CNME Editor Mark Forker managed to secure an exclusive interview with Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer at Cisco, during his recent visit to Dubai. During their conversation, Diedrich offered his perspectives on the results of their Global AI Readiness Index, the ongoing problem of organisations looking for ‘quick fixes’ to their AI strategy – and their plans for further investment in their innovation roadmap across the UAE and KSA.
Cisco recently published the results from their Global AI Readiness Index. The results from the UAE marketplace perspective were unsurprising, in relation to the fact that businesses were urgently looking to adopt and integrate AI tools, but many were struggling to both fully leverage the capabilities of AI and get a ROI from those AI investments. What advice can you give to the businesses in the UAE in terms of best practices with AI adoption?
We recently surveyed 8,000 business leaders globally, including in the UAE, and the results show a strong focus on AI. Notably, 64% of organizations in the UAE have clear strategies for deploying AI solutions, while nearly half allocate 10% to 30% of their IT budgets to their AI journey, and an impressive 99% of companies express an increased urgency to adopt AI technologies.
However, there are still significant gaps to address, particularly in infrastructure readiness and talent availability. To successfully navigate the integration of AI, organizations should start with strategic planning by developing a clear AI roadmap aligned with their business objectives. This roadmap will ensure that AI initiatives are designed to address specific challenges and seize opportunities.
It is also crucial to make infrastructure investments by allocating resources to build a robust AI infrastructure, which includes the necessary hardware and software to support scalable AI solutions. It is also vital to engage in continuous evaluation by regularly assessing AI implementations to measure their return on investment (ROI) and making data-driven adjustments as necessary.
Last but not least, organizations must focus on talent development by investing in the training and hiring of skilled professionals, thereby bridging the talent gap and effectively managing AI deployments.
This is a global problem, according to The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs report, 92% of jobs analysed are expected to undergo either high or moderate transformation due to advancements in AI. In today’s rapidly progressing digital landscape, if we want an equipped workforce to handle the evolving needs, we must prioritize building the skills of tomorrow.
Are too many organizations guilty of looking for a quick fix with their AI strategies? How important is it that first invest in the required infrastructure and talent in order to seize on the capabilities presented by AI?
A successful AI strategy requires more than quick fixes; it demands foundational investments in infrastructure, security, and talent. The Cisco AI Readiness Index indicates that only 7% of UAE organizations are classified as Pacesetters in infrastructure readiness.
Without the right infrastructure, robust security measures, and skilled personnel, AI initiatives are likely to underperform.
Are the problems you see in the UAE quite consistent with what you see in other marketplaces that you surveyed in your AI Readiness Index – and how does the UAE compare on whole compared to other markets when it comes to AI adoption and readiness?
The challenges observed in the UAE mirror global trends identified in the Cisco AI Readiness Index. Many organizations worldwide face hurdles in infrastructure readiness and talent acquisition.
However, the UAE exhibits a strong strategic commitment to AI, with 17% of organizations recognized as Pacesetters in strategy readiness, surpassing the global average of 15%. This indicates a proactive approach in the UAE towards AI adoption, despite existing challenges.
In general we’re seeing a global trend, our most recent CEO study shows clearly that skills shortages, implementation challenges, AI-ready infrastructure, and cybersecurity are top concerns for IT teams and leaders across industries.
Can you tell our readers about Cisco’s plans for future innovation across both the UAE, and in KSA, where the sheers scale and breadth of transformation is unprecedented at a global level?
We recognize the rapid digitization in GCC countries, which are increasingly prioritizing technology adoption to diversify their economies away from oil and gas dependence. This transition brings significant opportunities, such as increased ICT investments, smart city developments, a stronger focus on AI for improved efficiency, and a strong focus on cybersecurity.
To meet these evolving needs, Cisco is aligning its technologies with the demands of the AI era, focusing on developing AI-ready data centers, future-proof workplaces, and enhancing digital resilience through security and observability.
Over the past four decades, Cisco has played a crucial role in building the internet; now, we are laying the network foundation necessary for AI. We firmly believe that AI cannot exist without a robust network, which is also instrumental in enhancing security—if it’s connected, it’s protected.
For more than 25 years, Cisco has been engaged in boosting the region’s digitization, through the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, which fosters partnerships and key national projects in countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
Moreover, we are committed to developing digital skills through Cisco Networking Academy, with a focus on Cybersecurity, Networking, and AI. In fiscal year 2024, we trained over 1.1 million students across more than 2,000 academies in the region, contributing to the upskilling of over 4.4 million learners overall.
