Robots puttering round Dubai’s hi-tech Expo website may very well be an indication of issues to return for the Gulf, the place new cities are being constructed from scratch with synthetic intelligence at their core.
The 5G-enabled Expo, overlaying an space twice the dimensions of Monaco, will stay as a “metropolis of the long run” and tech business hub, Expo’s chief advised AFP earlier than its grand opening final month.
However the US$7bil (RM29.21bil) mission, that includes robots that greet guests and can be utilized to order meals, just isn’t alone within the rich Gulf, the place petro-dollars are being invested closely in a post-oil future.
Neighbouring Saudi Arabia is lavishing US$500bil (RM2.08tril) on NEOM, a model new, next-generation Pink Sea tech centre that can supply ultra-connectivity to its deliberate inhabitants of 1 million-plus, and is trialling airborne taxis.
AI can be on the coronary heart of different Saudi developments together with the Pink Sea Undertaking, a brand new vacationer space that can use good programs to watch environmental impacts and customer actions.
Analysts say the Gulf monarchies are keen to wager massive on AI, figuring out they have to transfer away from their reliance on fossil gas industries and turn out to be extra lively in tech, tourism and different areas.
“You have acquired very ahead (-looking), considerably risk-loving management that sees the necessity to rework,” stated Kaveh Vessali, a companion at consultancy agency PwC Center East.
“I believe that is simply fully the alternative of what I see in the remainder of the world.”
Automated transport
Synthetic intelligence programs in Bahrain main faculties, the UAE’s plans for automated supply drones and Dubai’s ambition to have 25% of all transport automated by 2030 supply additional proof of the Gulf’s tech aspirations.
The Center East is predicted to obtain solely 2% of the estimated US$15.7tril (RM65.52tril) international AI economic system by 2030, in accordance with PwC.
However analysts say the Gulf international locations – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE – are enjoying the lengthy sport, positioning themselves to leapfrog international gamers.
The annual progress price of the Center East AI market is about 20-34%, led by the UAE after which Saudi Arabia, PwC stated in a report, predicting that greater than 10% of every of the 2 international locations’ GDP will come from AI by 2030.
“Governments have the posh of being extra strategic,” stated Vessali, citing the 20 and 50-year plans that are an indicator of Gulf governments.
“That is unprecedented a) within the personal sector, and b) within the West,” he provides.
Vessali stated most AI corporations in Gulf states are totally, or not less than semi, governmental, with comparatively low stress to generate short-term returns.
Nevertheless, the area has a historical past of investing in corporations which didn’t turn out to be notably worthwhile, outdoors a couple of core industries reminiscent of oil and gasoline, he warned.
‘Streamlined’ decision-making
Whereas the area could be often called culturally conservative, its AI methods are higher characterised as liberal and aggressive, in accordance with some native gamers.
In 2017, the UAE appointed its first minister of state for synthetic intelligence, Omar bin Sultan al-Olama, to spearhead the nation’s AI technique, launched that very same 12 months.
The UAE has stated it goals to turn out to be one of many main nations in AI by 2031, creating new financial and enterprise alternatives, and generate as much as 335 billion dirhams ($91 billion) in further progress.
“The area appears to categorise being left behind on new applied sciences as a much bigger threat than anything,” stated Cesar Lopez, the CEO of Datumcon.
“Taking the danger to do what others aren’t has attracted and constructed enterprise,” he advised AFP.
The info and AI options firm primarily based within the UAE and Saudi Arabia is utilizing laptop imaginative and prescient to scan and establish broken containers at Jebel Ali port in Dubai, one of many world’s busiest, operated by logistics firm DP World.
However regardless of the Gulf’s AI investments, the shortage of dependable and accessible knowledge units, that are on the core of those programs, stay a barrier.
“It should take a couple of years to get there as a result of the information is not mature sufficient for it but (within the area),” stated Stephen Rawson, an affiliate at American consulting agency Oliver Wyman.
Whereas Gulf international locations have been higher at centralising knowledge throughout totally different governmental platforms, different main international locations have managed higher knowledge units for longer.
However being newer to knowledge assortment has its benefits, stated Rawson, as Gulf international locations can generate cleaner knowledge to create extra streamlined AI programs.
“They’re empowered to do that greater than they might be within the West,” stated Rawson, as a result of with personal enterprises, “getting them to work and play good will solely work if there is a revenue margin incentive for all of them.” – AFP
