What did we do? Let me share here more details as these represent major and unique investments in the region to help businesses and society derive new value from A.I. and new technologies such as IoT or Blockchain.

On January 21, Oracle opened its first innovation hub inaugurated by Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in the UAE. The new hub was named ‘Zayed Innovation Hub’ as a contribution to the ‘Year of Zayed’, honouring the progressive vision of the UAE’s Founding Father.

The hub represents a unique vehicle to not only showcase the latest innovations in action such as A.I. via real-life demos but as importantly it is also the perfect venue to engage with businesses on co-innovation initiatives. For example, you can see concrete demos using chatbots, IoT, drones … all at the same place and all along the year.

In addition, the first 500 Emirati men and women will soon start their training in artificial intelligence as the UAE looks to begin shaping its future. The students’ training is part of an agreement signed by Oracle and the Higher Colleges of Technology to prepare young UAE nationals youth for the country’s future jobs.

This is another testimony of Oracle’s long-term commitment and investments in the UAE and unique showcase in the region. So, I can only invite you to engage now with the Oracle team to visit it and kick-start your discovery and transformation journey with A.I.

Link to Khaleej Times article: Oracle opens innovation hub in Dubai

Global A.I. Summit: Making A.I. a Business Reality Today

Right after, on January 23, we had our first Global Artificial Intelligence Summit. And if Dubai was the natural first destination it is simply because UAE is among the first countries in the world today that has taken concrete action to position A.I. as a country-wide, strategic priority that will fuel today and tomorrow’s economy growth.

More than 400 executives gathered at the St-Regis hotel to directly hear from globally recognized leaders and get answer to one simple question: how to make of A.I. a business reality? or in other words how to create new value with A.I. today in the context of businesses, public services and society?

Alain Blanc, our EVP for Applications in the EMEA region, was present to deliver the Executive Opening. This welcome note was then followed by a Thought-Leadership presentation from Geoffrey Moore, who is well-known Management Author of best-seller books (e.g. Crossing the Chasm) and Advisor of many CEOs in the world, that deeply explained us the new business opportunities A.I. offers today to lead the 21st century. Geoffrey clearly outlined that embedded intelligence in the context of business models, processes and decision is the way to go for businesses to take real advantage of A.I.

Then, we had an inspiring Oracle Keynote from Steve Miranda, our EVP for Applications Product Development, on how to transform these business opportunities into new value with next gen intelligent applications in the cloud and what’s coming next from Oracle. Steve highlighted the fact that in a context of transformative technologies emerging everyday: A.I., Blockchain, IoT, 3D Printings… , only ONE Cloud Suite of Applications can help unify them. Business applications become the value multiplier to combine them in intelligent and innovative ways, concluding that only A.I. + Cloud can help create value with built-in intelligence in cloud businesses.

And, we closed the plenary with a panel of executive customers and experts from leading organizations: the Chairman of SmartWorld, the CIO of Du, the Head of Transformation at Fawaz Al Hokair and our SVP for AI Applications Development. The panel covered the typical use-cases and business scenarios that will generate most of the value for businesses and society.

Watch here the 2m