98% of UAE organizations see AI as key enabler, study shows – News

Companies invest more in data science platforms to build and maintain AI models

Almost all UAE companies agree that artificial intelligence (AI) can help them cope with current economic uncertainties, but must address the access gap between technology users and business users, according to a new study by everyday AI platform Dataiku.

The study, which surveyed 700 IT decision makers across five EMEA countries, including the UAE, revealed that 98% of business decision makers in the UAE see AI as a key enabler when looking for ways to increase resilience in current economic conditions . The poll further suggests that this belief is reflected in a wide range of actions, with nearly three-quarters (74%) of companies maintaining or increasing investment in AI projects in recent months. More than two-thirds (68%) of UAE organizations invest up to 50% of their technology budgets in AI, with formal plans driven by specific business goals to be achieved over the next five years.

While the UAE aligns with the entire EMEA region in prioritizing innovation, innovation – chosen by 64% of UAE organizations as a five-year business goal – the country differs from its regional peers in terms of second and third priorities. While EMEA as a whole is focused on reducing costs and increasing revenue, UAE businesses say they will focus on competitive advantage (56%) and improving customer experience (54%), strong indicators of the level of maturity in the UAE AI market.

“The UAE has a proud heritage in AI and was the first country to appoint a Minister of State to oversee its development,” said Sid Bhatia, Dataiku’s Vice President and General Manager for the Middle East and Turkey. “The report once again shows us that Businesses here have a solid foundation in the factors that underpin AI everyday as they prioritize competitive advantage and improved customer experience rather than trying to skip to the end of the story with financial goals like cost and revenue. Based on the fundamentals, we are naturally moving toward an AI future of increased revenue and lower costs.”

The data revealed that while almost all (94%) UAE data science and technology specialists can use data and artificial intelligence to contribute to the achievement of their organization’s business goals, the figure is much lower for enterprise users, Only 42% of them have full access to the data they need. However, 92% of UAE respondents said they are using low-code or no-code development platforms to make AI more accessible to business users and help automate and improve day-to-day decision-making processes, thereby building a culture of day-to-day AI.

Bhatia added: “It’s interesting that when we see the unprecedented media buzz around large language models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, and Microsoft’s revamped Bing, we ask UAE companies if they’re investing in data science platforms to build and maintain AI models for the past five years. They all said ‘yes’. That’s 100% of companies saying they’ve experimented with AI. That’s good news, but we now know that to truly leverage the value of AI and realize business goals, we cannot leave progress entirely in the hands of data scientists and behind-the-scenes technologists. We need to fully democratize AI. Wide availability of platforms like ChatGPT and Bard is a good example. We must apply these principles now Build upon all established AI platforms and usher in an era of inclusion for these technologies — the age of everyday AI.”