Latest news with #AIleadership
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
AI possibilities big for Australia
Isabella Higgins: Could Australia become a global leader in artificial intelligence? Well, the Business Council of Australia thinks so, with the right policy settings. A report released today provides a blueprint of what is needed to make that plan a reality. But not everyone is so optimistic. Unions are worried that AI without safeguards could see many Australians lose their jobs. Elizabeth Cramsie reports. Elizabeth Cramsie: Australia is a global leader when it comes to minerals and energy production. But by as soon as 2028, it also has the chance to lead the way in artificial intelligence. Bran Black: We've got a real focus on how we can go about improving skills, how we can go about sensibly approaching regulation, what we need to do to make sure that the right type of infrastructure is in place for the utilisation of AI, and then more broadly, what we can do to try and drive research and development activity in Australia. Elizabeth Cramsie: That's Bran Black, the Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, which has released a plan detailing how Australia could become an AI powerhouse. Bran Black: We're a safe economy, we've got secure property rights, the rule of law, etc., abundant space and natural resources. We think that data centre location is absolutely critical. We've got highly skilled researchers, and so we'd love to see Australia as a hub for research and development. Elizabeth Cramsie: The BCA says AI could hold the key to reigniting productivity growth, which it says is critical to higher living standards. The plan lists examples from intelligent logistics and streamlined services to freeing up healthcare workers from repetitive tasks. And if Australia succeeds, the economic boost could be huge. Bran Black: General projections are that it could lead to a GDP increase of anywhere between $150 billion to $600 billion for Australia each year by 2030. Elizabeth Cramsie: Toby Walsh is the Chief Scientist at the AI Institute at the University of New South Wales. Toby Walsh: The government is going to be focused on productivity, and here is a real productivity opportunity, and it sets out a detailed plan of how actually in the next three years they could achieve significant returns, as well as ensuring that it's done in a responsible way. Elizabeth Cramsie: And Toby Walsh says while it's an ambitious timeline, AI developments are coming fast. Toby Walsh: But we need to make those investments now, otherwise we won't have that infrastructure. Similarly, the skills piece, there's a big section of the report devoted to skills, and that is investing in our future. Elizabeth Cramsie: Many parts of the Australian economy are already using AI. A good example is the mining sector, which uses automated trucks and trains. But some fear there could be unrealised downsides to such a rapid shift in technologies. Joseph Mitchell is the Assistant Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Joseph Mitchell: Workplace surveillance has been turbocharged by AI, tracking when and where people go to the toilet. Elizabeth Cramsie: Joseph Mitchell says unions support innovation and productivity gains, but it cannot come at the cost of workers. Joseph Mitchell: What we need to guard against is the really malicious cases, or the cases where the benefit only goes to overseas big tech companies. Elizabeth Cramsie: One of the plan's proposals is for AI courses to be introduced into schools and university courses, and a national institute dedicated to best practice for the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Isabella Higgins: Elizabeth Cramsie there.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
IBM: Saudi Arabia Poised to Lead Digital Transformation in the Middle East
As Riyadh welcomed US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, discussions have resurfaced around the profound transformations taking place in Saudi Arabia's economic and technological landscape — a key focus of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. At the heart of this transformation are global tech companies, including American giant IBM. The company's CEO Arvind Krishna is accompanying Trump on his trip as part of a large delegation of CEOs and top business leaders. IBM views Saudi Arabia as a promising regional hub for digital innovation and AI leadership. Last year, IBM established a new regional headquarters in Riyadh and launched a $250 million software lab in the Saudi capital focused on accelerating digital innovation with over 70% of the workforce being Saudi nationals. Earlier this year, IBM also announced a partnership with Lenovo to help expand the impact of generative AI for clients in the Kingdom. It further revealed plans to establish a joint AI innovation center in Riyadh in collaboration with Salesforce. Additionally, IBM partnered with the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) to promote AI adoption in areas such as carbon capture and industrial use and launched a generative AI Center of Excellence to support scalable and responsible AI deployment across sectors. Dynamic digital market In an exclusive statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, IBM's Regional Vice President in Saudi Arabia Ayman Al-Rashed stated that the Kingdom is a dynamic and rapidly growing digital market, driven by bold national initiatives like the National Transformation Program. 'With the ICT market in Saudi Arabia valued at over $44 billion, there is an immense opportunity to accelerate digital transformation across public and private sectors,' Al-Rashed said. He explained that IBM is well-positioned to support this momentum. With the rise of technologies such as quantum computing, hybrid cloud, and AI, 'we foresee a future in which Saudi Arabia leads the region's digital transformation.' IBM's innovations, such as Watsonx, are already bringing tangible changes to the business landscape, from developing Arabic language models like 'ALLaM' to automating HR through tools like 'AskHR' and 'Watsonx Orchestrate,' he went on to say. A global study conducted by IBM showed 61% of CEOs are already using AI agents, with AI investment expected to double in the next two years, he revealed. 'These global trends are clearly reflected in the Saudi market, where demand for advanced and generative AI solutions is accelerating. Remarkably, 56% of business leaders in the Middle East believe that leadership in generative AI will be critical for gaining a competitive edge.' Sectors undergoing rapid transformation When asked about the fastest-transforming sectors in the Kingdom, Al-Rashed noted that Vision 2030 is driving significant shifts in key areas such as education, energy, and financial services. Meanwhile, the sports and entertainment sectors are emerging as promising spaces for growth. 'Saudi Arabia's hosting of major events like Formula 1, the Club World Cup, the AFC Champions League, and the 2034 FIFA World Cup highlights the country's ambition for global leadership and creates ideal opportunities to use technology to enhance fan engagement and operational efficiency,' he said. He added that Saudi Arabia's strong digital infrastructure and tech-savvy youth provide fertile ground for applying smart solutions. 'We are committed to working with local partners to turn digital potential into measurable outcomes,' he stressed. Strategic investment destination On the investment front, Al-Rashed emphasized that IBM sees Saudi Arabia as a strategic center for innovation and long-term growth, praising the Kingdom's attractive investment climate, advanced digital infrastructure, and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. 'We established a new regional HQ and software lab in Riyadh last year, with 70% of hires being Saudi nationals. We also announced partnerships with Lenovo and Salesforce and are working with SDAIA on industrial AI and carbon capture projects,' he said. Al-Rashed stressed that investing in local talent is a core priority. 'In partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, we're on track to achieve our goal of training 100,000 young Saudis to help shape the Kingdom's digital future,' he told Asharq Al-Awsat. Saudi Arabia continues to achieve remarkable milestones on its transformation journey and is positioning itself as a global model in AI adoption, he remarked. 'In just two years, our AI solutions have delivered $3.5 billion in productivity savings globally, and we're working to bring that impact to Saudi Arabia. Through our partnership with Riyadh Air, we aim to boost operational efficiency and enhance passenger experience, setting new benchmarks in the aviation industry,' he added.
