CASE STUDY

Pieter Bil, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Kyndryl Middle East and Africa, explores how Agentic AI is redefining the future of work in the Middle East; enhancing rather than diminishing human potential. From Smart Cities to energy and finance, he outlines why the region is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation and how trust, governance and innovation will shape its success.

Pieter Bil, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Kyndryl Middle

AI is evolving from a tool that simply responds to instructions into systems that can take initiative, plan and act – a shift often described as‘ Agentic AI’. From your perspective, how do you define Agentic AI and why is it such a significant step forward compared to earlier generations of AI?

Agentic AI represents a major leap in how we think about intelligent systems. It is AI that, with human oversight and engagement, can operate with autonomy within policy guardrails to set goals, make decisions and take action based on context and pre-established directives.

Earlier generations of AI were reactive, designed to follow instructions. Agentic AI is proactive. It can initiate tasks, adapt to changing conditions and collaborate with humans in real time. That shift opens new possibilities for enterprise transformation, especially in environments that demand agility, resilience and scale.

The Middle East is positioning itself as a hub for innovation and Digital Transformation. Where do you see the greatest opportunities for Agentic AI to deliver value across industries in the region?

The Middle East is well positioned to benefit from Agentic AI. Governments and industries here are embracing Digital Transformation with speed and ambition. We see major opportunities in energy,

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