Latest news with #MachinesCanSeeSummit
Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
AI to reboot UAE's skyscraping tech ambitions, away from fossil fuels
Dubai, the gleaming metropolis on the edge of the Arabian desert known for its shiny high-rises, fast life and limitless ambitions, epitomises the UAE's towering tech-fuelled aspirations in more ways than one. It is no secret that the Emiratis want to lead the world in artificial intelligence (AI), as they seek to pivot their economy away from fossil fuels. And as part of its intensifying technological ambitions, the Emirates have heralded plans to become the first nation in the world to deploy AI to help write new laws and amend existing ones — a move expected to accelerate its law-making process by up to 70 per cent, but one that has also raised some concerns among technologists. This novel 'AI-driven regulation' system, to be overseen by the newly-created Regulatory Intelligence Office, a unit tasked with managing the AI's integration into its lawmaking process that will change how laws are created, making the process faster and more precise, according to Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE's Vice President, Prime Minister, and the ruler of Dubai. The AI system, announced just weeks ago, is expected to comb through a comprehensive database of federal laws, court rulings, and government services, and come up proactively with legal updates. AI's role, said UAE officials attending the third edition of the Machines Can See Summit in Dubai over the weekend — touted as the largest computer vision event and a leading AI gathering in the Gulf region — goes beyond just drafting; the system will track the real-world impact of new laws on the Emirates' population and economy, allowing the administration to adapt legislation in real time. The plan, though, has raised concerns among researchers and technologists, who have flagged the propensity of AI models to produce unreliable outputs, hallucinate and its potential shortcomings with legal interpretations. These risks notwithstanding, the UAE has made AI a national priority, pumping in billions into the sector through its new sovereign wealth vehicle, MGX. While its fascination with tech is not new, it is the scale of the Emirates' plan, alongside that of neighbouring Saudi Arabia, that is key. The UAE's centralised government structure is a facilitator of this kind of rapid technological experimentation, something that could be difficult to achieve in other countries. 'Humans usually like to speak, to discuss, to get options and also to negotiate. And this is what the machine is (now) doing. We are going to a more human-centric approach. In Dubai, we are designing a multi AI agent, where a single AI can talk to one or multi AI agent in order either to perform tasks or execute commands or get a notification in order to finish a service. So what we'll see in the future, and I think this is one of the most complicated things that we'll see, we'll see more AI working with the digital tool. So each one of us will have a digital tool,' Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said at the first day of the Machines Can See summit here on April 23. Mansoori said the provincial administration is gearing for a future where AI agents or virtual ' Metaverse -type' avatars of citizens could be potentially designated to carry out tasks on behalf of citizens, such as applying for a licence or a business permit. That is the level of crystal ball gazing that the UAE administration is willing to do in its pursuit of AI leadership. Within the Emirates, Dubai has taken a lead in AI, and policymakers hope to keep it that way, Omar Sultan Al Olama, head of the UAE Ministry of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, said at the event that the administration is following a whole-of-government approach to keep that lead. 'There is a saying… Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter who you are, when the sun comes up in Dubai, you'd better be running,' Olama said in his opening keynote. The approach is backed by action. In March 2024, the UAE floated MGX, a tech-investment company by two state-owned entities – global investment fund Mubadala and an artificial intelligence firm G42 — with a target size of $100 billion that will invest in AI infrastructure, including data centres and chip-making facilities. It has also set up a $10 billion AI venture-capital fund. Earlier in 2023, the Technology Innovation Institute, a state-owned research body, unveiled Falcon, a large language model or LLM, and is currently working on new, smaller models. As part of these efforts, G42 had unveiled Nanda, a Hindi LLM while Mubadala had earlier invested in Anthropic, a top global AI startup. Countries such as India have been slower to get started. On Saturday, the Indian government said it had selected a Bengaluru -based start-up Sarvam to build the country's first indigenous AI large language model. The start-up, chosen from among 67 applicants, will receive support from the Union government in terms of compute resources to build the model from scratch and is the first to get approved for sops under the ambitious Rs 10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission to build its own LLM model. In the Emirates, non-AI companies are simultaneously being roped in to prep up the region's infrastructure to match its AI projections. E&, an Emirati telecom company, has been roped in as part of a project to build a 45,000-km long undersea cable that makes its way around south Asia, Africa to the UK. Khazna, an arm of G42, is also building peripheral infrastructure, all part of a concerted plan. Last August Mubadala invested in Yondr, an American data-centre developer. The UAE is also reported to be in talks with TSMC, the world's largest chipmaker, to build a semiconductor foundry in the Emirates. A big concern, though, is the worsening relation between America and China, analysts attending the conference told The Indian Express. Companies from the UAE are reliant on American companies for technological and capital support, even as most of them have heavy exposure to multiple Chinese players for hardware and software requirements. Having to pick sides would be an emergent risk for the tech-focused administrators sitting in Abu Dhabi, as will be the case for those in other capitals around the world.
The National
18-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Global AI leaders to gather at Machines Can See Summit during Dubai AI Week
Dubai will host global artificial intelligence and computer vision experts at the third edition of the Machines Can See Summit, taking place from April 23 to 24 as part of Dubai AI Week. The event is supported by key partners, including Digital Dubai, Dubai Future Foundation, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, SAP, Yango Group, and Adia Lab. The summit will bring together government officials, industry leaders and researchers to discuss the latest developments in AI, with a focus on robotics, agentic AI, and the security of large language models. A panel on AI for safe cities will be held in collaboration with Dubai Police. Among the confirmed speakers are UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Omar Sultan Al Olama, and Director General of Digital Dubai Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori. A ministerial session will also feature Zhaslan Madiyev, Kazakhstan's Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, and Gobind Singh Deo, Malaysia's Minister of Digital. Panels will cover a range of topics, including AI ethics, return on investment in AI, humanoid robotics, and breakthroughs in computer vision. Speakers include representatives from Amazon Prime Video, IBM, Oxford University, ETH Zurich, and Roche Pharma. The programme includes an exclusive SAP workshop on business AI applications, where executives will explore how tailored AI assistants can enhance product development, streamline supply chains, and improve customer experience. Yango Group will present its Arabic voice assistant Yasmina, autonomous delivery robots, and warehouse automation tools. The Machines Can See Summit is a key part of Dubai AI Week, launched under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. The week-long programme includes events such as the AI Retreat, Dubai Assembly for Generative AI, and the Global Prompt Engineering Championship, aiming to position the UAE as a global hub for AI innovation.
Zawya
06-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Machines Can See Summit unveils global speakers, premier partnerships, and exclusive SAP workshop
Dubai: In its third edition, the Machines Can See Summit—recognized as the largest computer vision event and a leading AI gathering in the Gulf region—has garnered support from several prominent organizations, including Digital Dubai, Yango Group (known for its Arabic voice assistant and delivery robots), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Mastercard, and Adia Lab. Organized by Polynome Events, the summit will take place on April 23-24, offering a unique platform for thought leaders and innovators to explore and discuss groundbreaking advancements in AI and computer vision. The Machines Can See summit is part of the inaugural Dubai AI Week, organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence to explore the future impact of AI across sectors. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation – the Week brings together global experts, innovators, and policymakers. 'In our partnerships and panels, we strive to reflect the major trends impacting the AI industry,' said Alexander Khanin, Head of Polynome Events. 'Among these are robotics, agentic AI, and attacks on large language models (LLMs). With the support of Dubai Police, we will host a unique panel on safe cities and AI.' The Machines Can See Summit will feature the attendance of key local government officials, including H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai. A significant highlight of the event will be the Ministerial Session, which will bring together international government leaders to discuss the role of national IT development in shaping the future of AI. Among the distinguished speakers will be H.E. Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, and the Minister of Digital of Malaysia, Gobind Singh Deo. Adding depth to the event, SAP will host an exclusive workshop titled "Turning AI into Real-World Results." This interactive session will allow business leaders to design custom AI assistants specifically tailored to their organizations. Attendees will explore how AI can significantly enhance product innovation, optimize supply chains, and transform customer experiences. 'Driven and executed by visionary leadership, Dubai and the UAE continue to set the regional benchmark for AI innovation. At SAP, we're excited to showcase our Business AI solutions at Machines Can See, empowering organizations to accelerate digital transformation, sharpen their competitive edge, and contribute to the UAE's vision of becoming a global technology powerhouse,' said Marwan Zeineddine, Managing Director, SAP UAE. Among the summit participants is Yango Group, a tech company that transforms global technologies into everyday services tailored for local communities. The company will showcase its human-like AI assistant, Yasmina, its autonomous last-mile delivery robots, and its AI-powered automation solutions for warehouses. Exploring the Frontiers of AI Innovation and Application During the "AI for a Better and Safer World: Navigating Tomorrow's Challenges" session, experts will discuss how AI can enhance global security and prosperity while addressing ethical considerations. Participants include Major General Khalid Nasser Alrazooqi from Dubai Police, Dena Almansoori from e&, and Marwan Zeineddine from SAP UAE. Another panel, "Byte-Sized Profits: Navigating ROI in the AI Revolution," will explore investment opportunities and strategies for maximizing returns in the AI market. The panel will feature speakers like Omar Almajdouie from Raed Ventures, Eddy Farhat from e& capital, and Faris Al Mazrui from Mubadala. The "Good AI: Between Hype and Mediocrity" session offers a critical examination of distinguishing transformative AI innovations from fleeting trends. Insights will be provided by Dr. Najwa Aaraj of TIl, Namik Hrle of IBM, and Adeniyi Adebayo from Yango. The"Computer Vision: What's On" panel will feature leaders in the field, including Michal Irani from the Weizmann Institute and Marc Pollefeys from ETH Zurich, who will discuss breakthroughs in image recognition and real-time processing. The "Robots: Are We Ready?" panel will host discussions on the future of autonomous delivery and humanoid robotics. Panelists include Sami Haddadin from MBZUAI and Judah Longgrear from KiwiBot. The summit will also feature keynotes from notable experts such as Michael Bronstein from the University of Oxford, Gerard Medioni from Amazon Prime Video, and Andrea Vedaldi from the University of Oxford, as well as Pavlos Panagiotidis, EMEA Head of AI and Platform Architecture at SAP, and Daniele Iacovelli, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Digital, AI and Operational Excellence at Roche Pharma.
