such as formulating strategies and engaging with the media.The report underscores the pivotal role of AI in crafting PR content and tailoring its delivery to specific audiences by leveraging data pertaining to customer preferences, purchasing behaviors, interests, and ideal communication channels and timing. AI-powered writing tools excel in generating press releases, posts, blogs, and other written content with remarkable accuracy. However, it is important to note that, while these tools are invaluable in specific scenarios, they have not yet reached the level of sophistication required to fully replace human writers.Furthermore, the report addresses the challenges and mounting concerns related to AI's impact on the PR industry, encompassing worries about job displacement due to automation, the potential generation of misleading or fraudulent content necessitating stringent fact-checking, and ethical considerations regarding AI application, particularly concerning data privacy and bias.The report underscores the PR industry's ability to adapt, having effectively managed the digital transformation in previous instances. PR professionals have demonstrated their ability to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape and can replicate this success with AI. This entails staying informed about the latest AI technologies and applications, comprehending their functionality, and harnessing them to enhance their businesses and maintain their leadership within the industry.

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.

Despite the mounting concerns surrounding the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the field of public relations, AI applications have ushered in a host of benefits for PR experts. The industry is urged to embrace the ongoing AI revolution, empowering PR professionals to master the tools and software at their disposal, according to a statement by PR consultancy firm W7Worldwide.W7Worldwide, a prominent homegrown marketing communication agency based in Saudi Arabia, has published a report titled "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Relations Industry." This comprehensive report delves into the influence of AI on public relations, its advantages, the challenges it presents, and how PR professionals can leverage AI applications to contribute to the realization of Vision 2030 goals within the digital economy. (You can access the full report here: https://bit.ly/3Q55dHj)The report highlights AI's potential to contribute a staggering $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. In the context of the Saudi economy, the infusion of AI is projected to add $135 billion to the national treasury by 2030, as per global consultancy firm PwC.The report elucidates that AI has conferred significant benefits upon the public relations industry. It empowers professionals to analyze vast datasets, identifying trends and patterns that enhance their understanding of target audiences. This data-driven insight, in turn, facilitates the optimization of social media campaigns, identification of potential influencers, measurement of PR effectiveness, and prediction of forthcoming market and business trends.Beyond this, AI chatbots and virtual assistants, like "ChatGPT," enhance user experiences by handling a spectrum of tasks, from responding to customer inquiries and scheduling appointments to even conducting interviews. This delegation of routine tasks liberates PR professionals to concentrate on higher-level responsibilities, such as strategy development and media outreach.Content Creation: The report underscores AI's role in crafting PR content and refining its delivery to specific audiences, guided by data on customer preferences, purchasing behaviors, interests, and optimal communication channels and timings. AI-powered writing tools excel in producing press releases, posts, blogs, and other written content with remarkable accuracy. However, it is essential to note that these tools, while invaluable in specific scenarios, have yet to attain the sophistication required to replace human writers entirely.Challenges and Concerns: The report addresses challenges and mounting apprehensions regarding AI's impact on the PR industry. These include concerns about job displacement due to automation, the generation of misleading or fraudulent content necessitating rigorous fact-checking, and ethical considerations in AI application, particularly concerning data privacy and bias.The report underscores the adaptability of the PR industry, which has previously navigated the digital revolution. PR professionals have demonstrated their ability to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape and can replicate this success with AI. This involves staying informed about the latest AI technologies and applications, understanding their functioning, and harnessing them to enhance their business and maintain industry leadership.W7Worldwide advises PR professionals to acquire new skills, enabling them to effectively utilize AI-powered tools and software while addressing potential challenges. It further encourages vigilance in monitoring emerging industry trends, especially in the continuously evolving PR domain."

ENOC Group, a leading integrated global energy player, announced a partnership with South African company ‘Shop Beat’ to enhance customer engagement and delivery of a unique shopping experience across ZOOM convenience stores. Through the partnership, ZOOM gains access to Shop Beat’s innovative in-store audio solution that seamlessly integrates music, advertising messages, broadcasts, and prayer times. The solution will also feature the “Adhan” for the first time in petrol stations in Dubai using tailored latitude/longitude calculations to ensure accurate implementation.Underscoring ENOC Group’s dedication to customer-centric innovation, the solution aims to redefine ZOOM’s retail experience among the customers. The adoption of the solution is expected to elevate customers’ day-to-day experience offering an immersive shopping environment that not only entertains but also informs customers, revolutionising the way they interact with brands and products.His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC, said: “As part of our commitment to advancing customers’ experience, ENOC Group is dedicated to adopting innovative solutions contributing towards the development of the country’s retail sector. This partnership underpins the Group’s commitment to bringing cutting-edge digital solutions while enhancing service excellence.”In line with the UAE’s vision to strengthen and build a sustainable economy, ENOC Group continuously aims to drive innovation across the Group through the launch of multiple initiatives. This includes the integration of Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service into the Group’s business operations, leveraging ChatGPT AI capabilities, launching an accelerator programme “NEXT” to cater to the increasing demand in the UAE for innovative fuel supply solutions, as well as the 'Masar' programme, which is focused on digital integration across all divisions.Launched in 2009, ZOOM has become part of everyday life for the UAE residents, offering access to a wide range of products on-the-go. ZOOM has a variety of formats ranging from service station C-stores to mini-marts and stores on the Metro network as well as large scale standalone supermarkets in several residential communities such as The Sustainable City, JLT, as well as at the human-centric city of the future-Expo City Dubai.ZOOM accepts a variety of payment methods including VISA, MasterCard, ENOCPay, Nol Payment, Nol Top-up and Dubai Now. Customers can also claim points through the YES rewards programme and get access to exclusive offers and promotions.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The Abu Dhabi Government has continued its announcements of projects and initiatives as part of its participation at GITEX Global 2023.The Abu Dhabi Government pavilion has witnessed a number of major launches and announcements at the event, including the Smart AI Vehicle Inspection by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT); the ‘Unlocking the Potential of Data for the Greater Good’ initiative and the launch of Insights and Foresights Platform (IFP 2.0) by the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD); and the Department of Energy (DoE)’s third phase of the heatmap project which aims to measure the intensity of water and electricity consumption in buildings using three-dimensional techniques.The entities presented their cutting-edge contributions to the Emirate’s digital future, reaffirming the government’s status as a leader in advancing AI and data-driven progress.SCAD’s ‘Unlocking the Potential of Data for the Greater Good’ project aims to develop state-of-the-art technological solutions to establish a unified virtual database. This database enhances the approach of data governance and integration in a secure environment, allowing decision-makers from government entities and the business community - including local, international and emerging companies - to access data repositories from various sectors and sources, with the aim of leveraging this data to make informed decisions. The project also enables ensuring confidentiality and privacy of data; harnessing the latest artificial intelligence techniques for analysis; and providing reliable proactive insights while improving data quality.As part of the centre's unwavering commitment to optimising data, SCAD also announced the launch of the second version of Insights and Foresights Platform (IFP 2.0). This release incorporates advanced features and enhancements to meet user requirements, such as customising platform settings to generate statistical comparisons; creating interactive dashboards; and issuing analytical reports based on geospatial data. Additionally, the enhanced AI-based platform relies on cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques to offer timely nowcasts and forecasts through AI-powered models, equipping decision- and policy-makers with reliable proactive analyses into Abu Dhabi’s economic and social landscapes.His Excellency Abdullah Gharib Al Qemzi, Acting Director General of Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi, said: “The ‘Unlocking the Potential of Data for the Greater Good’ project represents a significant leap towards achieving data-driven excellence. By harnessing the potential of data and utilising the latest artificial intelligence technologies, SCAD aims to facilitate data access, foster collaboration and integration within the business community in the emirate. This is aimed at improving data quality, management and analysis, providing reliable proactive insights and enhancing efforts to protect the security, confidentiality and privacy of data, using it responsibly as we move towards a new era of progress and development."Meanwhile, DMT’s Smart AI Vehicle Inspection project harnesses AI and advanced technologies to conduct thorough vehicle inspections. This initiative incorporates sensors, cameras, machine learning algorithms and computer vision techniques to analyse various aspects of a vehicle's condition, enhancing safety and regulatory compliance.In parallel, DoE introduced the third phase of its game-changing 3D energy and water use intensity heatmap, an advanced system with elevated capability to reduce human intervention in displaying and analysing data by up to 90% while greatly enhancing the level of awareness among consumers in understanding the rate of consumption.The system also provides complete data for more than 350,000 buildings in a period of no more than a minute, and the system provides visual data for more than 72 million monthly readings on a single dynamic map, ensuring comprehensive insights that help make reliable and effective decisions.His Excellency Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy, said: "This project reflects the Department’s continued commitment to pioneering digital government initiatives that aim to enhance efficiency in energy use. GITEX Global 2023 is an ideal platform to unveil this significant project that will enhance our ability to make informed decisions while issuing policies and creating programmes to efficiently manage water and electricity consumption in Abu Dhabi buildings.”Other key showcases from Abu Dhabi Government throughout the exhibition included the Department of Health (DoH) project, Unlocking Better Healthcare, which featured four initiatives: an AI Patient Assistant to help patients navigate the healthcare system; an AI Virtual Doctor enabling patients to access virtual healthcare; an AI-Powered Physician Platform for physicians to access and use data; and an AI Anomalies Detection system to collate and monitor data relating to issues such as medication prescription.Similarly, the Family Development Foundation (FDF) introduced the Digital Social Observer system, automating social phenomenon and issue monitoring to predict and address emerging social challenges and develop tailored programmes to meet the community’s needs. The Digital Integration initiative, also on display, encourages and enables full participation in digital life for senior citizens.Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority (ADSSA) launched its Enhancing Customer Experience initiative, designed to streamline, align and ultimately digitalise processes involved in supporting dependent national families with the aim of improving the customer experience.The Abu Dhabi Chamber showcased Chamber ChatGPT, an AI tool specially designed to enable members to engage with the Chamber’s platform naturally and intuitively leverage natural language processing (NLP) technology.Thus far, the Abu Dhabi Government pavilion, led by the Department of Government Enablement (DGE), has showcased some 20 projects and signed nearly 30 MoUs. The government's continued presence at GITEX Global, now in its twelfth year, is testament to its unwavering commitment to innovation and progress, building on past successes and driving the future of technological advancement.

Following the tremendous success of the 2022 Gamers8 event, the launch of its 2023 iteration was highly anticipated. This year’s event made history as the largest Esports gathering to date, boasting a $45 million prize pool. Gamers8 now firmly stands as a major industry player and has solidified Riyadh’s position as the esports capital of the region. Spearheaded by the Saudi Esports Federation, this year’s ‘Land of Heroes’ event aimed to surpass its predecessor in all aspects, from the prize pool’s size to the scale of games and events hosted in vibrant Riyadh. Gamers8 in 2023 successfully brought the virtual world of esports and gaming to Riyadh’s heart, setting a new industry standard.However, for the 2023 season, the Extend AdNetwork, responsible for strategy, planning, and execution, embarked on an innovative journey to elevate awareness and spark massive engagement for the event. This was achieved by pushing the boundaries and challenging conventional norms, introducing tech-driven, content-centered integration in lieu of the traditional approach, all while targeting a heightened connection with the tech and gaming community.Partnering with Smartifai, Extend unveiled an innovative strategy designed to captivate users and amplify event awareness. This pioneering approach centered around the integration of ChatGPT with contextual tech, generating unprecedented attention for Gamers8. Harnessing the power of generative AI, the entire execution was meticulously designed to seize users’ attention. It achieved this by delivering swift and concise content summaries in both English and Arabic while strategically navigating users to ad content through the integration of video and three distinct visual communications within the ChatGPT ad format. This approach enhanced the reading experience and fostered deeper engagement by developing strategic partnerships with gaming, sports, music, and entertainment publishers.The campaign was launched on a global scale, employing in-screen and in-image ads in international markets while focusing on ChatGPT Ads in regional markets such as KSA and the UAE, complemented by in-screen and in-image ads. The results have been nothing short of remarkable.The campaign achieved an impressive reach, connecting with a unique audience of 4.7 million individuals and sparking a staggering half a million ad interactions.The ChatGPT-led ad format, meticulously tailored to cater to Gen Z and Generation Alpha, successfully tapped into their desire for instant gratification, boasting an astonishing 7% interaction rate, with over 21,000 unique content summaries. Remarkably, nearly 70% of these interactions originated within Saudi Arabia. As the campaign progressed, interaction rates soared to an astounding 16.6% during the final week, surpassing display and social benchmarks in the region.The campaign’s success extended beyond the digital realm, with over 3,500 footfalls recorded at the Gamers8 event’s physical location. Commenting on the success of the campaign, Tareq Al Awar – Head Of Digital Media – Extend, said: "This is a testimony to push our efforts to stay at the forefront of innovation and bring a unique execution to our clients, introducing the latest tech as an early adopter in the Saudi market. We are continually striving to establish ourselves as a key differentiator in our digital offerings to our clients. When we proposed this first-of-its-kind execution, we were confident of achieving exponential results by applying a unique use-case of technologies like Generative AI and its applications to advertising that enhance the user experience and set new industry standards for creativity and engagement."Adel AlMeqren, The Head of Marketing & Branding at the Saudi Esports Federation, emphasized the historical significance of these achievements, proclaiming that Gamers8 is in the process of making Saudi Arabia a global epicenter for esports and gaming. He further underscored that Gamers8’s willingness to explore and implement something truly new and unique in the industry signifies the organisation’s commitment to innovation and its open-minded approach to marketing strategies.AlMeqren’s remarks shed light on Gamers8’s determination to break away from traditional marketing practices, highlighting their readiness to embrace novel ideas and execute them successfully. This forward-thinking approach not only distinguishes Gamers8 but also positions Saudi Arabia as a pioneering hub for esports and gaming innovation.In response to the campaign’s success, Herman D’Souza, Co-Founder of Smartifai, emphasized the pivotal role played by Extend, under the leadership of Tareq Al Awar, in shaping the outcome of the Gamers8 2023 digital activation campaign. Furthermore, Islam Haggag, Media Manager, played a vital role in orchestrating the campaign’s media presence and impact, further reinforcing the synergy between collaboration and execution in achieving remarkable outcomes through the Gamers8 unique activation.The 2023 Gamers8 event has not only shattered records but has also ignited a blazing trail of success, illuminating the path for a future where esports and gaming take center stage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. As the gaming world continues to evolve, Gamers8 remains at the forefront, leading the charge towards new horizons and unprecedented triumphs.

Dubai: Nokia Bell Labs’ Head of AI Lab Research said today the massive opportunities brought by generative AI also bring with them new responsibilities for businesses and governments.Sean Kennedy, speaking at the Dubai Assembly for Generative AI, discussed the complexities of developing AI technologies that emulate human thinking: “We are living in an age of AI, and with this comes a host of new opportunities, but it also comes with new responsibilities – we have to deliver these technologies in the most responsible way possible.”In his keynote speech, ‘Testing AI's Limits: Mimicking Human and Analytical Thinking’, Kennedy touched on real-world challenges where AI systems have faced difficulties. Such instances underscore the need for AI systems to think "outside the box" and continuously improve their decision-making processes, he said.During a fireside chat, ‘The UAE Amidst the GenAI Revolution’, Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei, Executive Director and Acting Chief AI Researcher, Technology Innovation Institute (TII), shed light on the UAE's pioneering role in the generative AI industry and the significance of open-source models.Dr. Almazrouei shared insights into the development and impact of Falcon, an open-source Large Language Model (LLM) introduced in 2022. Falcon was designed to outperform existing models and make advanced AI technology accessible to a wider audience. Dr. Almazrouei highlighted the model's remarkable capabilities, placing it on par with industry leaders like ChatGPT and Google Bard.Dr. Almazrouei said: “Today, we are already at a global scale, and Falcon is a flagship generative AI technology around the world. Today, the UAE is in the frontier of generative AI industries.”In a panel titled ‘Can GenAI be a Catalyst for the Fourth Wave of Entrepreneurship?’, the founders of Humanism, Daniil and David Liberman, said innovation in the generative AI space will predominantly happen outside large corporations. However, collaboration with big organizations, particularly regarding capital and resources, will be essential, they said.

 The past decade has seen a massive adoption in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), and an increasing number of organizations have been leveraging such technologies to automate their operations to make their products and services better.Despite the extensive use of ML and AI by organizations for some time now, many individual users only had their first interactions over the past few months, and mostly in the form of generative AI like ChatGPT, which has brought AI to the front of the public’s mind, fueling an intensive race for AI development.As with any innovation, the use of AI is expected to have both positive and negative effects on global culture. It’s expected that few will benefit quite so handsomely as cybercrime, though. We live in a digitized age when cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly common, and AI can help streamline criminals' operations, making them more efficient, sophisticated, and scalable while allowing them to evade detection and attribution.According to Fady Younes, Cybersecurity Director, EMEA Service Providers and MEA, Cisco, “Today’s cyberattacks are more sophisticated and relentless than ever before, and they are using the latest technologies to gain grounds. To counter it, there is currently a tremendous amount of innovation in cybersecurity, driven by automation, AI, machine learning, proactive detection and remediation and prevention. That is the goal of security – prevent threats, but when you can’t prevent them, detect them immediately to respond, remediate, and record in real time or near-real time.”Empowering cybercrimeA major area of impact of AI tools in cybercrime is the reduced need for human involvement in certain aspects of cybercriminal organizations, such as software development, scamming, extortions, etc., which in turn will decrease the need to recruit new members and lower operational costs due to a lower headcount.AI presents another avenue for cybercriminals to exploit by utilizing it to analyze enormous amounts of information, including leaked data. This analysis empowers them to identify vulnerabilities or high-value targets, enabling more precise and effective attacks that could potentially yield greater financial gains.Another area of criminal activity that can thrive with AI is the development of more sophisticated phishing and social engineering attacks. This includes the creation of remarkably realistic deepfakes, deceitful websites, disinformation campaigns, fraudulent social media profiles, and AI-powered scam bots.Counteracting cybercrimeOn the other side, cybersecurity professionals, defenders, and law enforcement agencies can harness the power of AI to counteract the advancements made in cybercrime. They can utilize AI to develop innovative tools, tactics, and strategies in their fight against malicious activities.Areas such as threat detection and prevention will be at the forefront of AI security research. Many existing security tools, heavily rely solely on malicious signatures and user input, which render them ineffective for detecting advanced attacks. Consequently, an increasing number of vendors are turning to machine learning (ML) and AI technologies to achieve more precise and effective threat detection. Prominent examples include Cisco Secure Endpoint and Cisco Umbrella utilizing advanced machine learning to detect and mitigate suspicious behavior in an automated manner on end hosts and networks respectively.Cisco Talos, too has been leveraging AI for several years to automate threat intelligence operations such as the classification of similarly rendered web pages, identifying spoofing attempts through logo analysis, phishing email classification based on text analytics, and binary similarities analysis.The rise of AI presents new challenges and great opportunities as its user base and applications continue to expand. The effective and targeted utilization of AI-related technologies will play a pivotal role for cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies in detecting, defending against, and attributing digital criminal behavior.By harnessing the power of AI themselves, however, these entities can enhance their capabilities in combating evolving threats and ensuring the security of digital ecosystems. As the landscape of cybercrime evolves, embracing AI will be instrumental in staying ahead of adversaries.

Communicate, renowned as the foremost industry mediator committed to community-driven initiatives, takes immense pride in presenting the Communicate A.I. Conference. This highly anticipated event is set to take place on 7 September at the renowned Theatre of Digital Art in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai and is the region’s first event focusing on the renaissance of artificial intelligence and what it means for the Middle East’s marketing, communication & advertising industry.As the Middle East and North Africa region witnesses an exponential growth in the A.I. market, this conference is poised to offer unparalleled insights into the transformative potential of A.I. for the marketing, advertising, and communication industry.In an era dominated by buzzwords like chatbots, ChatGPT, Bard, Dall-E, and Novel AI, grasping their genuine impact can be a perplexing challenge. The 'Communicate A.I. Conference' emerges as the beacon of clarity amidst the A.I. confusion. With the A.I. market in the Middle East and North Africa projected to burgeon from $500 million in 2020 to a staggering $8.4 billion by 2026, businesses must harness this technological revolution to ensure their continued relevance and survival. This half-day event will consist of 100+ marketers, advertisers, ad agency executives, chief marketing officers, digital executives and anyone interested in the latest developments of AI communication in the fields of marketing, communications, production, and tech.Distinguished speakers at the conference include:Jennifer Fischer - Chief Innovation & Growth Officer - Publicis GroupeYoussef Hallal - Head of Data Strategy - Media.MonksIrem Limnili Angun - Regional E2E Strategy Lead - EssenceMediaComBhaskar Bateja - Head of Strategy, UAE - Memac OgilvyFabio Medeiros - Head of Strategy MENA - VMLYRAmr Younis - Editorial Director - SocializeHiba Hassan - Head of Graphic Design - SAE InstituteAli Cheikhali - Creative Strategy Lead – GoogleAlfred Manasseh - Co-Founder & Chief Metaverse Officer – ShaffraUrszula Bieganska - Head of Marketing - LEGO Middle EastStephen King - Senior Lecturer in Media - Middlesex University DubaiAsiya Ali - Founder and Managing Director - MKV DigitalThajudeen Abdul Kadhar - Head of Marketing & Strategy - Nasr eSportsTyler Yeom - Group Director, Integrated Campaign - CheilNadeem Ibrahim - Head of Digital - UM KSAAhmed Chatila - Director of Brand & Communication - HungerStationDebbie Botha - Women in AI Global Chief Partnership Officer, Managing Director at Dalebrook Media Middle EastNeamat El Gayar - Director of Artificial Intelligence MSc Program - Heriot-Watt UniversityHussein Dajani - Partner and CMO - Acne Deloitte DigitalErshad Pettiwala - Commercial Director - Virgin MobileMikhail Goldgaber - Founder and Chief Creative Officer - Greybeard ArtsZeinab El Amrawy - Head of Marketing – Subwayand more..Key Highlights: Dive into the workings of A.I., its limitations, and how human intelligence differs.Explore how A.I. is changing the game from driving insights from strategic communications, pushing the limit in creative campaigns to personalizing digital advertising.Witness a compelling clash of viewpoints as industry professionals debate the role of AI in marketing and advertising.Special feature: An interactive session showing Runway AI’s "text-to-video" feature to re-envision the most famous monologue from a science film.Get inspired by industry case-studies whose experiences you can leverage in your own business.Why should you attend?A.I. is transforming the way businesses communicate with their audiences, and this event will provide attendees with valuable insights into the latest trends, strategies, and best practices in A.I.-powered communications. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from top experts in the field, network with peers, and gain a competitive advantage in their industries.Join us on 7 September at the Theatre of Digital Art in Madinat Jumeirah for an immersive journey into the future of communication. Together, let's unlock the potential of A.I. and shape the way we connect, engage, and thrive.

Dubai: The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) announced the registration of more than 46,000 new domain names in the UAE national domain .ae in 2022, bringing the total number of registered domain names to 300,000 until the first quarter of 2023, an increase rate of nearly 20% compared to 2022. Thus, .ae is the most used national domain and one of the fastest growing domains in the Arab region.This increase reflects the interest of government entities, individuals and companies to use the national domain due to its benefits, including giving credibility to the work of the registered entity, in addition to preserving the intellectual and commercial property rights of trademark owners..ae has many features, most importantly providing the best user experience, availability of distinguished names and abbreviations with the ability to match the name to the official website, trademark, e-mail or blog. Entities and individuals can register their activities automatically and in a few minutes, through a list of TDRA-approved registrars to register domain names. The list is available on TDRA’s official website.Commenting on the importance of registering entities and individuals in .ae, Eng. Abdulrahman Al Marzouqi, Director of Policies and Programs Department at TDRA, said: “The UAE has the most developed and competitive economy in the region, and this gives an important advantage for businesses and companies that own a .ae domain, as it enhances the confidence of customers and partners with the organization that owns the domain. This is added to many benefits, including the ease of obtaining a domain, the speed of the procedure, and the possibility of obtaining a name that matches the nature of the business or its name. Today, we have 23 accredited companies in the UAE competing in providing domain registration services at competitive prices.” Al Marzouqi added: “The domain name is an integral part of the trademark of any organization, and we at TDRA attach exceptional importance to the protection of trademark owners. We have embodied this by developing a fair dispute policy to protect trademark owners. TDRA also uses the services of the World Intellectual Property Organization to make unbiased judgments.”In addition to facilitating the identification of the entity and optimizing it on search engine, .ae facilitates the follow-up of the registration process and registrants to achieve a secure digital society. This is achieved by developing and implementing clear policies that prevent misuse of technology and safeguard the digital society.The steady increase in the number of registrants in.ae, which amounted to 20% last year, reflects the economic importance of the UAE, as a major economic hub in the Middle East. Examples of international companies that use the .ae domain include, but are not limited to, Amazon and Google.In order to develop the UAE national domain, .ae website, supported by ChatGPT, was launched this year. It provides several advantages such as speed and the suggestion of distinctive names based on the user’s description of their commercial activity. ChatGPT technology also supports search in Arabic and the local dialect in addition to the English language.

Eduba, a leading EdTech startup with a focus on enhancing the learning journey, announced a potential integration with ChatGPT, a state-of-the-art AI language model. This integration aims to provide students with personalized support and guidance in real-time, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience through improved engagement, performance, and time-saving benefits.The integration would allow students to interact with a ChatGPT-powered chatbot that provides tailored recommendations based on their learning history, preferences, and needs. With natural language processing capabilities, students can ask questions and receive immediate responses in a natural language format, making the learning experience more intuitive and engaging. Additionally, ChatGPT's advanced AI technology can improve students' performance, increase engagement, and make some tasks easier for teachers, such as automated grading. Founder and CEO of Eduba, Azad Hassan, expressed excitement about this potential integration, stating that it will allow Eduba to take its mission of enriching the learning journey to the next level.This integration will also benefit educators by providing them with more accurate insights into student learning and progress through ChatGPT's natural language processing capabilities, which can analyze and interpret student responses, providing real-time feedback and insights to improve teaching effectiveness. It is important to note that the potential integration is still in the planning stages and has not been confirmed. The expected completion date for the integration is October 2023, and additional details will be provided as they become available.

American billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper today expressed his regret at not investing in ChatGPT, believing the Artificial Intelligence-driven chatbot will change industries in a way unseen since the creation of the internet.Draper, whose most prominent investments include Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, and Twitter, was speaking during a session entitled Global Collaboration: The Fuel For Innovation at LEAP23 – the world’s most visionary tech event – which runs at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre until February 9.In front of a packed audience, the California native said the entrepreneurial pitches that catch his attention when looking to uncover his next unicorn are those that most surprise him and those that lean heavily on new technology.“Media, communications, entertainment, they all changed because of the internet,” he said. “Bitcoin is transforming huge industries such as insurance, finance, commerce, and government. But I think we have another one now and that is ChatGPT. I’m sorry I didn’t invest in that one. It is extraordinary and it’s really starting to change industry after industry after industry. I can see an entire government bureaucracy running with ChatGPT; an entire law firm running with ChatGPT, I can see media being driven by it.”Regarding governments, Draper said his travels to some 80 countries worldwide had left him with two clear conclusions when it comes to successful government: “Trust and freedom – you can’t have one without the other. I have been thrilled to see what is happening in Saudi Arabia because these leaders have trusted their people and set them free and attracted other people to their country,” he said. “And I know it’s happened all over this region; a lot of places are starting to really trust their people and set them free, and it makes all the difference. It’s the same as being in North Korea where they don’t trust you to do anything and in South Korea where they trust you to do everything.”Draper also revealed that his California-based Draper University has seen 120 Saudi Arabian students graduate from its 10-week start-up programme, the last five weeks of which are focused on going out into the world and building a business. “We tweak people’s brains to go out and try things,” he added. “We say: ‘Don’t worry about failing, do whatever you can’. One of the lines of our pledge is: ‘I will fail and fail again until I succeed’.”Draper is one of more than 700 speakers presenting at LEAP23, with the talent roster ranging from billionaire entrepreneurs and business magnates to sporting heroes and musical icons. Shortly after the 64-year-old stepped off stage, 17-year-old Gitanjali Rao took his place – two globally renowned innovators representing two very different demographics yet sharing a similar message of not fearing failure, embracing mistakes, and persevering until success is achieved.Rao, an American student, author, and STEM promoter, has already created an array of patented innovations, from a program that can diagnose snake bites to a device that can detect lead in drinking water; a digital AI service that reduces cyberbullying to an electrically charged pollen screen that prevents airborne allergies.“A teacher told me once that fail stands for ‘first attempt in learning’ and I stick with that on a daily basis,” said Rao, who was named Time magazine’s top young innovator in 2020 and named on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list for her innovations. “Be a risk-taker – never stop taking risks. Failure is just another step to success.”A three-time TedX speaker, Rao outlined to LEAP23 attendees her “five-step innovation process that normalises failure”: Observe, brainstorm, research, build, and communicate. Having shared the process with children as part of an innovation movement in the USA, Kenya, Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and the UAE, among others, Rao presented it in front of a packed-out conference hall filled with men and women of all ages and nationalities.“Observe: identify a problem in your community that you are passionate about,” she said. “Secondly, brainstorm: Come up with a list of solutions and focus on quantity over quality – it’s always important to come up with as many solutions as possible. Third: Research, which is when you narrow down that list of solutions to one or two. Next, build them and bring them to life. And finally – the most important and underrated step – communicate. Post about ideas, leverage the power of social media. Get feedback and ask questions to improve.”With more than 100,000 tech innovators and disruptors in Riyadh this week, LEAP23 is expected to help fast-track Saudi’s economic and societal transformation. The enduring legacy of this year’s event, which is powered by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in conjunction with Tahaluf – a strategic joint venture co-owned by Informa PLC and SAFCSP – is expected to be a huge catalogue of breakthrough products, ideas, and partnerships.Michael Champion, Regional EVP of MEA at LEAP23 organisers Informa Markets, said the involvement and insights from such inspirational figures as Draper and Rao can only support the technological development of Saudi Arabia, which announced nine funds worth a combined US$2.4 billion on Tuesday, all intended to support the growth of start-ups in the Kingdom as it embarks on creating a more competitive tech ecosystem.“The speaker line-up at LEAP23 is unlike anything this region has seen before. It will help drive the development of Saudi, the wider region, and the entire global tech industry,” said Champion. “This is only the second day of the event’s second year, yet we are already seeing that LEAP is fast becoming unmissable on the international calendar of entrepreneurs, startups, and venture capitalists worldwide.”