73% Of UAE Firms Boast Strong AI Plans

The recent release of Cisco’s AI Readiness Index reveals that only 14% of organizations worldwide are fully equipped to implement and harness the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered technologies. The index, based on a survey of over 8,000 global companies, addresses the growing adoption of AI, a transformative shift affecting various aspects of business and daily life. The report exposes significant gaps in companies’ readiness to integrate and utilize AI, highlighting potential risks in key business pillars and infrastructures.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the AI Readiness Index indicates that strategy readiness is the most advanced pillar, with 73% of organizations considered ‘fully prepared.’ Enhancing system, process, and operational efficiency emerges as a top objective for companies adopting AI, with 50% of respondents in the UAE listing it among their top three priorities. Other key objectives include increasing revenue and market share (48%) and enhancing innovation capabilities (47%).

Reem Asaad, Vice President of Cisco Middle East and Africa, commented on the study’s findings, emphasizing the pervasive impact of AI on various aspects of life. She noted the UAE’s prominence in developing innovative technologies, citing the National Strategy for AI, and urged businesses to invest in securing and monitoring their AI models and toolchains for optimal performance, data security, and responsible AI outcomes.

Additional findings specific to the UAE include:

1. Strategy Readiness: Globally, and in the UAE, organizations recognize the importance of a well-defined AI strategy, with 95% already having one in place or in development. In the UAE, 73% of organizations are classified as ‘Pacesetters’ or ‘Chasers’ in strategy readiness.
2. Infrastructure for the Future: Infrastructure readiness in the UAE is relatively low, with only 7% of organizations considered ‘fully prepared.’ Scalability and flexibility of IT infrastructure are crucial for gaining a competitive advantage through AI adoption.
3. Importance of Data and Governing Real Risk: Despite data being crucial for AI operations, 27% of UAE organizations are classified as ‘Laggards’ in data readiness. The report emphasizes the need for robust policies and protocols to guide ethical and responsible data and AI system management.
4. Talent for the Tech: In the UAE, 25% of respondents identified a lack of comprehension and proficiency in AI tools and technologies as the primary skill gap. However, 80% of organizations are investing in training employees, indicating a commitment to addressing the skills gap.
5. Culture is Crucial: While only 6% of respondents in the UAE are ‘Pacesetters’ in cultural readiness for AI, 76% express a moderate to high level of urgency in embracing AI. This underscores the motivation for cultural change, with only 4% resistant to the shift, and 98% stating an increased urgency to deploy AI technologies in the past six months.