Dubai: IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, announced its participation in Telecoms World Middle East 2023, being held on 30-31 May 2023 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. The company will showcase their AI driven IFS Cloud suite of solutions, which delivers a composable, single enterprise platform enabling Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to optimize service, project, and asset management. Speaking on its participation in the event, Markus Persson, Telecommunications Global Industry Director at IFS says, “The native 5G stand-alone landscape is accelerating and moving towards cloud creating an increase in assets and the rise of IoT. These changes further amplify the unique value that IFS Cloud delivers to the telecom industry. The build-out of 5G and the new B2B industry use cases are exciting opportunities, and IFS is the ideal partner to support CSPs in the Middle East region since we not only support the network build-out itself, but we also have deep expertise in the other industry verticals that telecom operators and infrastructure providers are addressing with new B2B industry use cases”.Markus Persson is presenting at the event and will speak on “AI-powered field service evolution: Optimize your assets, workers, and projects to scale operational efficiency and excel in the Moment of Service.” As part of his session, he will be showcasing how IFS enables some of MENA’s leading brands, including Saudi Telecom Company to increase process and field engineer efficiency, improve margins, and deliver a better customer experience. The session will explore how IFS empowers CSPs and communication infrastructure providers to manage their assets and resources from a single innovative platform, enabling optimization at an unparalleled scale and quicker decision-making always based on up-to-date real-time data.With IFS Cloud, CSPs can access all IFS solutions and capabilities from a single product suite built on a common platform with common persistence storage. From AI-powered workforce planning and scheduling optimization and integrated mobile support for field workers to industry-leading field service management and enterprise asset management, all IFS solutions are inherently integrated to ensure accurate data sharing across the entire business, enabling more agile and efficient operations. “Our telecom customers choose our software to support their digital transformation initiatives by replacing legacy systems with scalable, future-proof technology that offers embedded innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, and augmented reality,” adds Markus.IFS is continually recognized by technology analysts such as Gartner and IDC for its deep industry expertise. It is also the only telecom-focused vendor that is a Gartner and IDC leader in both Field Service Management and Enterprise Asset Management. Industry experts from IFS will be present at booth no. E54 to showcase to visitors the latest IFS Cloud solutions that enable CSPs to maximize profitable service-based revenue streams and increase their agility and efficiency.  

Dubai: Deloitte, the world’s leading provider of professional services, announced the return of its global flagship AI and Analytics event, Experience Analytics, to the Middle East. The event will take place on Thursday, May 18th, at The Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, offering a platform to explore emerging technology solutions tailored to address opportunities unique to the Middle East region. Experience Analytics will be attended by over 450 guests including C-suite, senior executives, leaders and experts in Data, Analytics and AI, who will address key issues and challenges, as well as explore strategies, solutions and best practices. Mutasem Dajani, CEO Deloitte Middle East said, “Experience Analytics is the ideal forum to engage in discussions and the exchange of ideas on the best means to leverage emerging technologies that are truly shaping our present and future. Leaders and experts across the public and private sectors will get together in Riyadh, which is the ideal place to host this forum, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing today an unrivalled rate of development, and the resulting socioeconomic transformation will be surely accelerated by these emerging technologies.”The agenda will pivot around key themes that help better understand the impact of Data, AI and Analytics on businesses, society and individuals. Through over 30 sessions of Ted-X style talks, panel discussions, live demonstrations and interactive lab activities, this all-day event will allow attendees to engage with thought-leaders, learn from industry-peers and explore the latest insights and trends in data and AI.Data is everywhere, it is all around us. In our homes, our workplace and even our pockets. In fact, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is created around the world, every, single, day. The pace of which this data is produced, is only going to accelerate with the further adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) and future technological innovation. So, how do we make sense of this data? How do we make it accessible, clean, secure and usable to help drive insights, value, profits and sustainability within organizations? If you are interested in attending Experience Analytics

Doha: Ooredoo, the leading ICT enabler in Qatar, announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lenovo, a global technology leader. The MoU paves the way for the two companies to collaborate on innovative solutions for the B2B sector, with a focus on data sovereignty, private 5G solutions, advanced AI solutions and High-Performance Computing (HPC) as a service.The signing of the MoU took place recently at Ooredoo's Headquarters in West Bay and was attended by Ooredoo’s Chief Business Officer, Thani Ali I A Al-Malki and Lenovo's General Manager META, Alaa Bawab, who both signed the agreement. Senior executives from both sides were also in attendance, including Ooredoo Qatar’s CEO, Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Bin Mohammed Al Thani.The agreement between Lenovo and Ooredoo is aimed at deploying Lenovo’s cutting-edge solutions across various industries, including healthcare, oil & gas, scientific research and public safety. These solutions will provide the necessary computing power and storage capacity to process and analyse vast amounts of data, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses, more precise research, and more effective public safety measures. Lenovo's global experience as a leader in HPC, cloud, and edge computing will drive scientific and technological advancements in Qatar.There is increasing demand for advanced computing and storage solutions that enable real-time processing and analysis of large datasets in different sectors such as retail, healthcare, education and energy. To meet this need, Lenovo and Ooredoo will work together to bring in advanced technological solutions that deliver data sovereign Hybrid Cloud with 5G capabilities to their customers. These solutions will allow customers to process and store sensitive data in-country and at the edge, providing an extra layer of security and compliance.Thani Ali I A Al-Malki – Chief Business Officer, Ooredoo – said: "We are excited to enter into this strategic partnership with Lenovo that will see us further enhance our business offerings. Ooredoo is always on the look-out for new solutions to support the growth of businesses in Qatar, with the aim of creating solutions that will enable businesses to thrive and providing our customers with more innovative and upgraded services. This collaboration will enable us to do just that. We are confident that the partnership will result in significant benefits, and deliver transformational digital experiences to our customers."Alaa Bawab, General Manager at Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group, META said: “We recognise the value of telecommunications and aim to collaborate closely with Ooredoo to offer AI-powered solutions for the challenges on the road to a more connected future. Our high-performance computing service intends to drive scientific breakthroughs and our 5G-in-a-box approach promises diverse applications like traffic monitoring, public safety, manufacturing and logistics. Our solutions are customisable and tailored to meet specific requirements. Partnering with Ooredoo will establish a sustainable ecosystem in Qatar, providing the necessary infrastructure to support innovative research and bolster economic growth.”By collaborating closely with partners such as Lenovo, Ooredoo further demonstrates its strategic commitment to offering the Ooredoo advantage to business customers.

Dubai: CABSAT 2023, the premier exhibition for content creation, production, distribution, digital media, satellite communication and space technology, will commence tomorrow, Tuesday May 16, 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. In its 29th edition, CABSAT 2023 will co-locate with the inaugural edition of Integrate Middle East, bringing together the region's professional audio-visual (Pro-AV) and media technology communities.Taking place from May 16 to 18, 2023, the two dynamic exhibitions will unveil emerging trends and growth opportunities across industries. Attendees can discover the future of Middle East broadcasting, technology, satellite communications, and the thriving media and entertainment sector, projected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 12.9% from 2021 to 2027.[i]While media and communication technologies have brought significant benefits to this sector, CABSAT tackles critical challenges in content monetisation, competition, infrastructure, and more. Join the conjunction of these events to connect with innovative content creators, producers, broadcast technology providers, and satellite distribution experts.CABSAT 2023 will also feature some of its most anticipated initiatives, including the Content Congress, where the challenges of producing high-quality content, as well as ways to resolve them, will be discussed. During the event, the SATEXPO Summit will highlight the importance of the satellite industry and its readiness to use cutting-edge technologies like automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), while also discussing various strategies for leading sustainable space activities.Similarly, the ‘NEXTGen Content Screening’ initiative will also return to showcase the latest Middle Eastern and African content in both scripted and non-scripted formats from various genres.Another new and notable aspect of CABSAT’s 2023 edition is its co-location with Integrate Middle East, which is anticipated to be a leading forum and sourcing platform for technology leaders and integrated solution buyers in the Pro-AV industry. Leaders from the production and broadcast industries, including those from Warner Bros., Discovery, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, Abu Dhabi Film Commission, and from Pro AV and media tech communities including Voodooh; Behind the Stage; Quest, Epson Europe B.V., Calyx and others, will address the attendees during scheduled conferences and panel discussions for both events.These thought leaders and industry experts will offer valuable insights from the summit sessions that will concentrate on relevant and timely industry topics, including emerging revenue streams, phygital stores with XR, digital signage, immersive audio, IoT-enabled Pro-AV for smart buildings, and more, for the Pro-AV and media industries across the globe.Flagship forums like CABSAT and Integrate Middle East allow guests and exhibitors to find, connect, and drive strategic initiatives with key representatives in order to advance the industry. Both exhibitions are expected to draw more than 14,000 visitors and have a significant impact on the global satellite communication, production, and distribution sectors. 

Dubai: The AI generative art platform BlueWillow is taking down barriers to entry and boost inclusion in AI art by offering unlimited free access to all. Unlike other AI art platforms where users get limited features and bandwidth for free, BlueWillow users will now be able to generate any number of AI art pieces without facing a paywall.While BlueWillow’s services are free to use, a community member may choose to pay for any of the four different payment tiers and support the platform’s growth.In only three months since its launch, BlueWillow attracted over 1.4 million users, and it’s now set to attract an even bigger audience. BlueWillow has also announced its support for multiple native languages in a bid to attract members from diverse cultural backgrounds.Beyond that, BlueWillow is extremely focused on user feedback to ensure that the most reasonable feedback gets translated into features either in the upcoming web app or somewhere in the development roadmap. On that front, BlueWillow even set up Focus Groups to better understand user needs and implement those into the BlueWillow platform.With such levels of freedom in AI art, BlueWillow users get a completely new, innovative avenue for brainstorming design and content ideas. The streamlined approach of BlueWillow can help anyone from marketing professionals to artists, designers, and game developers to strengthen their creative workflow without any payment or language barriers.Our platform will be the top choice for anyone enthusiastic about using artificial intelligence to create stunning artwork and imagery that meets their personal and professional requirements," states Hector Ferran, VP of Marketing at BlueWillow. He explains, "As a company, we firmly believe that AI-based image generation is the future of visual content creation, and at BlueWillow, we take great pride in being at the forefront of this field. Our goal is to make AI-based image generation available to everyone, and offering unlimited free access to users is helping us achieve this."BlueWillow is also working on a web app to make the platform easily accessible. The web app is currently in its beta version and comes with the gallery feature only, allowing community members to view all the art they’ve generated. Upon full launch, community members will be able to access BlueWillow through a user-friendly web interface as compared to current Discord server access only. Today, creatives can use BlueWillow to produce high-quality images quickly and easily for various use cases like social media posts, marketing materials, and web designs. It allows them to create high-fidelity visual assets, from anime characters to life-like photographs, effectively reducing the gaps between physical and virtual realities. BlueWillow is thus catalyzing the holistic evolution of generative AI while opening up novel avenues for its positive implementation. 

Dubai: Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, hosted the 10th session of its regular digital industry workshops, focusing this time on software development and artificial intelligence (AI) industry.The workshop brought together top executives, business leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.Commenting on the event, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said: “The UAE is committed to unlocking the full potential of digital economy, which has grown two and a half times faster than global GDP over the past two decades. The UAE is involving all relevant parties in building a clear roadmap to stimulate digital industries, and ensure that current government policies, initiatives and strategies promote innovation and business friendliness for all sectors.”As Dubai aims to become a preferred destination for international digital investment and global tech talent, it is attracting a growing number of software development professionals. This is in line with the UAE’s plans to provide 100,000 golden visas to the best computer programming talent both in the UAE and across the globe.The UAE is targeting to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031, with several priority sectors, including Resources & Energy, Logistics & Transport, Hospitality, Healthcare, and Cybersecurity. The ‘UAE Digital Economy Strategy’ aims to double the contribution of the digital economy to the UAE's gross domestic product (GDP) to 19.4 per cent within 10 years.Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy is committed to achieving the UAE’s ambitious goals and further establishing Dubai as a leading hub for software development and artificial intelligence.

A new survey of more than 500 senior IT leaders reveals that a majority (67%) are prioritizing generative AI for their business within the next 18 months, with one-third (33%) naming it as a top priority.Despite the interest, most IT leaders have technical and ethical concerns with the technology that could impact its adoption in the coming year.The data highlights the potential of generative AI, and shows what IT leaders will need to prime their tech infrastructure, data strategy, security and ethical guidelines, and employee skills necessary for the massive opportunities ahead.Many senior IT leaders see generative AI as a ‘game changer’ and a tool to better serve customersThe majority of senior IT leaders (57%) believe generative AI is a ‘game changer.’ They believe the technology has the potential to help them better serve their customers, take advantage of data, and operate more efficiently. This outlook is echoed even among the skeptics — 80% of those who say the technology is ‘over-hyped’ agree that generative AI will help them better serve their customers.Ethical, operational concerns draw skepticism Thirty-three percent of those surveyed feel that generative AI is ‘over-hyped,’ with concerns that the technology brings the potential for security risks (79%) and bias (73%).Concerns extend beyond just those who feel the technology is ‘over-hyped’ — a majority of the 515 IT leaders surveyed are skeptical about the ethical implications of generative AI. Almost six in 10 (59%) believe generative AI outputs are inaccurate and almost two-thirds (63%) agree there is bias in generative AI outputs (e.g. misinformation and hate speech). In addition, 71% agree generative AI would increase their carbon footprint through increased IT energy use.Security risks, integration, and siloed data are top barriers to generative AI implementationBusinesses aren’t yet prepared for successful implementation: 65% of senior IT leaders can’t justify the implementation of generative AI at the moment. Surveyed leaders report major barriers to using generative AI successfully within their organization, and security barriers are particularly top of mind among those currently using the technology.Because of these barriers, nearly all respondents (99%) believe their business must take measures to equip themselves to successfully leverage the technology.Collaboration can address generative AI’s technical and ethical concernsEthical use must underpin the use of generative AI. But despite raising ethical and security concerns, leaders aren’t yet sure how to put ethics into practice — about one-third (30%) of businesses believe they must have ethical use guidelines to successfully implement generative AI within their business.The responsibility is on businesses to work together and knowledge-share to make generative AI a reality across the enterprise. Leaders see collaboration as a key tool to ensure the technology is functional and used in an ethical way.The majority (81%) of senior IT leaders believe generative AI should combine public and private data sources.Most (82%) senior IT leaders think businesses should work together to improve the functionality of generative AI technology.Over 8 in 10 (83%) senior IT leaders think businesses must work together to ensure generative AI is used ethically.“Generative AI represents a step change in how organizations across industries will analyze data, automate processes, and empower sales, service, marketing, and commerce professionals to grow customer relationships — but it comes with new risks and challenges,” said Clara Shih, CEO of Service Cloud, Salesforce.