Middle East in strong position for AI innovation: report

While there is a noticeable gold rush for artificial intelligence (AI) globally, enterprises in the Middle East are matching the zest of their counterparts in other regions in integrating AI into their processes.

According to a report by Dell Technologies (NASDAQ: DELL), Middle Eastern companies, particularly those in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are innovating with AI at an advanced pace. The report surveyed hundreds of business executives in the region, detailing integration processes, employee upskilling and concerns bordering on real-world application.

All surveyed firms from Saudi Arabia indicated an interest in integrating generative AI into their existing business processes, while an impressive 95% of UAE-based firms showed a similar commitment.

Despite the interest in generative AI, there remains a measure of uncertainty surrounding a blueprint for adoption, with nearly half of all surveyed respondents unsure of the future of AI in the workplace over four years.

There appears to be a consensus over the immediate impact of integrating the technology with respondents pointing at improved productivity, workplace efficiency, equality, and customer experiences. However, achieving the perks will not be a walk in the park with enterprises urged to promote AI innovation to the heart of their operations.

“Organizations seeking to stand out in today’s disruptive market must pivot from innovation being a side project to it being deeply embedded into their corporate identity,” said Mohammed Amin, Sr. VP, CEEMETA, Dell Technologies.

Nearly 80% of the firms in Saudi Arabia and the UAE argue that introducing AI into their business processes will introduce a raft of challenges that could upset the delicate balance of the business ecosystem. Meanwhile, 75% say that privacy and security issues rank at the top of their AI fears, forcing firms to brace for impact via a range of guardrails.

A bulk of surveyed respondents are proceeding with a “zero-trust” strategy for deployment while nearly 90% disclosed the presence of an incident response plan to crack down on potential security breaches. The companies are exploring avenues to increase the capacity of their data infrastructure to satisfy the growing demand for AI innovation with industry heavyweights favoring a hybrid model over an on-premises strategy.

Mirroring government efforts

Several experts have opined that the initiatives by private sector firms in the Middle East merely reflect the power plays by governments in the region. For instance, Saudi Arabia has pledged a $40 billion investment fund into AI to diversify its oil-based economy, opening its doors to a clutch of technology heavyweights.

On the other hand, the UAE is pursuing a wholesome approach toward AI, focusing on deepening its talent pool for emerging technologies to meet the staffing demand of local and global firms. The UAE has relaxed the licensing demands for AI developers while offering grants to fledgling companies developing public AI use cases.

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