Abu Dhabi Digital Authority launches new AI initiative

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

The Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), in collaboration with IBM, the leading American multinational information technology (IT) company, has successfully launched a new set of Artificial Intelligence (AI) training workshops that have been specifically developed and created for Abu Dhabi government employees. The workshops, which are part of the ADDA’s ongoing AI-focused initiative, looks towards increasing key awareness on the benefits and advantages being offered by AI, while also helping improve the decision-making skills of local government employees, especially in the efforts to further develop all sectors of the emirate.

In line with this, local government departments can nominate eligible employees to take part in the workshops starting in this June. The training agenda covered timely and important topics in AI, including business management and technical aspects of modern technologies. The launch of the new training sessions is a successful follow-up to the partnership between ADDA and IBM, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last year for the creation of an AI Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi.

The training workshops will be offered in batches, the first batch was started with 13 government entities including Abu Dhabi Executive office; Department of Education and Knowledge; Department of Health; Abu Dhabi Housing Authority; Department of Community Development; Department of Culture and Tourism; Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation; Abu Dhabi Environment Agency; Al Ain Municipality; Al Ain Zoo; Social Care and Minors Affairs Foundation; Presidential Flight and Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

According to ADDA senior officials, AI has rapidly positioned itself as one of the latest technological advances that has helped in further accelerating the implementation of digital transformation in the UAE capital. In line with this, ADDA has sought to address the challenge of making local government employees more aware of this development by creating specially tailored training programs. The move falls in line with the Authority commitment to play a strategic role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s potential across economic, social and environmental dimensions through innovation and digital technologies.

Dr Rauda Al Saadi, Director General, ADDA, said, “We are proud to announce the launching of our new AI-focused training programs, which we are implementing in partnership with IBM. This initiative has been strategically developed to help give our local government employees a better understanding of AI and the benefits and advantages it offers to us, especially in our efforts towards digital transformation. With this new training programme, ADDA will be able to live up to its commitment of playing a central role in the improvement and enhancement of the talents and skills of the national workforce--ushering in a new generation of highly skilled and qualified UAE nationals in essential areas of technology and innovation.” “The collaborative efforts between ADDA and IBM is aimed towards helping us implement the emirate’s digital transformation agenda. We are confident that our partnership with IBM will continue to play a significant part in the move to support, provide and implement innovative technologies and solutions--reinforcing our continuing move to drive innovation, improve operational efficiencies and the development of much-needed skills to make better, informed, capital decisions,” concluded Al Saadi.

Meanwhile, Alibaba Cloud, the data intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, held its inaugural Middle East and Africa (MEA) Internet Summit in partnership with UAE-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Cloud Computing leader Group 42.

Drawing the participation of tech experts and executives from the region’s top 100 internet companies, the summit took place during the Ghyma Conference 2019. Among the distinguished guests were Saif Mohammed Al Hajri, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Gheyath, Executive Director Information Security Operations, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, Ibrahim Ajami, Head of Mubadala Ventures, Peng Xiao, CEO of Group 42, and Selina Yuan, President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International.

Panellists and speakers covered an extensive range of topics over 10 keynote speeches. These included maximising the potential of cloud and AI, leveraging the internet to thrive in the new Digital age, taking e-commerce to the next stage of growth, the startup and financial technology (FinTech) landscapes in the Middle East and Africa, and the online entertainment revolution in the region.