INDUSTRY WATCH
OUR FINDINGS ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE WIDESPREAD ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT ENTERPRISE AI IS AN ORGANISATIONAL ASSET THAT WILL DEFINE THE BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE AND THE INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE .
The United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) leads EMEA in the leverage of data , data science and Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) for the purposes of decision making and business growth , according to a report commissioned by Dataiku , the platform for Everyday AI .
The survey was conducted by YouGov in early 2022 and involved 2,487 decision makers from across France , the United Kingdom , the Netherlands , Germany and the UAE . It revealed UAE respondents to be the most convinced of data ’ s utility in the workplace , with 84 % considering it essential compared with the EMEA average of 69 %.
The UAE has long been established as a world leader in Artificial Intelligence , having been the first nation to appoint a minister of state for AI . And in early March 2022 , Dubai International Financial Centre ( DIFC ), in collaboration with the UAE ’ s Artificial Intelligence Office , announced the launch of a special license for companies that focus on AI . In support of the country ’ s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 , the license rewards firms for their efforts by granting Golden Visas for select employees .
YouGov ’ s Dataiku-commissioned report reveals that some 71 % of UAE respondents have been using more data over the past five years , a figure that is again significantly higher than the EMEA average of just over half ( 55 %). Some 71 % of UAE respondents believe they will use even more data in the next five years compared to a EMEA average of 52 %.
The survey also showed a marked awareness in UAE respondents of the role AI can play in the coming years on their own jobs and within their organisation and sector . 66 % of UAE respondents believe AI and data science will impact their role in the next five years , an almost equal number ( 65 %) expect AI and data science to impact their company and 67 % expect AI and data science to have an impact on their industry in the next five years .
“ The findings in our report clearly establish the UAE as highly aware of the power of data and AI ,” said Sid Bhatia , Regional Vice President and General Manager , Middle East and Turkey , Dataiku . “ We believe this a direct consequence of the government ’ s forwardlooking position on these technologies . We see this in its Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 ; we see it in the federal government becoming the first to appoint a minister of state for AI ; and we see it in DIFC ’ s move to issue special AI licenses . Our findings also highlight the widespread acknowledgement that enterprise AI is an organisational asset that will define the business of the future and the industries of the future .”
However , Bhatia also pointed out the gap in perception between managers and non-managers in the UAE when it comes to data utility and the role of AI . While 71 % of UAE managers say their use of data in daily work has increased over past five years and 73 % believe their use of data will increase over next five years , only 44 % of non-managers say they have used more data over the past five years and a mere third expect to use more over the next five years . Two thirds ( 67 %) of those in management positions believe AI and data science will impact their roles but less than half ( 44 %) of non-managers believe the same .
“ There is clearly a need to democratise the use of AI if it is to gain widespread acceptance as a tool of prosperity ,” continued Bhatia . “ It is only when all people within an organisation see AI as a partner in change that they will come together and collaborate . Then stakeholders can deliver the culture needed to build a digital business . Through this culture change
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