Gulf Business Tech - October 2023

010 | 2023

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GITEX GLOBAL 2023: The 43rd edition is poised to be bigger and better

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CONVENIENCE IS KING: How digital payments have transformed the financial ecosystem

EXPANDING HORIZONS

MASER’S PRATEEK SURI AIMS TO GROW THE GROUP’S GLOBAL PRESENCE BY LEVERAGING ITS UAE AND AFRICAN OPERATIONS

Calling all podcasters and content creators!

Whether you are looking to record, edit or manage your podcast, our fully equipped podcast and video recording studio has it all.

The key factors that digital business models should consider in elevating brand loyalty are simplicity, value, flexibility, consistency and service quality.”

— Rob Beswick, managing director, Virgin Mobile UAE

EXCLUSIVE PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TIMEPIECES FROM AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS

Painting by Ihab Ahmad

Photograph by Greg Newington

The Review

P.48 Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Earbuds

The earbuds offer clear highs and deep, rich bass sound with low distortion, featuring 360 Reality Audio

Editor-in-chief

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer

Managing partner and group editor

Ian Fairservice

Chief commercial officer

Anthony Milne

anthony@motivate.ae

Publisher

Manish Chopra

manish.chopra@motivate.ae

EDITORIAL Editor

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Acer Predator

Triton 16

The laptop features up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processors, supported by a new hybrid core architecture

Neesha Salian

neesha@motivate.ae

Tech editor

Divsha Bhat

divsha.bhat@motivate.ae

Digital editor

Marisha Singh

marisha.singh@motivate.ae

Senior feature writer

Kudakwashe Muzoriwa

Kudakwashe.Muzoriwa@motivate.ae

Senior art director

Freddie N. Colinares

freddie@motivate.ae

PRODUCTION

General manager – production

S Sunil Kumar

Production manager

Binu Purandaran

Production supervisor

Venita Pinto

HEAD OFFICE: Media One Tower, Dubai Media City, PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 427 3000, Fax: +971 4 428 2260, motivate@motivate.ae

DUBAI MEDIA CITY: SD 2-94, 2nd Floor, Building 2, Dubai, UAE, Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845

ABU DHABI: PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel: +971 2 677 2005, Fax: +971 2 677 0124, motivate-adh@motivate.ae

SAUDI ARABIA: Regus Offices No. 455 - 456, 4th Floor, Hamad Tower, King Fahad Road, Al Olaya, Riyadh, KSA, Tel: +966 11 834 3595 / +966 11 834 3596, motivate@motivate.ae

LONDON: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK, motivateuk@motivate.ae

Cover: Freddie N. Colinares

SALES & MARKETING

Senior sales manager

Sangeetha J S

Sangeetha.js@motivate.ae

Group marketing manager

Joelle AlBeaino

joelle.albeaino@motivate.ae

A GULF BUSINESS INITIATIVE

Celebrate Saudi’s Creative Legacy

Athar - Saudi Festival of Creativity is the Kingdom’s platform for the creative marketing community. In honour of Saudi’s creative excellence, the Athar Festival will culminate with an exclusive awards night and gala dinner.

Meet the who’s who of the Kingdom’s creative marketing industry in an informal setting, see the winners of the agency, brand and network of the decade as verified by Cannes Lions and Dubai Lynx, witness the reveal of special awards for the most creative marketers & agencies, and recognise young talent in the region.

Be part of a night to remember!

BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW - ATHARFESTIVAL.COM/AWARDS

AWARDS NIGHT & GALA DINNER

CROWNE PLAZA RDC BALLROOM, RIYADH

THE FEED

GITEX T

he 43rd edition of Gitex Global, the UAE's annual technology event, is making a grand return from October 16-20. This year, the event is expanding significantly across two massive venues: the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai Harbour.

While DWTC prepares to host more than 6,000 exhibitors, Expand North Star, the startup tech event hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, will kick off from October 15-18 at the Dubai Harbour venue, featuring 1,800 startups from over 100 countries.

Gitex Global's comprehensive ecosystem comprises 10 co-located shows: Gitex Global, Ai Everything, Gitex Impact, Future Urbanism, Global Devslam, Superbridge Summit Dubai, Expand North Star, Fintech Surge, Future Blockchain Summit and Marketing Mania. It will cover 41 exhibition halls, spanning 2.7 million square feet of exhibition space – a 35 per cent increase over the previous year, hosting leading technology giants and startups specialising in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, mobility, sustainable tech and more.

Over five days, attendees can look forward to a jam-packed schedule featuring conferences, live workshops, exclusive networking opportunities, and the chance to explore the latest technological innovations in action.

WHAT’S NEW?

GITEX CYBER VALLEY

The event will discuss how cybersecurity can mitigate rising cyberthreats. It will cover key components such as:

Gitex CISO Lounge: A platform where the top 150 chief information security officers from various industries will discuss, exchange industry

THE MIDDLE EAST'S POPULAR TECH EXPO RETURNS ON OCTOBER 16, BRINGING US THE LATEST INNOVATIONS AND REDEFINING THE NEWEST TRENDS

GLOBAL

insights, and address common challenges alongside their peers.

Cyber Workshops: The workshops will provide visitors with insights into proactive strategies for combatting modern cyberthreats, offering an understanding of effective approaches to safeguarding organisations.

Collaborative Hackathons: It will also feature hackathons involving tech companies. With over 500 participants participating in five challenges, the objective will be to address global tech issues and find solutions to combat cyberthreats.

AI EVERYTHING

Led by Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and the Office for Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications in the UAE, the fifth edition of Ai Everything will serve as a global gathering, uniting the AI community, including major enterprises, public sector representatives, and AI professionals, as they navigate the intricate landscape of technology reshaping both business and society.

GLOBAL DEVSLAM

Supported by Coders HQ, an initiative of the UAE government and endorsed by the Python Software Foundation, Global DevSlam grants exclusive access to C-level visionaries, government dignitaries, and a diverse international coding community. The event will continue to offer scholarships to support talented individuals from across the globe in coding and development.

GITEX IMPACT

Gitex Impact will foster advancements in climate solutions, ESG investments, sustainable finance, and collaborative public-private ventures. Attendees can explore the globe’s most influential tech communities driving progress in Sustainability Tech, ESG Strategies, AI, robotics, HealthTech, DeepTech, EdTech, FinTech, Metaverse, Web3, coding, future mobility, and many other transformative domains.

FUTURE URBANISM

Future Urbanism takes centre stage in propelling the urban revolution and shaping the cities of tomorrow. It assembles urban visionaries, developers of megacities, and sustainable technologies to create a global hub for sourcing solutions to construct intelligent, sustainable and resilient urban communities.

SUPERBRIDGE SUMMIT DUBAI

The SuperBridge Summit will establish connections and foster unity among leaders from the world’s most rapidly expanding economies. “As the UAE forges ahead with its visionary economic agenda via advanced collaborations and enduring strategic partnerships, the SuperBridge Dubai Summit will create new opportunities for innovation and co-creation in emerging global economies, said Helal Saeed Al Marri, director–general, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and DWTC. “This powerful summit alongside Gitex Global and Expand North Star will be the new cornerstone of an international investment roadmap by accelerating entrepreneurial innovation across government, business, society, and culture,” he added.

EXPAND NORTH STAR

Across four days, Expand North Star will present some of the top startups from over 100 countries and welcome 1,000 VCs.

The event will deliver a content programme debating the big stories of 2023, including a flash storm of generative AI startups, and more than 70 unicorn founders on stage give their opinions.

This platform allows startups to shine as well as grow through mentorship, product showcases, meetings, pitch competitions and conference sessions.

FINTECH SURGE

With a strong emphasis on embedded finance, enhancing customer experiences, and setting benchmarks for global fintech strategies, the Middle East and North Africa will host a gathering of international fintech leaders. This event promises to unveil the technological advancements in paytech, insurtech, regtech, wealth and asset management and digital banking, presented by more than 100 global financial services firms. With over 100 thought-provoking discussions featuring global regulators, financial institutions, and unicorns, this summit will redefine fintech strategies within the region. Additionally, targeted meetings will involve over 1000 startups, tech buyers, and investors.

QUICK SHOWCASE

Avaya

Avaya will demonstrate solutions that harness AI to reimagine the way customer and employee experiences are delivered. The solutions on display will also show how organisations can chart their own path to delivering these AI-enhanced experiences without disrupting existing operations. “No two words capture the current business zeitgeist better than ‘artificial intelligence’. The capabilities being delivered by AI are super-charging organisations’ ability to innovate with their customer experiences,” said Nidal Abou-Ltaif, senior vice president – global head of sales, Avaya and president, Avaya International.

Pure Storage

Pure Storage will demonstrate new additions to the portfolio such as FlashArray//E, the latest addition to the company’s flagship FlashArray family of products, which delivers the efficiency of flash for all file and block data repositories, from content libraries to backup sets to active archives. It will also showcase FlashBlade//E, a storage for unstructured data repositories. “Customers come to us for infrastructure which supports their business needs and frees up teams to focus on strategic tasks. At Gitex Global, we will be showcasing solutions which

FUTURE BLOCKCHAIN SUMMIT

The Future Blockchain Summit, the blockchain event, is relocating to Dubai Harbour and will take place from October 15-18, 2023. During the four-day event, industry leaders will have networking opportunities, access to valuable insights, the chance to compete for growth funding in the Supernova Challenge, participate in the Investors Program & Forum, enhance their expertise through Academic Masterclasses, and engage in a Web3 Gaming Showdown.

MARKETING MANIA

Marketing Mania is the sole marketing and creative technology trade exhibition in the MENA region that unites marketing experts seeking the latest technologies and strategies to elevate their marketing endeavours.

are unique in helping customers to implement the most modern, simple storage delivered with a cloud operating model and via flexible consumption,” commented Omar Akar, regional vice president – Middle East and Emerging Africa, Pure Storage.

Cloud Box Technologies

Cloud Box Technologies will present its solutions portfolio that enables digital transformation among customers across various industries, including healthcare, banking and finance, retail, manufacturing and education. The company will highlight its specialised capabilities in on-premise digitisation, its NOC and its pre-emptive managed detection and service capabilities. Ranjith Kaippada, managing director at Cloud Box Technologies, stated: “This year at Gitex Global, we will also showcase our complete cybersecurity solutions, including our latest addition – a security operations centre (SOC). We have set it up primarily as a watchful custodian of our customers' digital assets. With our SOC, we can now support our customers in fortifying their cybersecurity defences and protecting against growing cyber threats in the fast-changing digital ecosystem.”

Liferay

Liferay’s platform facilitates organisations in building, launching and managing custom digital solutions. This

approach propels data-driven tailored experiences across stakeholders – B2B, B2C, B2E, G2G or G2C – through digital channels. It offers the flexibility to streamline applications, and with Liferay Experience Cloud, organisations can create a broad range of custom solutions, including customer experiences, employee portals and solutions for suppliers, distributors and retailers. Moussalam Dalati, general manager – Middle East and Africa, Liferay, highlighted, “We firmly believe in equipping businesses with the tools to build and deliver exceptional experiences while capitalising on existing skills, proficiencies and deep industry expertise. We focus on creating opportunities for organisations to craft their applications and systems on a robust platform, thereby eliminating the need for extensive investments.”

Sophos

Sophos will showcase its advanced cybersecurity solutions including its managed detection and response at Gitex Global. The company will also highlight its incident response retainer, which provides organisations with speedy access to its fixed-cost incident response services. Harish Chib, VP – MEA at Sophos said: “We recently released the Active Adversary Report for Tech Leaders 2023 which mentions that it took on average less than a day – approximately 16 hours – for attackers to reach active directory (AD). It typically manages identity and access to resources across an organisation, meaning attackers can use AD to escalate their privileges on a system to log in and carry out a wide range of malicious activity. At Gitex, we look forward to sharing insights on the challenges faced when it comes to targeted, active attacks that are planned and carried out by human operators as adversaries are constantly modifying and evolving their toolkits to stay one step ahead of cybersecurity professionals.”

SolarWinds

SolarWinds will present its product portfolio at Gitex Global, alongside it’s value-added distribution partners in the region – CyberKnight and Spire Solutions. Among the products presented include its full-stack observability products, comprehensive database management portfolio and IT service management solutions and AI-powered product innovations. “We help companies to manage increasingly complex hybrid and

multi-cloud environments to accelerate digital transformation, drive automation, modernise applications and migrate to the cloud. By enabling IT teams with increased visibility, intelligence and efficiency, we are making it easier for them to manage their environments faster, and they are better equipped to maximise the overall value IT provides to businesses. We invite visitors to join SolarWinds' top executives and engage with our engineering, product and sales teams who will also be on hand to guide visitors through the live product demos at the boot,” said Abdul Rehman Tariq Butt, regional director – Middle East, SolarWinds.

SentinelOne

SentinelOne will showcase cloud data security product lineup, including the recently launched, Threat Detection for Amazon S3 and Threat Detection for NetApp. These solutions are specifically designed to address the growing complexities of malware attacks in cloud ecosystems, providing robust protection to businesses operating in cloud spaces. During the event, the company will host live demonstrations of the advanced threat detection technology deployed in these products and their efficiency and effectiveness in automating malware scanning in NetApp and Amazon S3 storage environments. “Our presence will underscore the pivotal role that SentinelOne plays in redefining cybersecurity and safeguarding businesses against emerging threats, and we are keen to share insights and best practices to help leading organisations prevent threats, reduce risk and keep their systems and data safe,” stated Meriam El Ouazzani, regional director – META at SentinelOne.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine will present its suite of IT solutions, which include a portfolio of over 60 products that addresses a variety of IT market segments such as IT service management, operations management, endpoint management and security, advanced analytics and more. “We have participated in every edition of Gitex Global since 2007. The tech show has proven to be a terrific platform for us to expand our brand to a much wider audience in that region. Gitex Global is very important to us, and we expect that this year's event will give us more opportunities to interact with our customers, partners and prospects which will enable us to better understand and meet their IT needs,” commented Sujoy Banerjee, associate director – Sales and Business Development – UAE, ManageEngine.

UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE DIGITAL WORLD

DUBAI IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN THE COMING DECADE FOR THE CITY TO BECOME A LEADING GLOBAL DIGITAL ECONOMY HUB

WORDS: KUDAKWASHE MUZORIWA

The advancement of a country’s technology ecosystem has thus become a yardstick of its ability to compete on the global stage. To further Dubai’s digital infrastructure ambitions and become a global hub for a digital economy, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council launched the city’s new cloud technology project in July.

Dubai Digital Clouds is the latest in a series of initiatives that are being implemented in the emirate to create

a world-leading, efficient, agile and reliable digital infrastructure. Digital economy is an integral part of the $8.7tn Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), a strategy that was unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum to mark his 17th anniversary as ruler of the emirate.

From flying taxis to self-driving to crypto regulation, Dubai is laying the groundwork for what is to be done in the coming decade for the city to become a leading global digital economy hub. Its shorter-term ambitious strategy includes attracting more than 300 new digital businesses by 2024 and becoming home to over 20 unicorns by 2030.

A PIONEERING INITIATIVE

Dubai’s economy has thrived over the years, driven by strong digital strategies that are being implemented by the government. The city’s strategy on digital transformation is getting noticed.

Central to Dubai’s future is long-term strategic planning and ambitious visions powered and driven by a high-skilled workforce, technology, and innovation.

Dubai’s Digital Strategy, which aims to bring in a new era of digital transformation in the emirate was launched in June. The city’s new Digital Strategy is based on a vision to digitalise all aspects of life in th eemirate and establish a reliable, robust digital system that enhances the digital economy and empowers a digitally-driven society.

Sheikh Hamdan said, “The period ahead calls for intensifying efforts, strengthening cooperation, and promoting proactive thinking and innovation to achieve major goals.”

The city’s shorter-term ambitions include attracting more than 300 new digital businesses by the end of 2024, to become home to over 20 unicorns by 2030 and have a digital economy worth well over $140bn annually by 2031.

Dubai is offering funding in several formats, including equity, direct lending and loan guarantees to startups and entrepreneurs to nurture a thriving digital economy. In March, the Dubai Future District Fund set a $1.7bn target for assets under management by the end of 2025, a fourfold increase since its founding in 2021, to invest in technology startups.

A UNIFIED ECOSYSTEM

Digital government is considered the path toward enabling national agendas, fostering a digital economy and developing a more sustainable future. From automation and digital government platforms to an Internet-of-Things smart city, Dubai Government is leveraging innovative technology to improve services and the lives of citizens and residents alike.

The city’s digital journey started with the launch of MENA’s first e-government in 2001, which was followed by a smart government initiative in 2013 and then the government-wide digital transformation, which culminated in fully eliminating paper transactions by the end of 2021.

The growth in super apps, platforms that offer an enormous network of services such as Careem, has spread

THE CITY’S SHORTER-TERM AMBITIONS INCLUDE ATTRACTING MORE THAN 300 NEW DIGITAL BUSINESSES BY THE END OF 2024, AND HAVE A DIGITAL ECONOMY WORTH WELL OVER $140BN ANNUALLY BY 2031

DUBAINOW, A GOVERNMENT MOBILE APP, GIVES ACCESS TO MORE THAN 130 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICES FROM OVER 30 ENTITIES IN THE EMIRATE

to Dubai’s public sector with numerous e-government super apps emerging in the city.

DubaiNow, a government mobile app, gives access to more than 130 public and private sector services from over 30 entities in the emirate. Since launch, the government app has processed 20 million digital payment transactions worth more than $2.7bn (Dhs10bn), including four million payments worth Dhs2bn that were processed in 2022.

DubaiPay, a shared payment service allows government entities and service providers to offer payment facilities to their customers. The mobile app allows citizens, residents and visitors to pay using various payment options conveniently and securely.

In April, Sheikh Hamdan unveiled the Hub Nub app, a new communications mechanism that facilitates instant and effective communication between Dubai Government leaders and decision-makers.

Government apps possess potent advantages in the public sector: for citizen end users, they can increase e-government inclusion by unifying services under one credible brand while revolutionising efficiency for government entities.

CITY IN THE CLOUD

Cloud computing is one of the most important underlying technologies for digital transformation. Dubai adopted a cloud first approach for government-affiliated entities to consider cloud computing solutions as a primary part of their information technology planning and procurement.

Consultancy firm OliverWyman said the cloud will be a critical enabler of the new platforms, services, and

THE PERIOD AHEAD CALLS FOR INTENSIFYING EFFORTS, STRENGTHENING COOPERATION, AND PROMOTING PROACTIVE THINKING AND INNOVATION TO ACHIEVE MAJOR GOALS”

A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE

GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain – have made no secret of their ambitions of becoming leaders in driving digital transformation in the world.

The region has realised the importance of embracing digital government transformation and the authorities are implementing initiatives as part of their national plans.

The authorities have made clear emphasis on accelerating digital transformation to meet ambitious national digital agendas and rising citizen expectations, and to rapidly address lingering digital government maturity gaps.

Global consultancy firm Strategy& projected that for every $1 invested in generative AI (GenAI), the GCC region could expect around $9.9 of economic growth, with the overall economic impact of GenAI expected to reach $23.5bn per year by 2030.

GCC governments are increasingly investing in innovative technologies as part of their broader economic diversification strategies, from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025 to Qatar National Vision 2030.

The UAE unveiled a guide for government entities to

adopt AI technology and use it in vital sectors in April to further augment government work models. The country’s national strategies such as ‘We the UAE 2031’, are expected to double the contribution of the digital economy to the GDP from 9.7 per cent to 19.4 per cent over the next decade.

Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in its digital transformation strategy as the kingdom expects the development of the fourth industrial revolution solutions to accelerate its shift towards an innovation-driven, knowledgebased economy.

The National Transformation Program’s 2022 report, shows that Saudi Arabia leads regionally and ranks third globally in the World Bank’s GovTech Maturity Index 2022. The kingdom aims to train 20,000 data and AI experts, launch more than 300 active AI startups,

infrastructure that governments and enterprises seek to activate as Dubai forges ahead with its Digital Strategy.

The Dubai Digital Clouds project was unveiled earlier in July. The project seek to establish a world-leading efficient, reliable, and agile digital infrastructure that leverages the most advanced cloud technologies and enhance the efficiency of government services.

It also aims to implement strict cybersecurity standards and policies, creating an enabling environment to support Dubai’s digital economy and aid decision-making processes.

and attract $20bn in foreign investments by 2030.

Global technology companies such as Google, Huawei, Oracle and SAP are also investing extensively in Saudi Arabia. Qatar Digital Government Strategy 2021/26 is fostering the adoption of AI, blockchain, smart digital services and innovative technologies to boost the digital economy.

Similarly, the governments of Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain Kuwait have updated their respective e-government programmes to promote digital transformation in the public and private sectors.

To this end, countries in the Gulf region are harnessing and applying the latest technologies such as big data and analytics, blockchain, augmented reality, virtual reality, AI, 3D printing and robotics to modernise, centralise and streamline government service delivery.

Digital Dubai is working to support government entities to prioritise the transition towards the Dubai Digital Clouds project and select authorised service providers based on the requirements and objectives of each entity.

As Dubai continues to deliver more advanced services to a growing population, the agility, capacity for innovation, and economies of scale afforded by the cloud are critically important. The city will likely double its investments in cloud technologies, including softwareas-a-service and infrastructure-as-a-service to meet the growing demand.

THE LATEST TECH NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD

Arm Holding lists biggest IPO of 2023

Arm Holdings successfully priced its initial public offering (IPO) at the upper end of its range, raising a substantial $4.87bn in what stands as this year’s most significant listing. This move has the potential to inject much-needed vitality into the enduringly volatile equity markets.

The chip designer, currently owned by SoftBank Group, issued 95.5 million American depositary shares at a pershare price of $51. Arm had initially presented the shares with a price range of $47 to $51 each.

The IPO is the world’s biggest this year, surpassing the $4.37bn listing by Johnson & Johnson consumer health spinoff Kenvue.

Meta to end Facebook News in three countries

In a strategic move, Meta announced that it will discontinue the dedicated news section for Facebook users in the UK, France and Germany, effective December. The decision is part of Meta’s broader initiative to realign investments with user preferences. Meta emphasised that news content currently constitutes less than 3 per cent of users’ Facebook feeds. This shift reflects Meta’s commitment to focusing on products and services that resonate most with its audience, underscoring its evolving priorities in the digital landscape.

X to get video, audio calls soon

Elon Musk revealed that X (previously Twitter) will soon be introducing an audio and video calling feature. Musk highlighted that the feature will offer compatibility across Android, iOS, PC and Mac platforms, rendering phone numbers unnecessary for audio and video calls.

Musk referred to X as “the effective global address book” in connection with this development. Announcing the development via a tweet, Musk shared the news, stating, “Video and audio calls coming to X,” and went on to underscore the distinctive aspect of this feature, emphasising its independence from the requirement of a phone number. This announcement hints at a significant advancement in X’s range of features which Musk wants to make into an ‘everything’ app.

Apple switches to USB-C chargers for all of its products

In a significant move, Apple bid farewell to its iconic Lightning charger, marking 11 years since its initial introduction. This pivotal shift signifies Apple’s embrace of USB-C as a universal charging standard. During the iPhone 15 launch event, the tech giant unveiled plans to equip all forthcoming smartphones with USB-C charging, extending this transition to its latest AirPods Pro iteration as well. This transition closely follows the European Union’s legislation, approved less than a year ago, mandating that smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, portable speakers and other small devices support USB-C charging by 2024. This landmark regulation aims to simplify consumers’ lives by reducing the array of chargers and cables required for various devices, enabling compatibility across products from different manufacturers.

US government sues Google

In what is being called the biggest anti-trust trial in the past 20 years, the US Department of Justice has sued Alphabet-owned Google. The search engine giant has been taken to court by the US government for allegedly carrying out monopolistic practices within the online search space. The US Department of Justice filed the suit in 2020, marking a significant legal challenge to the power of big tech companies.

The US Department of Justice has accused Google of using its market dominance to unfairly exclude competitors and establish itself as a gatekeeper of the internet.

TikTok hit by EUR345m fine by EU watchdog

TikTok is facing a substantial fine of EUR345m for violations of EU data regulations concerning children’s accounts, which include the failure to safeguard underage users’ content from public visibility. The Irish data authority, responsible for overseeing TikTok’s operations throughout the European Union, has identified multiple breaches of GDPR guidelines.

The investigation revealed TikTok’s non-compliance with GDPR through actions such as automatically setting child users’ accounts to public mode, insufficiently transparent communication with child users, allowing adults to activate direct messaging for over-16s on a child’s account through the “family pairing” feature, and inadequate consideration of the risks faced by under-13s on the platform who were placed in public settings.

COMPILED BY MARISHA SINGH

BY INNOVATION

BUILDING ON ITS PRESENCE IN AFRICA AND THE UAE, MASER GROUP’S FOUNDER AND CEO PRATEEK SURI

IS LOOKING TO EXPAND THE GROUP’S PORTFOLIO TO STRENGTHEN ITS GLOBAL PRESENCE

COVER STORY

In today’s interconnected world, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, revolutionising how we communicate, entertain ourselves and work. From smartphones to smart TVs and beyond, consumer electronics have played a pivotal role in this techdriven transformation.

In the Middle East and Africa (MEA), the consumer tech industry has witnessed substantial growth, driven by factors such as population expansion, urbanisation and government investments in digitalisation. Among the trailblazers in this dynamic industry is Maser Group, an Africa and Dubai-based company that has emerged as a steadfast supporter of technological advancement. Led by its CEO and founder, Prateek Suri, Maser has become a unicorn with a valuation of $1.9bn, earning accolades and awards across the globe.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE GROWTH

The MEA is a region comprising diverse countries with varying levels of economic development and has experienced a significant surge in consumer electronics demand. This growth can be attributed to several key factors, such as a rapidly growing population, rising incomes, government initiatives, 5G networks, etc. In response to this burgeoning demand, Maser has embarked on a dedicated path of innovation. The brand’s commitment to pushing technological boundaries is evident across its diverse product range, which covers LED televisions, audio systems, washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, irons and refrigerators. Each of these o erings is meticulously designed to embrace the latest advancements in technology, ensuring that customers have access to cutting-edge features and functionalities.

“Guided by a set of core principles and values, we have consistently delivered cutting-edge products that meet and exceed consumer expectations. We place paramount importance on quality and reliability, ensuring our products are built to last and perform consistently. This commitment to quality has garnered trust among consumers,” says Suri.

The company also prioritises affordability, making advanced technology accessible to a wide range of consumers. This approach aligns with its mission to improve the lives of African households. Furthermore, in an era of growing environmental consciousness, where the consumer electronics industry is increasingly embracing sustainability and eco-friendliness, companies such as Maser are at the forefront of this movement, actively working to reduce the environmental impact of their products.

The brand has opted for eco-friendly solutions and manufacturing processes, contributing to a

more sustainable future. “This aligns with the growing ecoconsciousness of consumers, who seek products that not only meet their technological needs but also contribute to a more sustainable and responsible future. As these trends and innovations continue to shape the industry, the consumer electronics sector is poised for sustained growth and evolution,” explains Suri.

OPERATIONS IN UAE AND AFRICA

Maser’s strategic decision to establish its manufacturing hub in Africa while focusing on the African market has proven advantageous. Meanwhile, with its strategic geographic location, advanced infrastructure and technological capabilities, the UAE serves as an ideal warehousing and logistics base for the company. Positioned at the crossroads of global trade routes, the UAE provides unparalleled access to international markets, making it an ideal platform for reexporting Maser’s electronics to diverse destinations. The country’s logistical infrastructure, network of ports and airports, business-friendly policies, and free trade zones have enhanced Maser’s competitiveness and agility in responding to market demands. This advantage has propelled the company’s presence in multiple markets and solidified its reputation as a globally recognised consumer electronics brand.

Meanwhile, Africa’s burgeoning consumer electronics market, characterised by a rising middle class and increasing urbanisation, presents a vast opportunity for growth. The company’s focus on Africa allows the brand to cater to this expanding market with products tailored to local preferences and needs. By aligning the manufacturing process in Africa with the growth potential of the continent, Maser has established a powerful nexus that fuels its success in both regions.

CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS IN THE JOURNEY

DRIVING FACTORS BEHIND MEA’S CONSUMER ELECTRONICS GROWTH  RISING AFFLUENCE

The region’s increasing income levels have fuelled demand for the latest gadgets and electronics

TECH-SAVVY POPULATION

Growth of young and tech-savvy population that have a strong appetite for technology, have created a vibrant consumer base

Like any business, the path to success for Maser Group in Africa and the UAE was not without its challenges. The grey market in the UAE posed a major threat to its business operations. “Unauthorised dealers and resellers in this market often undercut the pricing and distribution strategies, selling products at lower prices. This can dilute the brand’s perceived value and damage its reputation for quality. Additionally, customers may encounter counterfeit or substandard products, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction. To combat the grey market, we continually monitor and take measures to protect our brand image and maintain control over pricing and distribution channels in the UAE,” comments Suri.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

The government initiatives have fostered a favourable business environment for players in the electronics industry

Meanwhile, Africa’s burgeoning consumer electronics market, characterised by a rising middle class and increasing urbanisation, presents a vast opportunity for growth. The company’s focus on Africa allows the brand to cater to this expanding market with products tailored to local preferences and needs”

Meanwhile, navigating regulatory complexities, cultural nuances and logistical intricacies in both regions required perseverance and adaptability. However, the company’s dedication to overcoming these challenges led to the etsablishing of strong local partnerships, investment in market research to understand consumer preferences, and the implementating of e cient supply chain management strategies. These e orts allowed Maser to tailor its products to local markets, cultivate customer trust and establish a foothold in Africa while e ciently using the UAE as a distribution gateway, resulting in remarkable growth and recognition.

MILESTONES SINCE INCEPTION

Since its inception, Maser has marked several significant milestones within the consumer electronics industry. One such milestone is the establishment of the manufacturing hub in Africa, a feat that has enabled streamlined production and global distribution of its products. This strategic move underscores Maser’s dedication to enhancing operational e ciency and ensuring a wider reach for its innovations.

“Our remarkable journey has seen us not only enter but also thrive in the dynamic African market. Through a steadfast commitment to excellence and customer trust, we have become a hallmark brand in the region, actively contributing to the technological advancement of Africa and its inhabitants.

“We have garnered widespread acclaim for our innovation and sustainability. These core values have not only shaped our identity but have also solidified our position as a trailblazer within the consumer electronics sector. Today, the industry recognises Maser as a leader,

setting a high standard for quality, innovation and integrity,” notes Suri.

Taking a bold step towards the future, Maser has embraced the concept of the metaverse, representing an exciting new frontier in the company’s evolution. This pioneering move reflects its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological progress, o ering new experiences and opportunities for its customers and stakeholders.

WHAT’S NEXT?

As a diversified group, Maser is strategically planning for expansion to further branch out its portfolio and strengthen its global presence. At the heart of this strategic trajectory lies a resolute commitment to expansion, portfolio diversification and fortifying its global footprint.

Foremost among Maser’s future aspirations is its dedication to Research and Development (R&D). “We will continue to funnel substantial investments

MASER

IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE EXPLORATION OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL ENABLE IT TO TRANSCEND GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

into R&D, emphasising the pursuit of cutting-edge technologies. These investments are aimed at fuelling the creation of pioneering products that are finely tuned to the evolving preferences and needs of consumers.

“Simultaneously, we are also embarking on a dynamic journey of international market expansion. We are actively engaged in the exploration of opportunities that will enable it to transcend geographical boundaries. This endeavour includes not only the establishment of a broader manufacturing infrastructure but also the development of an extended distribution network. These strategic moves are envisaged to facilitate our outreach to a wider customer base and to firmly establish our presence in burgeoning markets across the globe,” he observes.

A STEADFAST CHAMPION OF PROGRESS

With operations spanning both the African continent and the UAE, Maser Group has e ectively harnessed its distinctive strengths to expand its footprint and solidify its reputation as a globally trusted brand in consumer electronics. In doing so, it has not only catered to the evolving demands of consumers but has also actively participated in shaping the industry’s trajectory.

Maser Group stands poised to retain its leading position within the consumer tech industry. “We will remain committed to driving forward both innovation and sustainability to make a meaningful impact on the lives of consumers not only in MEA but also on a global scale. As technology continues its march forward, we will undoubtedly be a beacon of progress and a source of enrichment for consumers far and wide,” concludes Suri.

SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN SPECIFIC ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

In recent years, the consumer electronics landscape has witnessed remarkable growth in various product categories, reflecting their ever-evolving demands and preferences.

One notable category that has experienced substantial expansion is smart home devices. These encompass a wide range of products, including voice-activated speakers and smart thermostats. Their burgeoning popularity can be attributed to the unparalleled convenience and connectivity features they offer, making daily life more efficient and enjoyable.

Simultaneously, the wireless earbuds and headphones market has seen an impressive surge. Continuous advancements in audio quality propel this surge, integrating cuttingedge noise cancellation technology and the increasing prevalence of remote work and online entertainment, which demand highquality audio experiences.

Another segment that has witnessed rapid growth is fitness wearables, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These devices cater to health-conscious consumers who are keen on monitoring and enhancing their well-being. The ability to track fitness metrics, monitor vital signs, and receive personalised health insights has made these wearables indispensable tools for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.

Several key trends and innovations further fuel the growth of the consumer electronics industry. One such trend is the widespread adoption of 5G technology, revolutionising connectivity across various devices. With faster and more reliable connections, 5G enhances the user experience, enabling seamless data streaming and the real-time functionality of a wide array of devices.

The emergence of foldable smartphones and flexible display technology has also opened new horizons in device design. These innovations o er versatility and improved user experiences, allowing consumers to enjoy larger screens without compromising portability.

Simultaneously, we are also embarking on a dynamic journey of international market expansion. We are actively engaged in the exploration of opportunities that will enable it to transcend geographical boundaries”

SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE

has witnessed the participation of more than 15,000 students from 139 countries across the globe. Its significance has been underscored by the support of over 450 senior officials and heads of state who recognise its pivotal role in shaping the future of ICT talent.

The 2023 edition witnessed students hailing from universities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Oman, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.

WORDS: DIVSHA BHAT

The 2023 edition of Huawei’s Seeds for the Future programme brought together 175 students representing 15 diverse nations. The gathering of young minds praised the programme, highlighting the knowledge they gained during their participation. The event, which was centred on knowledge-sharing and collaboration, saw students from the Middle East and Central Asia (MECA) convening in Qatar.

The Seeds for the Future initiative is an integral part of Huawei’s corporate social responsibility efforts and aims to nurture local ICT talent, foster cross-cultural communication, and drive technological innovation. Since its inception in 2008, the programme

The first phase

This year, Huawei kicked off the programme at an official opening ceremony in the Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, Qatar, under the patronage of Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA).

High-level officials and industry leaders delivered keynote speeches, including Reem Abdulaziz Al Mugbel, acting vice governor for Planning and Business Development, TVTC, Saudi Arabia; Omar Abdulaziz al-Naama, assistant undersecretary for Private Education Affairs, Qatar; Jawad Abbassi, head of GSMA – Middle East and North Africa and Dr Jassim Haji, president, International Group of Artificial Intelligence.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Karimjonov Rustam, deputy minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Kamil Akatov, vice

HUAWEI HOSTED THE TECH4GOOD REGIONAL COMPETITION, TARGETING YOUTH WITH IDEAS THAT CAN ADDRESS SOCIAL ISSUES BY LEVERAGING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES

minister of Science and Higher Education, Kazakhstan.

The first phase of the programme was held from September 2-9 and featured various activities, including immersive learning sessions, engaging roundtable discussions on the latest ICT technologies, and collaborative ‘Tech4Good’ group projects. These activities allowed participants to deepen their understanding of transformative technologies like 5G, AI and cloud computing, enhancing their competitiveness in the dynamic job market and laying a solid foundation for future growth.

A total of 16 Qatari students participated from renowned educational universities in Qatar, including Qatar University, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar Community College and the University of Doha for Science and Technology. The programme also witnessed participation from 15 students from the UAE who hail from the University of Sharjah, UAE University, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, and Zayed University.

Over eight intensive days, the programme immersed participants in a wealth of training sessions and workshops. These sessions encompassed ICT technologies, discussions on scientific and technological leadership, and collaborative Tech4Good group projects.

Through this comprehensive programme, students delved deeper into emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the competitive job market.

An exciting aspect of the Seeds for the Future included visits to vital tech hubs, such as the exhibition hall at Huawei’s headquarters in Qatar, Education City, Lusail Stadium and a tour of Doha. These experiences gave participants insights into the real-world applications of the technologies they are learning about.

Shunli Wang, vice president of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, said: “In the digital era, skilled talent is pivotal to maintaining rapid development, seizing

opportunities, and economic progress. At Huawei, we’re proud to be among the first few global tech companies to leverage its technology and expertise to help narrow the talent gap through programmes like Seeds for the Future. We’re thrilled to host the first phase of the Seeds for the Future programme in Doha and look forward to seeing some of the best regional ICT talents in action.”

Tech4Good

One of the programme’s highlights was the Tech4Good project presentations, where participating students showcased their innovative solutions to drive positive change in their communities. From these presentations, seven teams, each comprising 40 students, were chosen to advance to the second phase of the Tech4Good programme, which took place in Dubai from September 10-16. These teams represented Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

The second phase of the Tech4Good competition concluded at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre in Dubai. Students from Uzbekistan were named the MECA champions; students from the UAE received People’s Choice Awards and students from Qatar received Innovation Ignition Crown.

The winners of this phase were qualified for the final global competition in China, where they will compete against teams from various parts of the world.

During the event, they will have the opportunity to visit tech hubs in Shenzhen, Beijing and other cities, gaining firsthand experience in entrepreneurial environments.

Additionally, they will compete for a startup support fund of $100,000, which can be a significant boost for turning their ideas into reality.

IN THE DIGITAL ERA, SKILLED TALENT IS PIVOTAL TO MAINTAINING RAPID DEVELOPMENT, SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS. AT HUAWEI, WE’RE PROUD TO BE AMONG THE FIRST FEW GLOBAL TECH COMPANIES TO LEVERAGE ITS TECHNOLOGY AND EXPERTISE TO HELP NARROW THE TALENT GAP THROUGH PROGRAMMES LIKE SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE

HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY

FOR CREATIVE INNOVATION

The inaugural Athar – Saudi Festival of Creativity will examine how AI and related technologies can be better utilised to revolutionise marketing, communication, and advertising, delivering unique customer experiences

Saudi Arabia’s creative marketing landscape is all set to witness ideas and insights as industry stakeholders converge for the inaugural edition of Athar – Saudi Festival of Creativity. Running from November 13-16 at the Hotel Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC and organised by Motivate Media Group and TRACCS, the festival is the largest gathering of the creative marketing industry in the kingdom.

Athar Festival features sessions led by distinguished speakers from the global marketing and communications industry, expert panel discussions, training programmes, competitions, exhibitions and entertainment. The event aims to accelerate the growth of the kingdom’s creative industries and cultivate a dynamic community of visionaries and thought leaders.

A major focus of the festival’s discussions will be the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and

related technologies on the creative sector, including their e ective use in marketing, communication and advertising. This will see speakers delve into novel approaches for unmatched customer experiences and improved evaluation of advertising campaigns and communications through AI as well as virtual reality, augmented reality, the metaverse and social media.

The event will also address the ethical dimensions of these technologies and their incredible potential to change the creative communications industry as we know it. Practical approaches to optimising the use of tech-driven tools will be explored, enabling the creation of precisely targeted and personalised campaigns. Delegates will gain insights into customer behaviour analysis, prediction and engagement.

Athar festival, which has now opened its doors to early-bird delegate registration, promises to serve as a platform for a new community of creators and innovators from Saudi Arabia, the region, and the world.

PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO OPTIMISING THE USE OF TECH-DRIVEN TOOLS WILL BE EXPLORED, ENABLING THE CREATION OF PRECISELY TARGETED AND PERSONALISED CAMPAIGNS. DELEGATES WILL GAIN INSIGHTS INTO CUSTOMER BEHAVIOUR ANALYSIS, PREDICTION AND ENGAGEMENT

THE SPOTLIGHT

Revolutionising e-learning

How artificial intelligence can simplify learning development

THE POWER OF GENERATIVE AI

How enterprises can harness generative AI while securiing their operations

p.28

THE POWER OF HARNESSING

GENERATIVE AI

FROM REFINING CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCES TO IGNITING ADVANCEMENTS IN HEALTHCARE AND MEDICINE, GENERATIVE AI IS LEADING INTO A REVOLUTIONARY ERA OF INNOVATION

History will earmark 2022 as a pivotal juncture in the fourth industrial revolution, when generative AI transitioned into the mainstream. Each industrial revolution has had its defining moment – the first harnessed the power of water and steam to mechanise production, the second tapped into electric power to initiate mass production and the third exploited electronics and information technology to automate production. Now, the fourth industrial revolution, building on the digital breakthroughs of the third, stands at a critical crossroads.

A key turning point was the launch of the open-source language model, ChatGPT, which signalled a new era in artificial intelligence (AI). Generative AI today stands at the edge of a transformative leap, ready to reshape the contours of digital transformation.

Envision a force so versatile that it optimises processes across a wide range of sectors, from government institutions to fledgling startups, enhancing both e ciency and e ectiveness. That’s the exciting promise of generative AI. Expected to skyrocket the market to a remarkable $109bn by 2030, its potential applications appear infinite. From refining customer service experiences to igniting groundbreaking advancements

Ronald Powell, director – Digital Transformation Engineering, Injazat

in healthcare and medicine, generative AI is leading us into a revolutionary era of extraordinary innovation.

However, with all the enthusiasm and buzz, it’s easy for employees to devote time in AI tools that compromise confidential data, or for managers to choose shadow AI solutions that haven’t been subjected to security, data governance and other compliance evaluations.

SPEED VS SECURITY

To strike the correct balance between speed at adoption and security, a thorough understanding of the organisation’s risk tolerance and the potential impact of security breaches on operational e ciency is required. The current AI systems can seamlessly outperform manual labour, producing accurate results quickly and e ciently, assisting with monotonous tasks – thereby freeing up to 40 per cent of the workforce’s time. However, the automated nature of AI-generated information or solutions makes it capable of bypassing traditional security measures, opening the door to exploitation.

When it comes to security, generative AI can also play a critical role in bolstering defense mechanisms and proactively identify emerging threats. Through its ability to analyse vast amounts of data

EXPECTED TO SKYROCKET THE MARKET TO A REMARKABLE

and simulate potential attack scenarios, generative AI can identify the everevolving vulnerabilities in networks, applications, and systems. Furthermore, generative AI facilitates the creation of highly realistic cyber-attack scenarios for training cybersecurity professionals. This enables security teams to practice responding to diverse threats in a controlled environment, refining their incident response strategies and ensuring preparedness for real-world attacks.

Despite these advantages, it’s important to acknowledge that generative AI itself can introduce security challenges. Ensuring the resilience of an AI-powered system demands thorough testing, continuous monitoring, and ongoing vulnerability assessments. A strategy that integrates robust security practices into the AI development lifecycle is what enables businesses to stay ahead in the competitive landscape and meet evolving customer expectations.

PIONEERING AI SOLUTIONS REQUIRES EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

With all the tools available today, it’s fairly easy for organisations to capitalise on the footprint that generative AI leaves in the digital world. However, valuable change comes in when leaders step in to

ensure task e ciency and computational seamlessness, which can potentially revolutionise global AI advancements in healthcare, energy, and climate action –giving organisations access to vast and updated information.

The UAE’s active approach to leveraging AI across various sectors here is commendable. Led by the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, AI adoption in government services is accelerating at a steadfast rate. The nation is leading by example with the recent launch of a comprehensive generative AI guide that sets out the ways in which these rapidly emerging technologies can be leveraged to benefit key sectors including education, healthcare, automotive and media, while also focusing on addressing several important issues in the context of these digital advancements, like data privacy protection, reliability, and quality control of AI outputs.

The challenge most organisations face is to find a realistic strategy which focuses both on growth and operational e ciency, while also prioritising resiliency, and technology debt reduction programmes.

Leaders in technology must learn to thoughtfully integrate AI to drive digital transformation in a balanced way that prioritises generative AI initiatives, including defi ning governance, identifying short-term efficiencies, and seeking longer-term transformation opportunities.

A successful approach requires a multidisciplinary e ort that encompasses robust security practices, agile adaptation to evolving threats, employee education, ethical considerations, and strategic decision-making. By addressing these challenges with a holistic perspective, enterprises can harness the power of generative AI while safeguarding their operations and ensuring a resilient and secure future.

THE CURRENT AI SYSTEMS CAN SEAMLESSLY OUTPERFORM MANUAL LABOUR, PRODUCING ACCURATE RESULTS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY, ASSISTING WITH MONOTONOUS TASKS – THEREBY FREEING UP TO 40 PER CENT OF THE WORKFORCE’S TIME

A KEY TURNING POINT WAS THE LAUNCH OF THE OPEN-SOURCE LANGUAGE MODEL, CHATGPT, WHICH SIGNALLED A NEW ERA IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI). GENERATIVE AI TODAY STANDS AT THE EDGE OF A TRANSFORMATIVE LEAP, READY TO RESHAPE THE CONTOURS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION”

$109BN BY 2030, GENERATIVE AI’S POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS APPEAR INFINITE

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRMS TO LOOK AT WHEN INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO THEIR OPERATIONS

In the past 72 hours, you have probably thought about artificial intelligence (AI) at least once. That assumption is not predicated upon you being a technology professional. It is predicated upon you being a professional of any stripe. Because AI is everywhere. Passing thoughts, or even obsessions, of the form, “Wow, can that thing replace me?” are springing up across the globe. ChatGPT, Bard, Microso t Bing – take your pick. They have arrived and they are here to stay. These large language models (LLMs) use generative neural networks to compose emails, write reports and even create new art in the form of songs and images. Between ethics, logistics and legal concerns, generative AI has led to a lot of conversation among humans.

Sertan Selcuk, VP – Sales, Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Pakistan, OPSWAT

THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS HAS LED TO A MERGER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

rare indeed. AI tools could be critical in minimising the white noise of alerts and in bringing much-needed asset visibility and gap-plugging knowledge to security teams. This setup makes for a much more e cient SOC, with analysts that are free to hunt threats rather than react to them.

But for a moment, let’s put these issues aside and consider the potential of human-like understanding among machines in an industrial setting. The increasing popularity of the industrial internet of things has led to a merger of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). And as the region’s heavy industry sectors align themselves with initiatives such as the UAE’s Operation 300bn, they will wade ever deeper into the IT/OT crossover and expose themselves to the ravages of cybercriminals and a range of other risks.

In OT, repetition and consistency are watchwords. Duplication of inputs and outputs are bread and butter to AI and automation. When something goes wrong in IT, though, consequences are limited to the loss of data. While this may be financially disastrous it does not compare to the potential loss of life or pollution of the environment that accompany OT errors.

DRILLS AND OTHER TOOLS

Already we see how AI’s incorporation into OT bears a risk that goes beyond classic cybersecurity. Microso t has released a blueprint for AI governance to address such issues and the UAE’s AI ministry speaks out o ten on ethics as it relates to the field. Red team/blue team exercises must be deployed to find vulnerabilities and learn how to defend against them. These drills can help enterprises understand another risk AI poses: cyberattackers o ten use it. Red teams should leverage tools to expose weaknesses. AI could also help blue

teams identify attack vectors, highlight hidden vulnerabilities, or even shut down an assault. Lessons learned during red-blue drills can be used to form new policies and target investments on the best defense tools available for protecting critical infrastructure.

Another benefit of AI to the OT security function is as an automated security operations centre (SOC) analyst. AI is a data-churner by trade, so it can review logs and real-time telemetry feeds for anomalies and assess these discoveries alongside rule sets from various OT systems. It can then flag dangers and suggest actions. There are prevailing skills gaps in OT and cybersecurity, and people who are well-versed in both are

On the benefits side of AI, industrial organisations can build intricate replicas of their OT environments. Digital twins of power plants or nuclear reactors allow human specialists to take leisurely strolls through hazardous environments. And AI can also be used to stress test or optimise the OT environment. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to experiment with, for example, a di erent-sized pipe in a critical infrastructure setup, but a digital twin will only fail virtually. And it will yield useful data when it does so. Over time, operations teams can find ways to increase throughput or minimise downtime.

JUDGEMENT AND TRUST

However, we must defer to the judgement of human experts. Digital twins will be a great and novel source of data and a safe way to test, but other physical tests may be required. Application of AI technology in OT will likely be on a so t basis while long-term AI governance plans and risk-management frameworks are implemented.

So far, we have dealt only with direct risks to OT, either from its adoption or from its use by cyberthreat gangs. But OT can also be hit indirectly through its convergence with IT. Incidents like the US Colonial Pipeline attack show us that IT’s compromise by ransomware can halt OT operations. This means that even if OT teams are steering clear of all things AI, they cannot ignore its impact.

AI has benefits; AI has risks. Both statements are obvious and inarguable. But we cannot jump into implementation without due regard for risk; and it would be foolhardy to eschew AI entirely just to remain safe, especially since the merger between IT and OT takes this option o the table. We must adjust to AI as an indispensable part of business in the regional industrial sector. We must tread carefully, learn, mature and eventually profit.

ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE IS A DATA-CHURNER BY TRADE, SO IT CAN REVIEW LOGS AND REAL-TIME TELEMETRY FEEDS FOR ANOMALIES AND ASSESS THESE DISCOVERIES ALONGSIDE RULE SETS FROM VARIOUS OT SYSTEMS

ON THE BENEFITS SIDE OF AI, INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS CAN BUILD INTRICATE REPLICAS OF THEIR OT ENVIRONMENTS. DIGITAL TWINS OF POWER PLANTS OR NUCLEAR REACTORS ALLOW HUMAN SPECIALISTS TO TAKE LEISURELY STROLLS THROUGH HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS”

EMBRACING DIGITAL MODELS

WE LOOK AT HOW A DIGITAL FIRST APPROACH IMPACTS CUSTOMER

What are the broader economic benefits for the UAE when businesses embrace a fully digital philosophy?

Digital adoption is no longer restricted to early adopters. Mass adoption of digital is happening quickly with customers from all socio demographic groups able to access and use digital services to enhance their lives. This is helping drive the digital economy forwards, making space not only for established digital brands to grow but also providing opportunities for new entrants and startup entrepreneurs to launch digital-first businesses. This dynamic situation has helped stimulate economic growth and more innovation, increasing the number of jobs and opportunities in the country. It’s an exciting time as the UAE is well-positioned globally for more growth.

Citizens and residents in the UAE are already reaping the broader benefits of the country’s digital-first philosophy. In fact, the Emirates’ digital economy, which is expected to grow rapidly from $38bn to $140bn by 2031, is a benchmark for the rest of the world to follow.

Elaborate on the key factors that contribute to a high return on brand loyalty when businesses adapt a fully digital model?

The key factors that digital business models should consider in elevating brand loyalty are simplicity, value, flexibility, consistency and service quality.

EXPERIENCE

Rob Beswick, managing director, Virgin Mobile UAE

Simplicity is key, the digital journey should make it simpler and easier for customers to navigate through and get what they need from your product or service. This is not easy to build as simplifying the complexity takes time and consideration from your product team. You have limited space in a digital app environment to explain your product, so it needs to be intuitive. Simplicity can provide that.

Value is key for brand loyalty –customers want to know why they should buy your product above and beyond your competitors. Designing a value proposition that meets your customer needs is therefore critical. Getting that right and then consistently evolving your value proposition shows customers that you are listening and that in turn builds loyalty for the brand.

Flexibility – every customer has di erent needs. Allowing them to choose what is right for them and adjusting plans based on their terms keeps them loyal to your business instead of looking at other competitors for alternatives. This flexibility shouldn’t only be part of your value proposition but must be communicated clearly to the customer.

Consistency – your digital strategy front and back-end must be focused on consistent performance. Your digital estate will have multiple touch points that you can track – whether it be through automated quality assurance or through good old-fashioned customer listening. Ask your product team to talk to customers – the feedback they bring is invaluable. The closer your team is

to the customer, the more likely they will innovate and drive a customerfirst approach in your business. We don’t always get it right and when we do have a challenge, it’s imperative that we apologise, are transparent and set expectations on how we can fix the problem. Customers need to know that you are a human brand too, and that you will strive to improve. A simple apology goes a long way in building brand trust.

How does a digital first approach impact customer experience and what strategies have you implemented to enhance this experience?

A digital-first approach is ever evolving, so you need to build an operating model around that. For example, our agile product development cycles allow us to identify customer needs, develop solutions rapidly, upgrade the service with new features, and bring them to market quickly. A digital strategy should allow you to be quick to market. O ten, we launch a minimum loveable product, understand the customer usage and feedback, and then decide whether we push on with further phases of its development. Our team will A-B test multiple journeys and communications within the app, allowing us to build up a clear picture and a digital recommendation of how we can improve the journey. This insight allows

MARKET

us to move beyond our own referencing of what’s right or wrong to meet that customer need.

All our strategies are positioned to meet the evolving expectations of consumers. We have a Business Intelligence team that gathers comprehensive data on an ongoing basis to produce insights that reveal the actual needs and convenience that a user is looking for. This allows us to develop digital products and services that bring the best value to our customers, and that fits their existing lifestyles.

We also believe that a digital-first approach can also be a more sustainable approach, allowing us to cater to consumers who are more conscious of their environmental impact. We’ve been delivering innovative initiatives, such as removing all single use plastic, launching bio-degradable SIMs, as well as giving customers the opportunity to offset their ‘mobile service’ carbon footprint by contributing to sustainable initiatives through our app. This also forms a key part of our overriding purpose to make mobile better for our customers, people, and wider society.

A DIGITAL STRATEGY SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO BE QUICK TO MARKET. OFTEN, WE LAUNCH A MINIMUM LOVEABLE PRODUCT, UNDERSTAND THE CUSTOMER USAGE AND FEEDBACK, AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER WE PUSH ON WITH FURTHER PHASES OF ITS DEVELOPMENT”

YOU HAVE LIMITED SPACE IN A DIGITAL APP ENVIRONMENT TO EXPLAIN YOUR PRODUCT, SO IT NEEDS TO BE INTUITIVE. SIMPLICITY CAN PROVIDE THAT”

THE EMIRATES’ DIGITAL ECONOMY, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO GROW RAPIDLY FROM

$38BN TO $140BN BY 2031 $38BN $140BN

CONVENIENCE IS KING

WHILE THE ADAGE ‘CASH IS KING’ HOLDS TRUE, IT’S NOW CHECKOUT CONVENIENCE THAT IS INCREASINGLY INFLUENCING EVERYTHING FROM SALES CONVERSIONS TO CONSUMER LOYALTY IN TODAY’S RETAIL CULTURE

The region’s digital acceleration continues. Digital natives’ preferences are the touchstone of business strategists across the Arab Gulf and beyond. The latest tastes to which businesses must cater are alternative payment methods (APMs).

Alternative payment method is a broad term, covering everything from credit cards to crypto payments. What they have in common is convenience for customers and a USP for businesses. Because it is so easy for an online customer to pivot to an alternative brand, trust plays a central role in their conversion. If a brand does not o er the payment method preferred by the prospect, then they may depart the process. Adding APM choices, however, should be accompanied by rigorous market research to understand people’s preferences. This should be followed by a thorough analysis of what is involved in implementing the APM – infrastructure, compliance, business workflows. Only when the market demand can be weighed against the inevitable technical overheads, can a sound decision be made.

ABANDONED CARTS

When the business has opted for deployment of an APM, one of the first problems they are likely to solve is the abandoned cart. An unpurchased wish-list can o ten be explained by the

Laith Al Bazirgan, head of Retail – MENA, Endava

absence of a preferred payment option. However, deployment of an APM may not fix the problem on its own. The enterprise must ensure the entire process is as slick as other methods of payment, or complexity may simply lead to another abandoned cart.

Assuming the merchant can deliver on these make-or-break factors, APMs present many immediate benefits. Many o er an escape from high processing fees, and many providers are willing to negotiate these fees, especially if high transaction volumes are projected. Merchants should take care, however, to ensure the APM is a good fit for their accounting practices and will not impact reconciliation.

APMs can also help with compliance, as they o ten come with stronger authentication methods, including multi-factor authentication, biometrics and encryption.

EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES

Regional businesses that adopt APMs can instantly look beyond their borders to new markets. While this presents a series of challenges around currencies and local regulations, merchants who overcome them can expand globally with relative ease. In fact, APMs can o ten simplify traditionally complex and costly currency conversions by o ering the foreign exchange (FX) service as a built-in function. Local payment options are an important prerequisite for the merchant looking to expand abroad. Market research will point the way in determining the preferred payment methods in each territory, as well as revealing the most reputable APM providers.

But, of course, increased conversion rates, reduced costs, and the solution to the cart abandonment problem are all just a means to an end, as are stronger security and increased reach. What the merchant is really looking for are boosts to customer loyalty and net lifetime value. The APM is a draw to customers but is also a trust token that signals a commitment to providing a secure and convenient shopping experience.

APM BEST PRACTICES

Merchants should ensure that accepted APM logos are displayed prominently everywhere the customer goes. This means in physical stores as well as on websites. Customers should be able to instantly confirm that their preferred payment methods are on o er, which will boost conversion rates. Sales data can help inform businesses when to refine the checkout process and when to add an APM. Regular reviews of

REGIONAL BUSINESSES

THAT ADOPT APM s CAN INSTANTLY LOOK BEYOND THEIR BORDERS TO NEW MARKETS. WHILE THIS PRESENTS A SERIES OF CHALLENGES AROUND CURRENCIES AND LOCAL REGULATIONS, MERCHANTS WHO OVERCOME THEM CAN EXPAND GLOBALLY WITH RELATIVE EASE

processing fees are advisable to ensure the optimal deal. And decision makers should keep an eye out for developing trends and new APMs, through ongoing industry research.

ALTERNATIVE TRUTHS

APMs bring convenience, security and innovation. Methods are likely to continue springing up everywhere and merchants will be quick to adopt some and likely to ignore others. The coming years will be punctuated by increased interoperability between financial institutions and payment providers. Through this collaboration, we will see personalised and predictive payment solutions that act as digital shopping consultants for consumers. This climate will be intensified by the introduction of real-time payments, and once instantaneous fund transfers take hold, new open-banking use cases will emerge. Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology may take their place among mainstream merchants and consumers. From there, the sky’s the limit, so stay alert. Watch the industry, watch regulators, watch providers. But most of all, watch the consumers. It is their preferences that brought us this far, and their changing desires that will shape the future.

ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT METHOD IS A BROAD TERM, COVERING EVERYTHING FROM CREDIT CARDS TO CRYPTO PAYMENTS. WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON IS CONVENIENCE FOR CUSTOMERS AND A USP FOR BUSINESSES”

THE COMING YEARS WILL BE PUNCTUATED BY INCREASED INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PAYMENT PROVIDERS

REVOLUTIONISING E-LEARNING

WE LOOK AT HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN SIMPLIFY AND ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT IN E-LEARNING

How has technology and innovation impacted the workplace? What initiatives has the UAE taken to promote technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in the field of AI?

The UAE is well-positioned to become a global hub for innovation. Its various sectors are integrating cutting-edge technologies at an impressive rate, and the government leads the private sector by example with its empowering initiatives. Its continued e orts in scaling the artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology, training and empowering talents for AI-enabled jobs, developing infrastructure for AI to thrive, and ensuring its strong governance and e ective regulation foster a competitive economy that attracts foreign investment and enables entrepreneurship. The UAE is a model of excellence for a digital economy, with its investment in AI alone being estimated to reach more than $33bn by 2027.

Looking closely at businesses in the private sector, technology’s popularity for boosting productivity and e ciency in the workplace is unabated. Processes that were

Jan Kees de Jager, co-founder and president, EasyGenerator

BY 2027

once manual and time-consuming can now be done in record time with digital tools, applications, and systems. Because of this digital shi t, employees can focus on more important tasks that generate revenue and drive the company forward.

Digitally driven businesses are agile in problem-solving, processing actionable data, and implementing robust, insightbased strategies. Such companies are at the forefront of the exponential growth we have seen and continue to see in the business world. But what stands out to me is the ease and speed at which knowledge is shared due to innovation and technology.

In what ways can AI revolutionise e-learning and improve the efficiency, personalisation, and engagement of the learning process? Artificial intelligence can simplify and accelerate learning developments and empower experts in a certain field can make it easier to create courses to share their knowledge within a company. Moreover, AI can help enhance the course format and contents to ensure learners are engaged and are getting the most out of the learning experience. This enhancement includes summarisation, language translation, customised assessments and the on-brand design of e-learning materials, all a few clicks away. Without AI, this process would normally require hours of planning and execution when done manually.

AI helps SMEs to not worry about operative tasks and focus on sharing their own knowledge with other employees

within the organisation or with relevant stakeholders. Ultimately, this act as a two-fold solution, where people can become e-learning authors themselves in a very easy way and are inclined to create more content and the learners are inclined to finish more courses, as both know it will be a quick process. This positively impacts adaptability, engagement, and retention of knowledge in any organisation.

What advantages does AI-powered learning offer to organisations?

Knowledge is a catalyst for growth. Hence, to progress, organisations must

foster a culture of continuous learning and build a supportive system for the authors sharing knowledge and learners who consume it.

E ciency and productivity gains are two of the most o ten cited benefits of implementing AI in the learning culture within the enterprise. The technology handles tasks at a pace and scale that manual labor can’t match. At the same time, by removing such tasks from the content creator’s responsibility, AI makes it possible for those authors to move to higher-value questions and output they want. This allows organisations to minimise the costs associated with performing mundane, repetitive tasks that technology can perform while supporting SMEs to create impactful courses.

From helping out with writer’s block by jump-starting the creation to improving courses and educational value, the objectivity and ease of AI-assisted learning can make any organisation more productive, cost-e ective, and highly streamlined.

Tell us about Easygenerator. How do you pioneer the e-learning space?

Easygenerator helps any person within an organisation to generate content easily and quickly. We believe that knowledge resides with the business teams who are doing the job daily; hence the knowledge transfer shall happen from there as well. So, we created a so tware these subject matter experts can use to share knowledge without any instructional designer or coding experience. It is an easy drag-and-drop tool that helps you create content swi tly and e ciently.

EASYGENERATOR HELPS ANY PERSON WITHIN AN ORGANISATION TO GENERATE CONTENT EASILY AND QUICKLY. WE BELIEVE THAT KNOWLEDGE RESIDES WITH THE BUSINESS TEAMS WHO ARE DOING THE JOB DAILY; HENCE THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER SHALL HAPPEN FROM THERE AS WELL”

THE UAE IS A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE FOR A DIGITAL ECONOMY, WITH ITS INVESTMENT IN AI ALONE BEING ESTIMATED TO REACH MORE THAN

REDEFINING COMMUNICATION

How Astra Tech is delivering a multilingual AI speaking powered ultra-app that accelerates digital accessibility

How does Botim GPT address financial inclusion and accessibility issues?

Botim GPT aims to address financial inclusion by providing access to digital services for individuals without stable income, non-working women, people with poor credit histories, and those facing language barriers. This inclusivity extends to online banking, reducing barriers to access for these demographics.

Similarly, Botim GPT also assists elderly individuals by offering a conversational system that aids them in their daily routines, making tasks like e-commerce, telemedicine, and accessing digital government services more accessible. Not only does this ease the burden on their younger family members but it also empowers elderly people who are less familiar with digital platforms to function more independently.

In what way does Botim GPT improve the remittance process?

What has been the recent trend in the use of artificial intelligence and large language models across industries?

Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) have seen a significant surge in usage across various industries worldwide. This trend has been particularly pronounced since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022, based on the GPT-3 model, which has brought generative AI into the mainstream.

What is the primary challenge associated with the current use of AI, especially LLMs?

The main challenge with the current use of AI, including LLMs, is accessibility and simplicity. Many of these technological developments primarily target Englishspeaking regions, particularly European and North American markets, leaving large portions of the world underserved by technology.

How have you addressed the issue of accessibility and simplicity in AI?

We have repositioned as an ultra-app and developed Botim GPT, an AI-powered chatbot designed to cater to Arabic speakers not only in conversations but also in executing various tasks. This technology is integrated into the broader Botim app, spanning e-commerce, fintech solutions, governmental transactions and hospitality reservations.

Can you provide an example of how Botim GPT is being utilised in real-world scenarios?

We have partnered with Etihad Airways to enable flight bookings using Botim GPT. Users can input their flight details, and the service autonomously completes the booking process, streamlining and simplifying reservations.

Botim GPT streamlines the remittance process, especially for individuals working in the UAE and the wider MENA region. Through a partnership with MoneyGram, it facilitates near-instant global remittance services, reducing the time-consuming and error-prone aspects of traditional remittance processes – which includes the cumbersome process of standing in lines, filling out forms, presenting documents for verification, and then double-checking details that are often manually entered to ensure that they are correct.

What is the overarching goal of Botim’s ultra-app and Botim GPT?

Put simply, we are striving to enable our 150 million users with the ability to simplify every day. Through the ultra-app and Botim GPT, we are increasing digital sovereignty and making their services universally accessible regardless of age, gender, or financial background. This approach ultimately aims to address the needs of unbanked individuals and underserved language communities while unifying user experiences.

How does Botim GPT contribute to addressing global challenges in accessibility and localisation?

Botim GPT addresses global challenges by providing universally accessible yet localised experiences. With approximately 1.4 billion unbanked adults globally and underserved language speakers – including Arabic, Hindi, and Tamil speakers in the UAE – there is a growing need to streamline digital services and make them accessible on a global scale, and Botim GPT is envisioned as a solution to these challenges.

ABDALLAH ABU SHEIKH FOUNDER ASTRA TECH

“BOTIM HAS PARTNERED WITH ETIHAD AIRWAYS TO ENABLE FLIGHT BOOKINGS USING BOTIM GPT”

WHY DATA ANALYTICS IS A PROMISING CAREER CHOICE

According to Datamites. com, data science is one of the top 10 most in-demand careers in the UAE. According to IBM, bachelor’s degree holders will be eligible for 61 per cent of data scientists and advanced analytic positions, while a master’s degree or PhD holders will be required for 39 per cent.

In the modern age of digital advancement, the world is awash with data. Every click, purchase, and interaction generate vast amounts of information, presenting both challenges and opportunities for individuals and businesses alike. As organisations strive to make sense of this information overflow, data analytics emerges as a dynamic career option.

For starters, as of 2023, data analytics has become a critical tool for establishments across various industries, enabling them to gain a competitive edge, optimise operations, and fuel innovation. The demand for skilled data analysts and data scientists continues to rise, reflecting the increasing recognition of the value of datadriven decision-making. There is no doubt that the global data analytics market is projected to reach staggering figures in the coming years, underscoring the immense opportunities available in this field.

One of the most compelling aspects of a career in data analytics is its versatility and relevance. Unlike some specialised fields, data analytics transcends industry boundaries. Its principles and techniques can be applied in diverse fields, including finance, healthcare, marketing, manufacturing,

and more. This versatility ensures that data analysts have a wide array of career pathways to choose from, making it an attractive option for those seeking a field with longevity and relevance.

Data analytics is about more than just numbers and statistics. It involves extracting meaningful insights from complex datasets and transforming them into actionable information. By uncovering patterns, trends, and correlations, data analysts play a vital role in shaping strategies, driving growth, and identifying areas for improvement. This ability to make data-driven decisions not only enhances organisational performance but also empowers individuals to make a real impact on business outcomes.

The field is also continuously evolving. New technologies, such as

artificial intelligence and machine learning, are revolutionising the way data is analysed and utilised. Data analysts can stay at the forefront of technological advancements, constantly learning and adapting to new tools and methodologies. The vigorous nature of the field ensures that data analytics professionals remain intellectually engaged and relevant in an everchanging economic landscape.

The rising demand for skilled professionals, its versatility across industries, the ability to uncover actionable insights, and the constant evolution of the field makes this field a compelling choice for those seeking a fulfilling and impactful career.

As organisations increasingly rely on data to strategise their potential success, the role of data analytics professionals will only grow in importance, positioning them at the forefront of innovation and decision-making.

Embracing a career in data analytics is not just a choice for the present, but an investment in a future that is increasingly shaped by data more than ever.

Embracing a career in data analytics is not just a choice for the present, but an investment for the future

JADD ELLIOT DIB CEO AND FOUNDER PANGAEA X

“DATA ANALYTICS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS AND STATISTICS. IT INVOLVES EXTRACTING MEANINGFUL INSIGHTS FROM COMPLEX DATASETS AND TRANSFORMING THEM INTO ACTIONABLE INFORMATION”

BURNOUT: THE SILENT THREAT

In the UAE, over 50,000 cyberattacks are launched daily against organisations in the banking, oil and gas, finance and healthcare sectors according to the UAE Cyber Security Council, putting a lot of pressure on cybersecurity teams.

If facing increasingly sophisticated threats wasn’t enough, our recent research found that 45 per cent of regional security professionals feel that cybersecurity goals are not extremely aligned with the company’s broader business goals. It also showed that the majority struggle to get adequate support and sufficient funding, with only 19 per cent reporting that they are adapting and evolving to keep pace with the threat landscape.

Furthermore, there is a lingering point-the-finger attitude when it comes to cybersecurity, with many believing employees and security teams should shoulder the blame for any cyber incidents that happen on their watch.

RECIPE FOR STRESS

To respond to internal requests and fend off cyberattackers, many professionals are forced to be “always on”, often to the detriment of their mental and physical well-being. Long hours, continuous vigilance and constant apprehension of making a mistake that can cost millions are taking their toll.

ART GILLILAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DELINEA

In February, a Cynet survey revealed that nearly a third of CISO respondents said stress was compromising their ability to do their job. In the same month, Gartner predicted that in the next two years almost 50 per cent of cybersecurity leaders are expected to change jobs, and half of them are contemplating entirely different careers due to unbearable stress levels.

Considering the current acute cybersecurity skills shortage, the resignation en masse of CISOs will only exacerbate a chronic problem that is already leading to understaffed and overworked security teams. It’s time for organisations to start prioritising their IT security teams, offering tangible support and arming them with the tools they need to stave off both cyberthreats and stress.

Here are four ways businesses can help alleviate pressure on cybersecurity teams and leaders while ensuring a better security posture.

errors while increasing the overall process visibility.

02. Stronger authentication

Threat actors are very good at targeting staff with social engineering campaigns. Even the best-trained employees can be fooled. By implementing multifactor authentication, enforcing least privilege, and providing justin-time, just enough access, organisations can minimise damage even if an identity is compromised.

03. Collective effort

Keeping systems and data secure should be seen as a collective effort. Organisations should provide all employees with knowledge, training and tools, helping them do their part to help reduce security incidents. This can significantly alleviate the pressure on security teams, and they can promptly intervene where and when necessary.

04. Cyber insurance Companies need to be aware that security incidents can still happen despite best efforts. That’s why they should complement their security best practices with cyber insurance, as it provides a safety net that can protect the business and the employees against financial losses and ensure business continuity.

THE BATTLE GOES ON…

45 PER CENT OF REGIONAL SECURITY PROFESSIONALS FEEL THAT CYBERSECURITY GOALS ARE NOT EXTREMELY ALIGNED WITH THE COMPANY’S BROADER BUSINESS GOALS

01. Automation

Routine work, although necessary, is time-consuming and often stands in the way of productivity and innovation.

Repetitive tasks should be automated with solutions seamlessly integrated with the organisation’s security infrastructure, reducing

As cyber criminals up their game, the impact of security team burnout can ignite a domino effect with negative consequences for the entire organisation. Every day, security professionals protect the business from a barrage of threats, but it’s everyone’s responsibility to do their part in cybersecurity. Investing in automation, stronger authentication, training and cyber insurance can help any organisations empower their employees and reduce the burden on security teams.

Here are four ways businesses can help alleviate pressure on cybersecurity teams

TRAINING THE ‘SMART’

Most vendors are investing significant resources into leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to solve foundational security problems. Being able to predict the vulnerabilities likely to be targeted by attackers, crawling through millions of lines of log data to identify potential issues, automating analysis of code to find security flaws before they go live, are all being made smarter with AI.

Even with visibility of the vulnerable attack surface, it is difficult for security teams to conduct analysis, interpret findings and identify steps to be taken to reduce risk as quickly as possible. As a result, security teams are constantly in react mode, delivering maximum effort but often a step behind the attackers.

EXPLOITING VULNERABILITIES

While AI is being used by threat actors to automate targeted and convincing attacks, the flaws these cyberattacks target have not changed. AI driven cyberattacks exploit the same vulnerabilities as other cyberattacks, and therefore

it follows that the foundation for defending against any style of cyberattack, whether it is AI or human driven, remains unchanged.

Enterprises must learn how to reduce threats from misinformation. Usually, it comes down to educating users to never trust, always verify, especially when the content is demanding some kind of response such as clicking a link, requesting information or asking for the content to be shared with others.

There are three elements that are core to a strong enterprise defence: enterprises should implement robust multi-factor authentication to mitigate the issues around credential misuse; focus should be placed on addressing vulnerabilities and misconfigurations known to be targeted by threat actors; and good detection and response should be in place for anything that slips through.

HOW AI WORKS

Historically AI was used to analyse data. Machine learning, an application of AI, uses mathematical models of data to help a computer learn without direct instruction. Deep Learning, part of a broader family of machine learning methods, structures algorithms in layers to create an artificial neural network that can learn and make intelligent decisions on its own.

Today, with generative AI, also a subset of AI, it is possible to learn about artefacts from data and generate innovative new creations that are similar to, but do not repeat, the original.

IMPORTANCE OF DATA

Generally speaking, AI depends on the breadth and quality of data to provide clear and accurate insights. If you have unique data, then you are going to have unique intelligence guiding decisions. In addition, humans need to educate the model, and so teach the engine, as to what is correct and what is not. By tuning the algorithm, it reduces the false positives and boosts quality of response.

To be truly effective in the practice of preventive cybersecurity, AI requires breaking down silos to enable defenders to take the data from their mix of multiple cybersecurity point solutions and use it to create something wholly new. And they have to rely on multiple systems and methods to pull all that data together: aggregation tools, internal data lake, and the old reliable multitabbed spreadsheet.

It is important to remember that, if you fail to educate the model correctly, then the model fails to deliver reliable results.

The power of AI lies in accessing structured and unstructured data, identifying patterns, presenting results, and learning from this routine

“WHILE AI IS BEING USED BY THREAT ACTORS TO AUTOMATE TARGETED AND CONVINCING ATTACKS, THE FLAWS THESE CYBERATTACKS TARGET HAVE NOT CHANGED”

FOUR WAYS FOR MERCHANTS TO ENHANCE PAYMENT EXPERIENCE

We explore how digital payments can signifi cantly eliminate ineffi ciencies and unlock new revenue

As the digital economy in MENA grows, payments are at the heart of the opportunities it presents. No longer just a business necessity but a key source of innovation, digital payments can significantly impact the bottom line by eliminating ine ciencies and unlocking new revenue.

Merchants across the region see the potential and are more ambitious than ever, so fine-tuning the payment performance will be a decisive factor in gaining the much-needed edge over the competition.

Our latest report Seizing the digital opportunity in MENA 2023, highlights four ways in which merchants can perfect their payment lifecycle and streamline the user experience.

PUTTING DATA AT THE HEART OF THE PAYMENTS STRATEGY

The volume of digital payments moving through MENA’s economy is on the rise, and so is the region’s technological maturity. Vital

REMO GIOVANNI ABBONDANDOLO GENERAL MANAGER – MENA CHECKOUT.COM

information can be collected on an ever-larger scale, unlocking precious insights in real time. However, with many merchants entering the online space at breakneck speed, payment data collection and analysis have o ten been overlooked and under utilised. Our report shows that 49 per cent of the merchants based in Saudi and the UAE agree that despite having access to payments data, they do not have time to analyse it and turn it into powerful insights. This finding proves that payments are not yet widely treated as a strategic business function that brings sustainable value.

KEEPING FRAUD AT BAY

Fraud is an increasingly tough opponent to fight. While innovation stimulates advancements in

49% MERCHANTS

BASED IN SAUDI AND THE UAE AGREE THAT DESPITE HAVING ACCESS TO PAYMENTS DATA, THEY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO ANALYSE IT AND TURN IT INTO POWERFUL INSIGHTS

the payments industry, it forces fraudsters to refine their scam methods and innovate new more advanced ones. A case in point is made on MENA’s home ground, with 65 per cent of businesses in the UAE claiming to struggle to prevent payment fraud. Designing an end-to-end fraud strategy, built around an agile fraud detection solution that uses technologies, such as machine learning, is key to protecting businesses.

TAKING PAYMENTS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Consumers have increasingly higher expectations in terms of how — and how quickly — they can move their funds. To meet their demands, fintech companies are pushing to improve performance in this area, particularly by speeding up transactions and delivering the best end-to-end experience. This is where account funding transactions become a true game changer. As the name suggests, this type of transaction is used to fund accounts and other embedded financial solutions, such as thirdparty digital wallets. Card-to-card transfers have an unmatched potential for taking the e-commerce ecosystem to the next level, bringing tangible benefits to fintech’s and end users alike.

CHOOSING A PARTNER, NOT A PROVIDER

Merchants in MENA increasingly look for added value from their providers – be that easy integration, a deep understanding of their business or the ability to improve their operational e ciency. Providers with on-the-ground presence and knowledge of the regional payment ecosystem are ideally positioned to become trusted partners to merchants in optimising digital payments. This strengthens the theory that merchants need more than just a payment provider, but rather the right partner that is invested in their business by their side.

AI-POWERED LANGUAGE MODELS: PROCEED WITH CAUTION

The benefits for businesses of using AI-powered language models are numerous. But what are the potential pitfalls?

There’s no doubt that as an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, ChatGPT is positively assisting companies across a myriad operations and departments, including but not limited to marketing, content creation, customer services, sales, HR, research and development.

Industry leaders from across the globe are quick to champion its impactful contribution to their businesses. They are benefitting from increased operational efficiencies, stronger employee and customer relationships and more targeted and successful sales drives. Leaders are quick to point out how the provision of data, insight and research materials, including competitor analysis, provided by ChatGPT, is even assisting in their strategic decisionmaking process. But this is an

DHAVAL DESAI CEO AND CTO MOBIIWORLD, A GP COMPANY

approach that should heed caution.

As with any new technology, especially where the impact is almost immediate, it’s easy to become swept away by the initial utopian solutions it appears to provide. It’s worth considering that ChatGPT has limitations which should be acknowledged and respected before its employment becomes the architecture on which the strategic development of a business and its future depends. This is for various reasons: ChatGPT is a language model primarily designed to complete sentences by predicting the most likely next words. However, it cannot reason or discern between factual and non-factual information, leading to occasional inaccuracies in its responses.

Furthermore, in a world where real-time information is critical,

with numerous platforms offering live news updates in both text and video formats, ChatGPT 3 faces limitations due to its data being last updated in September 2021. This underscores the importance of not unquestioningly accepting information without proper validation or further research from credible sources.

Another consideration for businesses, as the fast-paced evolution of the tool and its capabilities gathers pace, is the ability of IT departments and individuals to keep abreast of it. The launch of a new generation ChatGPT – AutoGPT – earlier this year, introduced AI that can reach goals through its reasoning, putting it in a similar calibre to what humans do and how they process information.

AutoGPT can delegate tasks to various other services. For businesses, the benefits of AutoGPT are limitless. Though accessibility to the tool is not as straightforward as ChatGPT, which is available simply via a browser, some tools, such as AgentGPT allow AutoGPT to be accessed via a browser.

There are endless possibilities on the horizon, with the most sought-after goal being for AI to become sentient. If this happens, humans must think of ways to control its power. It will become the responsibility of business leaders and their employees to skill up and utilise this power to their advantage or risk becoming obsolete. On an encouraging note, a recent study by Statista revealed that globally, individuals under the age of 34 account for 60 per cent of ChatGPT users, with those under 24 the second largest users. As they represent the next generation of business leaders, it’s reassuring to know that their familiarity with and use of the emerging technology is so prevalent, auguring well for the future.

NOTHING PHONE (2)

The highly anticipated secondgeneration smartphone, Nothing Phone (2), recently went on sale. It has the new Glyph Interface at the rear, which allows users to minimise screen interactions by quickly accessing important information. Additionally, it has an updated Nothing OS 2.0 rooted in utility and created to reduce distractions. The smartphone comes in three different configurations: 8GB/128GB ($599), 12GB/256GB ($699) and 12GB/512GB ($799). It is available in both white and dark gray.

EQUIPPED WITH 32MP FRONT CAMERA, AND A DUAL REAR CAMERA SYSTEM

KEY FEATURES

• Features a 6.7–inch LPTO AMOLED display, weighs 201.2g

• Is equipped with 32MP front camera, and a dual rear camera system that has 50MP sensors

• Has an advanced 18-bit image signal processor, it has the ability to process camera data up to 4,000 times more than its predecessor

• Elevates video recording capabilities with 4K resolution at 60fps on the main rear camera

• Is powered by Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform and 4700 mAh battery

• Reaches 50 per cent power in under 20 minutes of fast wired charging

AMAZON ECHO POP

Amazon has introduced the all-new Echo Pop in the UAE. Since its launch, Alexa in Khaleeji Arabic has become a reliable companion with hyper-localised experiences for customers across spirituality, smart home, music, entertainment, gaming and more.

Echo Pop is a new addition to the Echo family with a semi-sphere form factor and comes with the new Lavender Bloom and Midnight Teal colour options, and the standard Glacier White and Charcoal colour options, for Dhs189.99. It features a custom-designed front-facing

directional speaker to deliver full sound that’s great for bedrooms, dorm rooms, apartments, or any small space in the home. Users can ask Alexa to read audiobooks, track the record of a favourite sports team, control smart lights and plugs or reorder household essentials.

KEY FEATURES

• Easily compatible with smart home devices like plugs, lights and even to adjust air conditioning temperature

• Can play music, and podcasts from providers like Anghami, Spotify and more

• Can be asked to recite the Holy Quran, set prayer time reminders

• Can set timers, check the weather, read the news

• Answers questions about TV listing, Tadawul Stock, currency exchange rates, name meanings and more

• Alexa doesn’t begin listening until your device hears ‘Alexa’ and the light bar turns blue

• Includes a microphone off button that electronically disconnects the microphones

• Its fabric is made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled yarn

• 99 per cent of its packaging is made of wood fibre-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources

ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT TV LISTING, TADAWUL STOCK, CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES, MEANINGS OF NAMES AND MORE

SONY WF-1000XM5 WIRELESS EARBUDS

Sony’s WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds is the latest edition of the 1000X series and offers the noise cancelling as well as immersive sound. The earbuds are said to raise the bar for distraction-free listening and clarity. The WF-1000XM5 feature cutting-edge technology to deliver premium sound quality and noise-cancelling performance on the market. Real-time audio processors and highperformance mics power the specially designed driver unit Dynamic Driver X, for wide frequency reproduction, deep bass, and clear vocals.

KEY FEATURES

• Has an ergonomic design that ensures a secure and stable fit

• Features three microphones on each earbud, including dual feedback mics

• The earbuds tips feature a polyurethane foam material that reduces noise in the high frequency range

• Offers clear highs and deep, rich bass sound with low distortion, features 360 Reality Audio

• Is equipped with head tracking technology that automatically adjusts sound fields to compensate for head movement

• Features an AI-based noise reduction algorithm

• Are approximately 25 per cent smaller and 20 per cent lighter than their predecessor

• Uses new sensors and spatial sound technology to deliver immersive sound for augmented reality games

• Provides up to eight hours of battery life and a quick three-minute charge gives up to 60 minutes of play time

• Is water-resistant with an IPX4 rating

IS EQUIPPED WITH HEAD TRACKING TECHNOLOGY THAT AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS SOUND FIELDS TO COMPENSATE FOR HEAD MOVEMENT

ACER PREDATOR TRITON 16

Acer has announced the new Predator Triton 16 (PT16-51), the latest addition to its power-packed gaming line. This laptop for gaming and work is equipped with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU and up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM. The Predator Triton 16 will be available starting at $2,299. Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region.

INCLUDES ONE MONTH OF XBOX GAME PASS ULTIMATE

KEY FEATURES

• Is 19.9mm (0.78 inches) sleek and has a metal casing topped off with a silver finish

• Features up to 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processors, supported by a new hybrid core architecture with a 5.4 GHz max turbo frequency

• Can be configured with up to 32 GB of DDR5 5200 MHz memory and up to 2 TB PCIe M.2 SSDs in RAID 0 configuration

• Includes one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

• Has 16-inch (16:10) WQXGA 2560 x 1600 IPS

display, 500 nits peak brightness and a 240 Hz refresh rate

• Offers a DCI-P3 100 per cent colour gamut

• Leverages thermal capabilities, highlighted by a dual-fan system with custom-engineered 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D metal fans

• Runs on Windows 11, comes with Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro

• Includes two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, HDMI 2.1, a Type-C USB port with Thunderbolt 4 and a Micro SD card reader

WIN THIS!

Tech quiz whiz

Do you pride yourself on being a tech genius?

Do you code in your sleep? Do you know why SSDs are superior to standard hard drive technology?

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If that’s you, make sure to participate in our quiz – which will be at this same spot in every Gulf Business Tech issue – and stand a chance to win exciting prizes.

Just email your answer along with your name, designation and contact details to neesha.salian@motivate.ae and wait to hear from us.

Stay tuned to our social media platforms Gulf Business on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and find out if you have won.

HERE’S THE QUESTION

Which of these was the world’s first business computer?

Apple II IBM 1401

HP - 85 LEO (Lyons Electronic Office)

Revolutionary, new out-of-home (OOH) advertising medium, powered by innovative technology.

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