The landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving and UAE is playing a pivotal role in driving AI innovation, experts from e& and Microsoft said in the latest episode of AB Majlis.
Maitha Alsuwaidi, Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft UAE and Dena Almansoori , Group Chief AI and Data Officer at e& Group, engaged in a thought-provoking discussion, shedding light on the transformative potential of AI and the collaborative efforts underway to harness its power responsibly.
“We have come to the realisation that the opportunity that AI brings is significant. And taking this back a little bit towards the middle east landscape and the UAE landscape specifically, the PwC study that was recently done stated that AI is set to contribute around $320 billion dollars in the Middle East GDP by 2030, where the UAE is actually expected to lead it with 13.6 percent of its GDP contribution attributed to AI by 2030,” Alsuwaidi highlighted.
“I mean, we are in one of the most pivotal moments in human history, AI has the potential to create real positive impact the power to solve some of our biggest challenges from sustainability to health care, and ensuring we build it, shape it and deploy it responsibly is absolutely critical,” Almansoori emphasised.
Setting the stage: The global AI landscape
She painted a picture of AI’s transformative potential, emphasising its capacity to address global challenges across diverse sectors, from sustainability to healthcare. Almansoori also stressed the critical need for establishing robust legal frameworks and regulations to ensure equitable AI deployment and advocated for comprehensive upskilling and reskilling programmes to prepare individuals and industries for the AI-driven future.
Alsuwaidi echoed the sentiment, highlighting the collaborative nature of AI innovation and the emergence of groundbreaking solutions from both established corporations and startups.
UAE’s leading role in AI: Projections and initiatives
The conversation shifted to the UAE’s AI landscape, with projections indicating significant contributions to the GDP by 2030. Almasoori underscored the UAE’s proactive approach, exemplified by the establishment of the AI and Advanced Technology Council and substantial investments in AI initiatives.
Alsuwaidi elaborated on Microsoft’s longstanding presence in the UAE and recent advancements, including the introduction of Azure’s open AI service, poised to accelerate AI adoption across various sectors.
“This will advance the use of AI and AI use cases across different entities in the UAE, which is great because we’re seeing a huge massive appetite from those entities given the overall strategy of the UAE when it comes to this,” she explained.
AI applications in the UAE: Innovations across industries
Both experts highlighted diverse AI applications in the UAE, showcasing the technology’s transformative impact across industries such as finance, entertainment, and healthcare.
Almansoori presented AI-powered innovations, including an AI observer integrated into corporate boards and personalised customer experiences in theme parks and financial services while Al-Suwaidi emphasised Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing productivity through AI co-pilots embedded in M365 and Dynamics products, revolutionising workplace efficiency.
“We are taking all the steps necessary to ensure that we are able to accelerate the adoption of AI. Looking at even the large language models that we built, we built some of the best in the world that are able to compete with the best in the world,” Almansoori emphasised.
Addressing misconceptions and skilling initiatives: Navigating the AI landscape
Acknowledging common misconceptions surrounding AI, both experts underscored the importance of human-centric AI deployment and the creation of new job opportunities. They discussed initiatives aimed at upskilling the workforce, including Microsoft’s AI graduate program and collaborations with educational institutions to integrate AI education from a young age.
As AI continues to evolve, collaborative efforts and responsible deployment will be crucial in realising its full potential for societal benefit. With Microsoft and e& leading the charge, the UAE stands poised to shape a future where AI serves as a catalyst for innovation, growth, and positive transformation across all sectors of society.
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