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Egypt allocating funds for teacher training programs, AI-related vocational initiatives
The Egyptian government is exerting great efforts to harness artificial intelligence for economic growth and quality-of-life improvements; therefore it is allocating funds for teacher training programs and other AI-related vocational initiatives, according to a recent report issued by the Oxford Business Group (OBG) under the title of “The competitive outlook for artificial intelligence in MENA”.
As MENA nations and other emerging markets continue to invest in artificial intelligence education, some industry figures say they may have a distinct advantage over developed nations by leveraging local talent.
“With the drive towards affordability – a defining trait in developing markets – now also a feature of more advanced markets, software engineers in developing markets are gaining a competitive advantage based on the combination of their inherent affinity for cost-effective solutions and the possibilities opened up by AI,” Soham Chokshi, CEO and co-founder of logistics software provider Shipsy, told OBG.
However, to realize this competitive advantage and achieve significant improvements in domestic AI capacity, countries the region will also need to incentivize investment.
Many MENA nations are making significant investments in AI education, training and research to ensure that such technologies play a key role in the future economy and workforce.
Of the $320bn the EIU-Google report estimates that MENA nations will generate by 2030 thanks to the adoption of AI, Strategic Gears expects Saudi Arabia to yield 42%, partly due to its investment in education. Roughly three-quarters of Saudi Vision 2030 goals involve data and AI, and the Kingdom plans to train 20,000 data and AI specialists by the end of the decade.
Highlighting this focus, in April national energy major Aramco signed a memorandum of understanding with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to establish a new research center to advance AI technological development.
Among the UAE’s largest investments in artificial intelligence education was the establishment of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in 2019. Located in the smart city and innovation cluster of Masdar City, MBZUAI ranks 30th globally among institutions that conduct research in AI, computer vision, machine learning and natural language processing, according to computer science metrics-based platform CSRankings.
Given that artificial intelligence’s benefits are multi- and inter-sectoral, MENA countries can craft strategies and build AI tailored ecosystems to suit their respective economic and social structures.
Rather than being restricted to ICT and tech-based fields, AI is expected to have a far-reaching impact across broader economies and will be key to realizing long-term economic plans.
“The implementation of AI is helping businesses become more customer-centric, efficient, productive and competitive in both local and regional markets,” Said bin Abdullah Al Mandhari, CEO of ITHCA Group, an Omani ICT company, told OBG.
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