Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 48 | Page 9

NEWS Global AI Summit in KSA to become international focus for AI Exclusive Networks hosts inaugural ‘Cloud First’ forum in KSA C loud is increasingly becoming a top priority for C-level executives across all vertical markets in the Kingdom. Organisations in Saudi Arabia (KSA) are rapidly adopting cloud solutions as the need for flexibility and speed takes effect. S audi Arabia has announced the Global AI Summit, a new global-level platform to promote the development of AI and related technologies. The Global AI Summit will take place in Riyadh on March 30 and 31 2020 and will be the leading international forum to advance AI and create knowledge sharing among global AI experts. The summit will also highlight Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a leader in AI technology, and drive discussions and partnerships between local and international stakeholders in the AI field. The event will be a focus for discussion on AI, its importance, applications and impact on societies, economies and politics. www.intelligentcio.com The Global AI Summit was announced on the sidelines of the Foreign Investment Initiative (FII 2019) during a talk given by H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). “AI is playing a central role in the Digital Transformation of all sectors of human activity, from business and enterprise, to key national industries, government, healthcare and many more areas beside,” said Dr. Abdullah. “AI is bringing us new insight and new capabilities that is reshaping the world around us. The Global AI Summit will become an international platform to discuss those changes and to understand how AI technology can be utilised for the benefit of all.” Global cyber and cloud specialist, Exclusive Networks Middle East, has held its inaugural Cloud First conference at Narcissus Hotel & Residences, Riyadh. Attendees had the opportunity to meet the company’s cyber and cloud specialists and acquaint themselves with disruptive technologies in the space. Exclusive Networks is taking the lead to help customers in KSA accept and embrace cloud transformation. Customers were enlightened on best practices in cybersecurity and cloud. The forum served as a platform to help them to formulate the best strategy for their businesses. Exclusive Networks’ leading vendor partners such as Fortinet, F5, SentinelOne, Nutanix, Thales, Gigamon and Infoblox were present at the event and attendees had a chance to network with them. Exclusive Networks also announced the launch of the cloud competency centre – an Exclusive-led programme through which channel partners and customers can get certified as a cloud specialist. It announced that it will commence training of the 50 delegates imminently. Grant Taylor, General Manager KSA, Exclusive Network Middle East, said: “We are excited to guide customers towards embracing cloud innovations together with our channel and vendor partners.” INTELLIGENTCIO 9