The year of AI

And the winner is….

?AI! The abbreviation of?Artificial Intelligence?(AI) has been named the Collins Word of the Year for 2023, the dictionary publisher revealed recently. Lexicographers at Collins Dictionary said use of the term had "accelerated" and that it had become the dominant conversation of 2023. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to dub 2023 the “Year of AI”.

This made me wonder. What is AI? and why has AI become such an important part of our lives. I went on an introduction to AI course to find out more. I will not bore you with the details of the course. What I would like to share is some of the things I have learnt about AI in the past year.

?AI is technolgy that imitates human behaviour and capabilities. This can be in the following format:

Machine learning?- This is often the foundation for an AI system, the way a computer model is ?"taught" how to make predictions and draw conclusions from data – an example is the Virtual Personal Assistant ?(Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home or Apple iPhone’s Siri).

Computer vision?– This involves capabilities within AI to interpret the world visually through cameras, video, and images – e.g. Self-driving cars, Cancer detection etc.

Natural language processing? (NLP) - ?AI provides the computer the ability interpret written or spoken language, and respond in kind e.g. Chatbots, Siri.

Intelligence Document?Processing (IDP) - Capabilities within AI that deal with managing, processing, and using high volumes of data found in forms and documents. This is a game changer in the world of retail. It streamlines inventory management, simplifies returns and boosts customer service.

Knowledge mining?- Capabilities within AI to extract information from large volumes of often unstructured data to create a searchable knowledge store. This is used in marketing, finance (especially investment), fraud detection, manufacturing, telecoms etc.

Generative AI?- Capabilities within AI that create original content in a variety of formats including natural language, image, code, and more. This saves businesses time and money. For example, Generative AI can generate personalised marketing campaigns, product descriptions and customer support responses.

The no 1 country in AI is?

?China?continues to solidify its position as an AI superpower. The country's massive investments in AI research, coupled with a thriving tech ecosystem, have resulted in significant breakthroughs. Chinese companies are at the forefront of AI applications, from facial recognition to autonomous vehicles. The US is ranked no.1 in the Global AI index and the UK is ranked no.4.

Another winner is UAE

?Ok! This isn’t news, but do you know any other country that has an AI Minister?

In October 2017, Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama was appointed as the country's first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Arabian Business reported. The Minister, who was 27 years old, at the time was appointed as part of the?UAE's?mission to be at the forefront of the global technological revolution that, among other things, plans to build homes in Mars by 2117. ?The UAE estimates that by 2030, AI will have a global market value of $15.7 trillion, boosting the UAE's GDP by 35 percent and reducing government costs by 50 percent. The UAE also has an AI University.

?Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a graduate research University dedicated to advancing AI as a global force for humanity. MBZUAI’s own?strategic vision and mission?works in parallel to position Abu Dhabi as a hub for the international AI community. The university attracts?world-class thinkers?and doers in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing etc.

?MBZUAI participated at COP28 in the Greening Education Hub, underscoring the critical role Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play in accelerating innovation and helping society meet climate change targets.?

?Qatar is leading the world in AI

?Qatar is a leading light in the region’s AI journey, having passed extraordinary milestones and unlocked countless opportunities. The?National AI Strategy, launched in 2019, provided a comprehensive understanding of AI’s pivotal role in shaping the 21st century. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has tirelessly championed an environment conducive to AI innovation, resulting in a flourishing landscape.

?According to UK-based data analytics consultancy Global Data, ICT spending in Qatar will expand by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of?9.2%?between 2019 and 2024 to reach $9bn. Over this period, IoT, cloud computing, cybersecurity, big data analytics and AI are expected to drive growth and comprise roughly 50% of the market. Annual growth is predicted to be 17.4%, propelling Qatar’s AI market to an estimated?$58.8 million?by 2026. Qatar is incorporating AI in healthcare, education, and sports, as part of its National Vision 2030.

?Saudi Arabia aims to becoming a global leader in AI

?Saudi Arabia launched its National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence in October 2020?aimed at becoming a global leader in the field, as it seeks to attract $20 billion in foreign and local investments by 2030. Saudi Arabia is also determined to future-proof its workforce, for a start by training and developing a pool of 20,000 AI and data specialists.

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The best country for in AI in Europe

?The United Kingdom stands out in the European AI landscape. With its world-class universities and research institutions, the UK has been at the forefront of AI research for decades. Institutions like the University of Oxford and University College London have produced groundbreaking research in AI. The UK government has been actively supporting AI initiatives, making it an attractive destination for AI development.

?Germany is another prominent player. Known for its engineering prowess, Germany has been investing heavily in AI research and development. The country’s strong industrial base provides a solid foundation for AI applications in manufacturing and automation. Technical University of Munich and the University of Stuttgart, are also renowned for their AI programs. Additionally, Germany’s commitment to data privacy and protection makes it an appealing choice for AI development.

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Leaders in AI in Africa

?South Africa (SA) has so far been an AI leader in Africa. SA has various research institutions and companies actively involved in AI development. The country has been involved in AI via the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The market size in the Artificial Intelligence was projected to reach US$2.35bn in 2023. The market size is expected to show an Annual Growth Rate (CAGR 2023-2030) of 20.64%, resulting in a market volume of US$8.74bn by 2030.

?Nigeria has a growing tech ecosystem and there are startups and organisations focusing on AI and Machine Learning. The African Fintech Foundry in Nigeria has been supporting and fostering innovation, including AI applications. The market size in the Artificial Intelligence market was projected to reach US$877.7m in 2023. The Nigerian Federal Minster for Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, recently announced the list of National AI Research Grant Scheme grantees. These 45 grantees were selected after a rigorous evaluation process by 26 distinguished Nigeria AI experts from around the world. These trailblazers are set to redefine the technological landscape of Nigeria as they explore the limitless potential of AI.

?Work winner in 2023

?I have worked as a Global Service Management Consultant for over 25 years. My work this year has covered the Public Sector, Aviation Industry and Financial Services. The winner is the Financial Services. ?Looking back, I can see several areas AI can and is making a difference. Below are areas that come to mind:

?Customer Service Desks play a central role in Service Management, serving as the primary point of contact between users and IT services. AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants can handle routine service desk interactions, such as password resets or status enquiries. This frees up service desk staff to focus on more complex issues, improving overall service desk efficiency.

?Capacity Management is concerned with ensuring that IT resources meet current and future business requirements. Algorithms can analyse usage patterns, predict resource demands, and optimise Capacity Planning. This contributes to more effective Capacity Management, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and can scale to meet changing demands.

?Problem Management aims to identify and address the root causes of recurring issues to prevent future occurrences. AI algorithms can analyse historical incident and problem data to predict potential issues before they occur. This proactive approach aligns with the preventive aspects of Problem Management, reducing the overall number and impact of incidents.

?Knowledge Management is crucial for capturing, organising, and sharing information to facilitate efficient incident and problem resolution. AI technologies, such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), can enhance knowledge management by automatically categorising and tagging information, extracting insights from unstructured data, and providing intelligent search capabilities. This improves the accessibility and relevance of knowledge for IT staff.

?Continuous Service Improvement is a core principle in the Service Management de facto framework ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library). AI analytics can provide insights into service performance, user satisfaction, and other metrics. This data-driven approach enables organisations to identify areas for improvement and optimise service delivery processes. By analysing large datasets, AI can identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities for optimisation.

?In essence, the integration of AI into Service Management practices can lead to more efficient, agile, and user-friendly Service Delivery. By automating routine tasks, improving problem resolution, optimising resource allocation, and enhancing user interactions, organisations can achieve higher levels of Service quality and Customer satisfaction.

So, what are people saying about AI:

?Ali Al-Moussa, a Saudi entrepreneur and AI expert, told Arab News ‘there are broadly two schools of thought about AI. The first views the technology as “complementary to our lives,” serving essentially as “an augmentation to our abilities.” This type of AI will not negatively impact the job market and, if anything, could enhance the way people live and work. The other school of thought warns that AI will replace people’s jobs, will be “fast and intrusive,” and “all profit-driven,” causing harm to sections of society.

Rejecting the warnings of doomsayers about an “AI apocalypse,” Al-Moussa predicts that such programs will be primarily used for “repetitive tasks” that do not require “high intellect” or human input.

Elon Musk wrote in a comment on Edge.org as follows: The pace of progress in Artificial Intelligence (I’m not referring to narrow AI) is incredibly fast. Unless you have direct exposure to groups like Deepmind, you have no idea how fast—it is growing at a pace close to exponential. The risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five-year time frame. 10 years at most.

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (the 'Zuck of Nigeria, per Bloomberg) in a recent interview said the following about the future of Artificial Intelligence in Africa.?

?"AI is one of those things that would transform the world. I like to say that it probably would have as much of a transformative impact on the world as the Internet itself has had. But there has to be somebody who moderates AI or initiates it. And I believe we as Africans have an opportunity to tap into it early, to be that person, that human on the loop.”

?Having practically gone round the world. I would like to bring the conversation back home. In my dining room seats Alexa. I use it to play gospel music, the weather etc, whilst I have breakfast. I also ask her to play Afro beats music in the background when we have guests. She has become a great companion in our home since my first Son bought it for my wife as a birthday present. I usually say good morning and good night and get some interesting responses. The most recent one is Merry Christmas. Alexa answers, ‘it is not quite Christmas yet’. Well, there is something I know that she does not know, I guess. Have a Merry Christmas and I wonderful AI filled 2024.