Latest news with #AIFirst
Biz Bahrain
07-08-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Reboot Expands AI Education in Bahrain with First-of-its-Kind Programs to Equip Youth with Future-Ready Skills
Reboot Coding Institute, the Kingdom's largest tech hub and coding program focused on nurturing future tech talent, is strengthening its commitment to advancing Bahrain's AI capabilities with two new initiatives designed to empower professionals and youth with future-ready skills. Reboot will launch the AI Generalists Program this September, with the goal of training 1,000 individuals per year. The program is designed to equip Bahraini professionals with practical AI skills to enhance productivity, integrate AI tools into business operations, and drive innovation across sectors such as Industry & Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Education, Start-Up, and Healthcare. The course covers key topics such as AI-assisted automation, prompt engineering, ethical AI use, and hands-on applications in sectors like education, finance, and healthcare. Participants who complete the program will receive Ministry of Labor accredited certificates, gaining a competitive edge in an evolving job market. Complementing this professional focus, Reboot will also lead the AI First Training Program at Youth City 2025, introducing young learners aged 15 and above to coding and generative AI through immersive, project-based workshops. Designed by 01Edu, the program will be the first of its kind to be conducted in the GCC, blending coding fundamentals with AI exploration in a gamified, collaborative learning environment. In just five days, participants will progress from no prior experience to creating functional web projects, developing teamwork and problem-solving skills, and understanding how AI can be used as a creative tool rather than a replacement for human effort. These initiatives build on Reboot's broader AI education framework, which also includes an AI Specialization Track within its flagship two-year coding program. This six-month, project-based deep dive takes learners through the full data science pipeline using Python, covering data analysis, machine learning, natural language processing, and deep learning. Reboot's impact is already evident through its growing community of graduates working as AI Engineers at leading organizations, including Raincode, where they build AI solutions for banks and companies across Europe; KPMG's AI Department, contributing to enterprise and government-level AI and ML solutions; and Al Salam Bank, where they support the bank's internal AI solutions team. 'Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping every sector, and it's crucial that Bahrain's workforce is ready to lead, not just adapt. Through the AI Generalists Program and the AI First workshops at Youth City 2025, we're making AI skills accessible to both professionals and the youth, helping them apply these tools ethically and effectively. Combined with our in-depth AI specialization track, we're creating clear pathways for anyone to move from AI fundamentals to advanced applications that solve real-world challenges.' said Yanal Jallad, Reboot's Managing Director. These initiatives reaffirm Reboot Coding Institute's role as a leading provider of future-focused tech education in Bahrain, bridging the gap between emerging technologies and real-world applications.
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
First Free AI Research Hub Launched By Crypto Giant Delphi
AI Intelligence When I was researching my book AI First, Human Always, I spent months combing through hundreds of sources on artificial intelligence—academic papers, startup blogs, VC reports, and more. What I discovered was a fragmented and often frustrating landscape: most of the best thinking was either deeply technical or locked behind jargon, while the rest was watered down for engagement rather than insight. It was clear that while AI was advancing quickly, access to meaningful, actionable research for business leaders hadn't kept pace. That's what makes the launch of Delphi Intelligence notable. A new initiative from crypto-native firm Delphi Digital, the platform aims to become a go-to research hub for AI and emerging technologies—offering curated, open-access content that's rigorous yet accessible to decision-makers who don't hold PhDs in machine learning. It's the first free AI research hub launched by a crypto-native company whose venture fund has invested more than $25 million in early-stage AI investments, spanning venture capital and accelerator support. The platform is built for professionals navigating the fast-evolving AI space—executives, product leads, policymakers, and investors—who need clarity on where the technology is going and what matters most to their strategies. Delphi's goal is to fill the gap between click-driven summaries and inaccessible academic work. Delphi Intelligence is a Free AI Hub of research. From Crypto Research Pioneer to AI Strategy Platform Founded in 2018, Delphi Digital built its reputation by offering institutional-grade crypto research at a time when such insights were difficult to find. Its early reports on Ethereum economics, DeFi primitives, and Layer 1 ecosystems made it a staple among hedge funds, protocols, and serious retail investors. Over the last five years, the Delphi brand has expanded into investing and acceleration. Delphi Ventures now backs early-stage companies across Web3 and AI, while Delphi Labs runs accelerator programs and technical experiments. But AI didn't emerge as a focus overnight—it's been growing behind the scenes. 'To be the best possible investors and builders going forward, firms will have no choice but to build expertise in other parallel areas—especially AI,' said Anil Lulla, co-founder and CEO of Delphi Digital. Anil Lulla, co-founder and CEO of Delphi Digital, announcing the AI Hub Over the past two years, Delphi Labs has vetted more than 400 AI startups through its accelerator, backed dozens, and produced the 'DeAI' research series exploring the convergence of crypto and artificial intelligence. Delphi Ventures alone has deployed over $25 million into early AI companies. With Delphi Intelligence, those fragmented research efforts are consolidated under a single platform with a public mission. Why Delphi AI Intelligence Is Different Unlike AI newsletters optimized for speed or research journals written for machine learning PhDs, Delphi Intelligence is designed for decision-makers: executives, investors, product leads, and policy professionals who want to understand where the AI landscape is moving—and why it matters to their business. The platform's early content includes an analysis of AI-powered web browsers, an investigation into generative video models, and a multi-part series on reinforcement learning and the evolving value chain between model providers and application layers. Critically, all research will be free to access. Users can also subscribe to receive updates via email. Delphi says its open-access model draws inspiration from the early days of crypto, when public research accelerated industry development and community understanding. The Business Case for Accessible AI Research Executives across industries are increasingly aware of AI's transformative potential—but not all feel equipped to make informed decisions. According to Gartner's 2024 survey of enterprise leaders, 62 percent of executives believe AI will materially affect their industry within the next two years. Yet only 28 percent feel they understand the technology well enough to guide strategic planning. Delphi Intelligence is tailored to this knowledge gap. Rather than teaching readers how to fine-tune a model, the platform focuses on foundational shifts in technology, infrastructure, and business models. Its goal is to help leaders see where value is being created—and where competitive threats may emerge. The company also sees benefits beyond thought leadership. By openly publishing its research, Delphi gains real-time feedback from readers navigating AI transformations across geographies and multiple industries. This loop helps inform Delphi Ventures' investing, Delphi Labs' technical work, and future research priorities. A Crowded Market, But a Clear Niche For AI Research While AI coverage is exploding across Substacks, corporate blogs, and research firms, Delphi Intelligence may be the first initiative of its kind from a crypto-native firm with this level of cross-functional reach. The McKinsey and Company offer Paid AI Research (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images) McKinsey, Bain, and Gartner all publish paid reports on AI and automation, while VC firms such as Andreessen Horowitz periodically release thought pieces. Startups like Not Boring and Every bring narrative storytelling to tech trends, and daily newsletters like Ben's Bites or The Rundown AI summarize headlines. But none offer a dedicated, open-access platform combining research, incubation, and investment under one brand—especially not one shaped by crypto-native experience navigating other frontier technologies. This positioning may give Delphi an edge in a field that increasingly demands multidimensional expertise. AI is no longer just a standalone category—it is converging with cryptography, robotics, privacy infrastructure, and smart contracts. The Stakes: A Multitrillion-Dollar AI Inflection Point The scale of AI's impact is hard to ignore. According to McKinsey, generative AI alone could add between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion annually to global GDP. Meanwhile, Bain & Company reports that 60 percent of institutional investors expect to allocate capital to AI-linked infrastructure by 2026. In this context, understanding how and where value accrues—from models and chips to APIs and middleware—is becoming an executive imperative. Delphi Intelligence seeks to serve that need. Not by adding more noise to an already saturated space, but by offering a new layer of clarity: one rooted in technical curiosity, open discourse, and operational experience. For now, Delphi is betting that the same rigor and independence that made it a trusted voice in crypto can do the same in AI. Did you enjoy this story about the first free AI Hub of research? Don't miss my next one: Use the blue follow button at the top of the article near my byline to follow more of my work.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beyond the Hype: AI, AR, Spatial Computing and the Next Wave of Innovation
On this TechMagic greatest hits episode, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler welcome AI thought leader Sandy Carter, author of AI First, Human Always, and COO of Unstoppable Domains for a deep dive into AI-driven leadership and technological transformation. They break down the latest innovations, from Apple's Vision Pro developer workshop to Meta's bold moves in AR and spatial computing. Sandy shares expert insights on how business leaders can embrace AI while staying human-centric. Plus, hear exclusive details on her upcoming SXSW keynote. Whether you're an entrepreneur, tech enthusiast, or AI pioneer, this episode is packed with game-changing knowledge you won't want to miss. Come for the Tech, stay for the Magic! AI's Role in Job Transformation - Sandy Carter explains that AI will reshape 60-70% of jobs rather than eliminate them. She highlights how businesses can use AI to enhance human capabilities, sharing real-world examples like a spa leveraging AI agents for personalized treatment recommendations to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. Inside Apple's Vision Pro Developer Workshop - Cathy Hackl shares her firsthand experience at Apple's Vision Pro developer event, discussing new spatial computing innovations and how businesses can prepare for the next wave of immersive technology. She explores how VisionOS is shaping the future of content creation and user engagement. Developing an AI-First Leadership Mindset - Sandy emphasizes that leaders should integrate AI into daily workflows, ensuring every team member has an AI assistant by year-end. She provides a framework for evaluating AI's reliability, using supply chain accuracy as an example of how minor AI miscalculations can lead to major financial impacts. Meta's Latest Moves in AR and AI - Lee Kebler breaks down Meta's latest announcements, including its $50 million creator fund for Horizon Worlds and advancements in AR glasses. He explores what these developments mean for businesses and content creators looking to stay ahead in the spatial computing revolution. Debunking AI Myths at SXSW - Sandy previews her upcoming South by Southwest keynote, where she will tackle the top 10 myths about AI through live demonstrations and surprise guest appearances. She aims to bridge the gap between AI hype and real-world applications, ensuring leaders can make informed, strategic decisions about AI adoption.
Business Insider
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Sam Altman said AI would replace 95% of ad agency work. 3 top creative directors say AI has won them lucrative business.
Don't sound the death knell for ad agencies yet. Artificial intelligence threatens to upend the ad agency sector. Ever-improving tools are shortening the time it takes to produce logos, online ads, and even movies. In the soon-to-be-published book "AI First" by Adam Brotman and Andy Sack, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is quoted as saying, "95% of what marketers use agencies, strategists, and creative professionals for today will easily, nearly instantly, and at almost no cost be handled by AI." The agency world thinks differently. BI spoke to three top creative directors, who said AI is fueling a creative boom and that the technology doesn't portend an ad agency extinction event. Instead, they're using AI to more efficiently pitch big ideas and to expand their services into areas like content optimization. It's Don Draper from "Mad Men," on steroids. "AI can be an incredible creative tool, and if we keep getting in our own way of fearing it, it'll only date us," said Elena Knox, executive creative director at BBDO New York, which works for clients like M&M's, Wells Fargo, AT&T, and St-Germain. Knox said she's using AI to sell ambitious concepts to clients. She and her team used tools like Midjourney to bring to life a vision of an office where tree growth exploded into it before landing the viewer in a forest in the form of a GIF. It convinced the client to invest a multimillion-dollar production budget for shoots in New Zealand and Bulgaria. "Before you would have had to spend hours comping that, and the image wouldn't have existed," Knox said. "In AI, we were able to make a quick GIF of it and show the clients: this is what we want to film." In a separate pitch, Knox and her team used AI to create a realistic voiceover that convinced the client they needed to invest in that particular celebrity. In yesteryear, the agency might have needed to create a multi-page pitch deck to showcase why the celebrity was relevant, include their latest movies and social media followings, and perhaps call in the celebrity or a voice impersonator for testing. "What AI allowed me to do was show the client what it felt like," said Knox. "There's nothing like hearing the thing and being like, well, I can't unhear that." Trading celebrity glamour for an AI 'GOAT' AI can come to the rescue when lavish celebrity shoots are off the cards, too. Reckitt-Benckiser's laundry detergent brand Woolite was famed in the 1970s through the 1990s for using megastars of French cinema in its advertising. But when Woolite asked its creative agency, BETC, to relaunch the brand in France this year, the budget was more constrained than in decades past. Still wanting to maintain the brand's celebrity cachet, BETC used AI to create a new brand character: the Fluffy GOAT. A play on the "greatest of all time" moniker, the superstar goat is seen globetrotting on a speedboat, private jet, and in a limousine. Alasdhair Macgregor Hastie, executive creative director at BETC, said the campaign was delivered in six weeks, compared to the three to six months that in-person productions featuring big celebrities would ordinarily take. "AI to me is something that can only enhance what we do. I'm old enough to remember when Photoshop came in and people were wailing and moaning it was the end of advertising," Macgregor Hastie said. "Photoshop became a tool, and if we don't adapt to the new tool then the new tool is going to take over." For all its attributes, AI still presents clear challenges to the ad agency business model, in which companies tend to bill clients based on the number of full-time equivalent employees that are devoted to their accounts. Martin Sorrell, the executive chairman of the advertising company S4 Capital, told analysts on a recent earnings call that agencies like his were adapting their commercial models in some cases to be "on the basis of assets or outputs delivered." It reflects how AI is reducing the time it takes to manage and produce campaigns. The creative directors BI spoke to also said there were open questions about how the industry would continue to nurture early career talent, now that many junior tasks can be automated. Eric Wegerbauer, chief creative officer at TBWA, said the availability of AI tools is changing the scope of work the creative agency is pitching. It recently won a big piece of work that was all about content optimization across different formats and countries. TBWA also recently devised an idea for a campaign that would deliver close to 1 million personalized variations of an ad to target individual customers. "You'd just never ever, ever do that without AI," Wegerbauer said.
Fintech News ME
23-05-2025
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Google Launches Second AI Accelerator for MENA-T Startups
Google has announced the launch of its second 'Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First' programme for the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENA-T). The 12-week, equity-free initiative is aimed at supporting promising Seed to Series A startups that are developing AI solutions, offering access to infrastructure, tools, and expert guidance to help scale their technologies. The MENA-T region is increasingly being recognised as a growing centre for AI innovation, with broad applications across a range of industries. According to PwC, AI could contribute up to US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. McKinsey estimates that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries alone could see gains of up to US$150 billion. Investment in AI across the region is also on the rise, with Wamda reporting that the share of AI-related startup funding more than doubled between 2023 and 2024. PwC further forecasts that the region could benefit from US$320 billion, approximately 2 percent of the global economic impact of AI, by 2030. Commenting on the programme, Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Managing Director for MENA-T at Google Cloud, said: 'The incredible momentum of AI development in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkiye region presents a unique opportunity to foster a new wave of technological advancement. Google Cloud is committed to providing a robust and scalable platform for AI innovation. Our aim is to equip these pioneering companies with the cloud infrastructure and expertise necessary to optimise their AI workloads and accelerate their growth trajectory in this dynamic field.' Anthony Nakache, Managing Director at Google MENA, added: 'With the 'Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First' programme, we are dedicated to providing targeted support to innovative startups, helping them access Google's best resources to solve complex challenges and scale their impactful AI-driven solutions globally.' Startups selected for the programme will receive Google Cloud credits to support the development and deployment of their AI technologies. The programme includes technical mentorship from Google Cloud engineers and solution architects, focusing on optimising cloud infrastructure for AI workloads. It also offers workshops on Google Cloud's AI and machine learning tools, data analytics, and serverless computing, alongside sessions on go-to-market strategy, product development, and leadership. Participants will also have access to a network of investors, industry experts, and potential partners. apply by 16 June 2025.
