Under the title: “The Future of the Smart Economy 2024” The Oman Generative AI Conference Launches in Muscat
The “Oman Generative AI Conference - The Future of the Smart Economy 2024” launched today, Wednesday, organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology in collaboration with SAS Media. The event, held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center, will run for two days and features the participation of a distinguished group of local and international experts and specialists, discussing the role of generative AI in advancing the smart economy in the Sultanate of Oman. The event was inaugurated under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Saoud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agricultural, Fisheries, and Water Resources.
At the beginning of the conference, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani delivered a speech highlighting global trends in artificial intelligence and the role of the National Program for AI and Advanced Digital Technologies in promoting the adoption and localization of AI technologies in Oman. His Excellency also touched on the most significant current and upcoming projects under the program. This was followed by several presentations, starting with Saoud bin Hamed Al Riyami, Chief Executive of Business and Wholesale at Ooredoo, who spoke about developments in AI and its role in advancing business and communications. Following that, Mr. Ken Hobson, Regional Leader for Data and AI Technologies at IBM, presented a forward-looking vision on generative AI, shedding light on innovations and challenges in the field. Mr. Alessio Bagnarisi, Vice President of AI at Oracle for the Middle East and Africa, also gave a presentation on AI applications in the region and the company’s role in advancing AI technologies globally.
Next, there was a presentation on the “Engineer it with AI” competition, delivered by Ms. Tawaa bint Abdullah Al Dawood, Head of Development and Studies. She outlined the competition’s objectives, various stages, expected outcomes, and key statistics related to it.
The conference also included three panel discussions. The first session explored generative AI as a driver for future development, the second focused on the impacts of quantum computing on AI technologies, and the third discussed the changing business models in the age of AI. Additionally, a technology exhibition was inaugurated alongside the conference, with several tech companies showcasing the latest innovations and smart solutions developed locally.
In conjunction with the conference, the winners of the “Engineer it with AI” competition, organized by the National Center for Space, Advanced Technologies, and AI, were announced. The competition saw 25 teams with 100 participants competing to develop innovative solutions that promote the use of generative AI across various sectors. The top three winning teams were honored, along with special awards such as the Innovation Excellence Award and the Collaboration and Teamwork Award, among other incentive prizes.
The conference will continue tomorrow with a series of specialized workshops related to AI technologies. The first workshop will focus on financial applications in the AI era, aiming to explore the latest developments in fintech and its crucial role in enhancing financial services and supporting innovation. The second workshop will discuss leading AI application practices, presenting a variety of successful case studies and addressing the challenges faced by companies and institutions when adopting this technology, along with strategies to overcome them. These workshops aim to exchange expertise and present best practices for leveraging modern technology to drive economic growth, as well as the latest developments in big data and advanced analytics. Policies and regulations that support innovation and enhance Oman’s capabilities in this field will also be discussed.
The Oman Generative AI Conference highlights Oman’s commitment to supporting technological innovation and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors to build a smart and sustainable digital economy. This event reflects the continuous efforts to enhance local capabilities and leverage modern technology to develop effective and sustainable solutions that propel economic and social development in the Sultanate.