• Representatives from the region’s biggest technology companies, including GBM, Schneider Electric, Oracle, SAP, SAS and Microsoft, revealed the challenges and opportunities they face with collecting and using big data.

Dubai: Nearly 200 technology experts, business leaders and innovators from across the region and beyond gathered this morning at a half day event hosted by Forbes Middle East to explore how big data is disrupting business. Three panels delved into the value of big data, the opportunities arising from artificial intelligence and cloud computing, and the best practices when dealing with consumer data.

The first panel discussed the true value of big data and how business models are changing to implement it. While talking about the way data is being used to understand consumers, as well as the importance of avoiding flooding them with information, it was agreed that collecting and using data is a journey and companies need to understand what they need from the insights before they start. “We always say you can’t have AI without IA. If you don’t have your Information Agenda right you won’t be able to take advantage of AI,” said Cherif Morcos, VP of Digital Business Solutions at GBM.

During the second panel, participants discussed how AI, machine learning and cloud computing are continuing to disrupt businesses. Panelists talked about how AI is being adopted across public and private sectors.

With businesses and governments speedily adopting new technologies, especially AI, the panel agreed that we will eventually stop talking about it. “We will stop being excited about AI; it will be everywhere all the time. We will worry a lot more about data security,” said Caspar Herzberg, President for the Middle East and Africa at Schneider Electric. He also touched on the idea that humans and machines will one day combine to become a singularity. The published author and smart city expert said he expects to see that occurring within the next 10 years. 

This led into the final panel of the day, which delved into the trending topic of data privacy and discussed the best practices when dealing with consumer data.

“Privacy is a fundamental human right,” said Ihsan Anabtawi, COO at Microsoft Gulf FZ LLC. “There is no trust without privacy.” All panelists agreed that education within businesses is key. “Humans are very trusting,” said Andrew Pearson, Founder and MD of Intelligencia. “Employees trust phishing emails coming in because they don’t understand the risks. You need to be very cautious with your data and your people.”

Mahmoud Al Tabarane, Head of Operations at Infowatch agreed, saying that the human factor is vital. “You cannot protect data without knowing what the data is. You need to understand what type of data you have and who has access to it,” he said.

The forum was held on Monday, November 18, 2019, at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in Dubai. It was hosted in partnership with HumanSoft as a Platinum Partner, GBM as a Gold Partner and Schneider Electric as Innovation Partner.

To read the whole story, please visit www.forbesmiddleeast.com , and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Ends

About Forbes Middle East

Forbes Middle East is a licensee of Forbes Media and extends the Forbes brand of journalism across the Arab world. Forbes Middle East's distinctive editorial style attracts a readership of Arab leaders, entrepreneurs, C-level executives, government officials and investors united by a belief in the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurial values. 

Across the region, Forbes Middle East sets the pace for preemptive business journalism. By uncovering trends and anticipating opportunities in the regional marketplace, each monthly issue brings top executives the information critical to their success – in both Arabic and English language editions.

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For more information, please visit www.forbesmiddleeast.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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