Latest news with #AWSGenerativeAIAccelerator
Techday NZ
26-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
If you view AI as purely technical, your projects will fail
Use the right training strategy to bring every employee on your AI journey Originally published on iTNews, we share insights on the need for an organisation-wide program to plan for, upskill in and implement artificial intelligence technology. The extraordinary capabilities of generative AI (genAI) platforms have captured the business world's imagination – and a growing portion of its IT budgets. Yet even as tech giants work to make genAI technology more accessible, experts warn that companies focused solely on that technology are bound to fail. That's because genAI isn't a silver bullet for every business problem. Simply directing developers and IT leaders to join the stampede towards the technology is unlikely to deliver the benefits business leaders want from it. "Organisations have a wide variety of reasons" for embracing AI, noted James Finley, Senior Systems trainer with training provider Lumify Work (formerly DDLS in Australia and Auldhouse in New Zealand). Lumify offers a range of AI-intensive training courses, including its 8-week CloudUp and AWS Generative AI Accelerator boot camps, AWS Skill Builder on-demand digital training, and AI-related practitioner certifications. In working with early adopters across the ANZ region, Finley has seen companies embrace AI for both internally focused projects—those using the technology to improve internal efficiencies—and those building "externally facing solutions" to support customer care and other operations. "Every organisation is different, and it comes down to what their first jumping-off point is," Finley said, "but I am seeing people coming from a wide variety of platforms." Perhaps instinctively, he noted, early adopters are often technical – data platform experts, infrastructure, sysops or developer team members – with many people doubling up on roles as enthusiastic team members expand their skills in more than one area. Many companies "are looking at people they know and trust internally to get that foothold," he explained, "but when they get some known quantities and start saying that they need more staff, they need someone who understands the business and what they're trying to achieve." Moreover, according to the Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Asia Pacific Workforce for Jobs of the Future report, while almost every department in an organisation can derive significant value from AI applications, many view just three departments as getting the most benefits, when in reality, AI should boost all parts of the organisation. In Australia, the perceived top three AI beneficiaries are IT (87 per cent), sales and marketing (83 per cent), and business operations (82 per cent). In New Zealand, the big three AI beneficiaries are IT (86 per cent), sales and marketing (85 per cent), and finance (83 per cent). Extending AI from technical project to business driver Changing your approach from technical project to business driver is essential for AI success, and truly integrating AI into the business requires time, patience, and widespread buy-in. Without such buy-in, many executives risk becoming disillusioned by AI in the short term, Gartner recently advised, predicting that companies will abandon 30 per cent of genAI projects by the end of 2025. This attrition will be written large as organisations drop millions on integrating genAI services into their apps and building custom models from scratch, then find they solved a different problem than they needed to—or commit resources to solving business problems without considering whether AI is even the appropriate solution. The benefits of genAI "are very company, use case, role and workforce specific," Gartner distinguished VP analyst Rita Sallam said, noting that the impact of genAI projects "may not be immediately evident and may materialise over time." Keeping that focus can be tough given the sheer breadth and capability of genAI and broader AI capabilities available through APIs that tap services like AWS Bedrock, which offers developers a smorgasbord of technological solutions encompassing a range of genAI technologies. Indeed, some estimates suggest that 80 per cent of AI projects will fail—twice the rate of non-AI projects—with one recent study blaming a range of issues, including stakeholders failing to effectively communicate the problem that needs solving, the lack of the necessary data and infrastructure to train and deliver AI, or teams focused more on the latest and greatest technology than on solving real problems for their users. "The foundation models are capable of doing a whole bunch of things," said AWS technical trainer Peter Vandaele, "and then it's up to you as a programmer or as a developer to focus it so you can integrate that into your own application." "We try to be very, very broad and allow you to use that inside your application through a simple, unified API that lets you start adding more things like extra knowledge bases or even giving it agency to execute tasks." "It's not doing your job, but it is an assistant." Where are the champions? Many technical staff will have dabbled in AI for their own knowledge – either by experimenting with hosted AI systems or by working on early-stage pilot programs – but companies looking to get serious about AI must consider a more structured program of technical and business training to ensure the whole company is on board. "Understanding how to unlock the technology through core cloud training and skills is absolutely critical to be able to make the most of AI," explained Leif Pedersen, APAC cloud and AI product manager with Lumify Work. Once known as Dimension Data Learning Services (formerly DDLS in Australia and Auldhouse in New Zealand), Lumify has positioned its broad range of technical and business training offerings as what Pedersen called a "one-stop shop for organisations and customers to come get everything they need from a training and development certification point of view." Yet such training is only part of the change that companies need to plan to make their AI and genAI projects a success: companies also need to cater to non-technical teams by establishing internal teams to advocate and train employees in ways that are meaningful to them. As in many other business change projects, the appointment of 'champions of change' can be invaluable to helping extend AI culture across the organisation. "Any sort of adoption process or cultural change inside an organisation, really just needs some champions to pick it up," Pedersen said, noting that companies choosing technical AI training should also consider how to identify and train those champions. Ultimately, technical teams and AI-focused managers should engage with those champions to build end-user acceptance of new technologies that will improve how they work. "This is not something that should be forced down from the top," said Vandaele. "You want buy-in from the ground up, and training can really help blanket the organisation with education." This is particularly important regarding genAI, he added, because "there's a lot of talk about it, a lot of buzz, and a lot of myths and fear going around." "The more we know about something and the more we understand something, the less we fear it – so it is going to be really important moving forward that organisations spend time really creating buy-in on a very broad level."
Tahawul Tech
28-03-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Amazon Web Services' global tour of collaborative spaces and AI experiences set for Dubai debut
The UAE's dominance as the Middle East and North Africa's largest hub for startup funding and tech investment will receive another injection of AI-powered transformation when a global tour of pop-up collaborative spaces and immersive AI experiences lands in Dubai soon. The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai in partnership with Dubai AI Campus and Nvidia takes place from 7-11 April 2025 at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation One, delivering a five day showcase of cutting-edge AI technologies and their practical applications across industries. The opening day sets the tone with an inspiring keynote, producer panel discussions, ecosystem insights, live AWS demonstrations, and concludes with a premium networking reception. By bringing together business leaders, investors, developers, startups, and AI enthusiasts, this event aligns with the UAE's vision for AI leadership and digital transformation, offering a unique platform for knowledge exchange and networking in the rapidly evolving field of generative AI. Transforming industries with real-world AI Startups have always been the lifeblood of innovation. They are the frontrunners in new technologies adoption, and when it comes to generative AI, they are poised to transform industries and shape the future. In 2024, AWS, the world's most comprehensive cloud provider, announced a commitment of $230 million to accelerate the creation of generative AI applications by startups around the world as well as the second-annual AWS Generative AI Accelerator. With these efforts, AWS is doubling down on its commitment to support startup founders to innovate faster and reinvent customer experiences and applications with generative AI. The massive advances of AI and its transformative impact will also catalyse a new wave of investment into the UAE's startup ecosystem, which comprised a 44 percent share of the MENA's US$2 billion funding rounds across 542 investment deals in 2024, according to a report by Digital Digest. The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai is part of AWS GenAI Lofts, a global tour of pop-up collaborative spaces and immersive experiences for startups and developers taking residence in innovation and AI hubs around the globe. The Dubai edition features expert-led workshops, interactive demonstrations, and one-on-one consultations with AWS AI/ML specialists. With AWS GenAI Lofts, startups, developers, and AI enthusiasts can get hands-on AI products and services from AWS Partners and AWS, including Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q. Developers will have the opportunity to gain greater understanding of advanced techniques, such as building agentic workflows and tuning foundation models, and dig deeper into generative AI use cases and demos. Visitors can experience exclusive sessions led by industry luminaries, make connections with generative AI investors and leaders, and get their questions answered in-person by generative AI experts. 'The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai represents our commitment to make it easy for developers of all skill levels to build and scale generative AI applications', said Yasser Hassan, Director, MENA and Turkey, AWS. 'With Nvidia, the Dubai AI Campus and DIFC, we've curated a one-stop destination for in-person engagement for startups and developers to learn how to use and implement generative AI technology, get up to speed on the latest trends, and connect with a wider community of technology and business experts'. Image Credit: AWS
TECHx
27-03-2025
- Business
- TECHx
AWS GenAI Loft Dubai to Drive AI Innovation at DIFC
AWS GenAI Loft Dubai to Drive AI Innovation at DIFC The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai is set to accelerate AI innovation in the UAE, reinforcing the country's position as the largest hub for startup funding and tech investment in the Middle East and North Africa. Taking place from April 7-11, 2025, at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation One, this event will showcase the latest in AI-powered transformation. This five-day event will showcase cutting-edge AI technologies and their applications across industries. It kicks off with a keynote, followed by panel discussions, live AWS demonstrations, and a networking reception. Attendees will have the chance to engage with AI experts, business leaders, and developers, making this a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and insights. The event aligns perfectly with the UAE's vision for AI leadership. By focusing on real-world AI applications, it provides a platform for startups and developers to learn, collaborate, and innovate. This effort supports the UAE's ongoing push for digital transformation and AI advancements. Startups are central to the AI revolution, and generative AI is set to transform industries. AWS, the world's most comprehensive cloud provider, has committed $230 million to help startups create generative AI applications. The company also launched the second-annual AWS Generative AI Accelerator to support innovation. In 2024, the UAE's startup ecosystem secured 44% of MENA's $2 billion in funding across 542 deals, according to Digital Digest. This growing investment reflects the region's increasing focus on AI-driven startups and innovation. The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai is part of a global tour that brings AI experiences to innovation hubs around the world. The event will feature expert-led workshops, hands-on demonstrations, and one-on-one consultations with AWS AI/ML specialists. Developers will gain insights into advanced techniques, such as building workflows and tuning AI models. Visitors will also connect with industry leaders, investors, and AI experts. They'll have the chance to attend exclusive sessions and engage in meaningful discussions about generative AI's potential. Yasser Hassan, Director of MENA and Turkey at AWS, said, 'The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai demonstrates our commitment to helping developers of all skill levels build and scale generative AI applications. By collaborating with Nvidia, Dubai AI Campus, and DIFC, we've created a one-stop destination for startups to engage with generative AI technology and stay updated on the latest trends.' The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai promises to be a game-changer, driving innovation and fostering new partnerships in the UAE's tech ecosystem.
Zawya
26-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Amazon Web Services' global tour of pop-up collaborative spaces and immersive AI experiences set for Dubai debut
Dubai, UAE: The UAE's dominance as the Middle East and North Africa's largest hub for startup funding and tech investment will receive another injection of AI-powered transformation when a global tour of pop-up collaborative spaces and immersive AI experiences lands in Dubai next month. The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai in partnership with Dubai AI Campus and Nvidia takes place from 7-11 April 2025 at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation One, delivering a five day showcase of cutting-edge AI technologies and their practical applications across industries. The opening day sets the tone with an inspiring keynote, producer panel discussions, ecosystem insights, live AWS demonstrations, and concludes with a premium networking reception. By bringing together business leaders, investors, developers, startups, and AI enthusiasts, this event aligns with the UAE's vision for AI leadership and digital transformation, offering a unique platform for knowledge exchange and networking in the rapidly evolving field of generative AI. Transforming industries with real-world AI Startups have always been the lifeblood of innovation. They are the frontrunners in new technologies adoption, and when it comes to generative AI, they are poised to transform industries and shape the future. In 2024, AWS, the world's most comprehensive cloud provider, announced a commitment of $230 million to accelerate the creation of generative AI applications by startups around the world as well as the second-annual AWS Generative AI Accelerator. With these efforts, AWS is doubling down on its commitment to support startup founders to innovate faster and reinvent customer experiences and applications with generative AI. The massive advances of AI and its transformative impact will also catalyse a new wave of investment into the UAE's startup ecosystem, which comprised a 44 percent share of the MENA's US$2 billion funding rounds across 542 investment deals in 2024, according to a report by Digital Digest. The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai is part of AWS GenAI Lofts, a global tour of pop-up collaborative spaces and immersive experiences for startups and developers taking residence in innovation and AI hubs around the globe. The Dubai edition features expert-led workshops, interactive demonstrations, and one-on-one consultations with AWS AI/ML specialists. With AWS GenAI Lofts, startups, developers, and AI enthusiasts can get hands-on AI products and services from AWS Partners and AWS, including Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q. Developers will have the opportunity to gain greater understanding of advanced techniques, such as building agentic workflows and tuning foundation models, and dig deeper into generative AI use cases and demos. Visitors can experience exclusive sessions led by industry luminaries, make connections with generative AI investors and leaders, and get their questions answered in-person by generative AI experts. 'The AWS GenAI Loft Dubai represents our commitment to make it easy for developers of all skill levels to build and scale generative AI applications,' said Yasser Hassan, Director, MENA and Turkey, AWS. 'With Nvidia, the Dubai AI Campus and DIFC, we've curated a one-stop destination for in-person engagement for startups and developers to learn how to use and implement generative AI technology, get up to speed on the latest trends, and connect with a wider community of technology and business experts.' About Amazon Web Services Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 105 Availability Zones within 33 geographic regions, with announced plans for 18 more Availability Zones and six more AWS Regions in Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. About Amazon Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon.
