MANAMA: Bahrain and neighbouring nations are seen as a strategic development “springboard” for the artificial intelligence (AI) boom in the Middle East, it has emerged.
Audit and advisory firm PwC sees the sector contributing $320 billion to the region’s economy by 2030.
This was highlighted during the start of a workshop in Manama, organised by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network (WEF C4IR) to discuss the future of public AI procurement.
Held in partnership with the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), the three-day event ends today.
It has brought together Bahrain government stakeholders, entrepreneurs and experts to identify key opportunities and challenges for the high-tech industry.
The sessions also aim to help gather evidence and feedback on the guidelines for AI procurement in the public sector and develop a roadmap to advance this goal in the government.
The workshop comes close on the heels of the WEF annual meeting of the new champions in Dalian, China.
During the major global event, the forum announced that Bahrain would pilot new guidelines for the procurement of AI in the public sector, produced by WEF C4IR.
“The readiness of Bahrain’s public sector for the social and economic development anticipated by the dawn of artificial intelligence is impressive,” said WEF C4IR AI and machine learning project lead Eddan Katz.
“Visionary leadership enabling multidisciplinary co-ordination across sectors demonstrates how a commitment to responsible innovation can transform how government works and help improve people’s lives.”
According to EDB chief executive Khalid Humaidan, Bahrain is a world leader when it comes to the testing, governance and regulation of emerging technologies, making it the ideal partner for this World Economic Forum project.
“Governments around the world may be hesitant to adopt AI systems when faced with complex procurement processes, but by working together we can create a model that truly powers the public sector into the next generation of technology,” he said.
Concurring with the EDB, iGA chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed said the government recognises the importance of the necessary know-how supported by rules and guidelines for the procurement of AI solutions.
“The guidelines for public procurement of AI, as determined by the WEF, present us an opportunity to learn and use how we should acquire and deploy AI-based solutions. They put in place an innovative and reliable method for the procurement process, drawing from the input of experts in the field, and maximising the benefits of science and technology for our society,” said Mr Al Qaed.
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