CBD Advances UAE’s AI Vision with Microsoft Copilot ‘Promptathon’

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Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), a financial institution, hosted the Microsoft Copilot Promptathon in collaboration with the Microsoft Innovation Hub. The event supports the UAE’s vision to advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and innovation, marking the beginning of CBD’s large-scale rollout of Microsoft Copilot to over 800 employees.

The event, facilitated by Microsoft and CBD’s Data & AI team, aligns with Dubai’s ‘One Million Prompters’ initiative, which seeks to train one million individuals in AI prompt engineering. CBD’s efforts showcase the bank’s commitment to becoming a key player in Dubai’s ambitions to become a global AI hub and to drive technological innovation in the financial sector.

Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO of CBD, stated, “The rapid pace of technological advancement is reshaping our industry, and AI, Open Finance, and Quantum Computing will transform banking more profoundly than any innovation since the introduction of the ATM. It’s essential that we help our employees stay ahead of these changes by maximising learning and development opportunities.”

The event featured cross-functional teams collaborating with CBD’s executive leadership, including Dr. van Linder, to tackle real business challenges using advanced prompt engineering. This process refines AI prompts to generate the most accurate, useful, and creative responses from AI systems.

CBD is empowering its employees to leverage Microsoft Copilot across various applications, aiming to drive efficiency and productivity within the organization. The solutions developed during the event will be presented to both CBD’s CEO and Microsoft’s UAE General Manager Naim Yazbeck, illustrating the practical applications of AI in banking.

Yazbeck commented, “CBD’s proactive approach to AI adoption through the Promptathon reflects the value Microsoft Copilot can bring to the financial sector. By focusing on prompt engineering and team empowerment, CBD is setting new standards for AI integration in financial services.”

As an early adopter of Microsoft Copilot, CBD previously held an internal Promptathon, which resulted in the creation of ‘Superprompts’ and the appointment of ‘Prompt Ambassadors’ to promote AI tool adoption. The latest edition of the Promptathon is the largest yet, with plans to create additional ‘Superprompts’ and ‘Prompt Ambassadors,’ driving wider Copilot adoption across the organization.

The roll-out of Copilot to over 800 employees represents a significant milestone in CBD’s digital transformation. This initiative aligns with Dubai’s ‘Universal Blueprint for AI’ and further positions CBD as a key contributor to seamless AI integration across industries. By combining the power of AI with Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot is helping CBD employees achieve more with greater speed and efficiency.

This latest initiative builds on CBD’s track record of digital transformation, including the launch of award-winning digital banking platforms, the Green Growth Account with digital sustainability tracking, and strategic partnerships with fintech leaders. CBD is further accelerating its AI capabilities through a strategic partnership with PwC Middle East to drive AI adoption across its operations.