IBM has reported a return on investment exceeding $3.5 billion over the past two years from its internal deployment of artificial intelligence technologies, according to Shukri Eid, General Manager of IBM Gulf, Levant, and Pakistan.
Speaking at Dubai AI Week, Eid emphasised AI’s role as a strategic priority for organisations in the region, noting its effectiveness in enhancing productivity and maximising returns. He highlighted IBM’s involvement in helping businesses identify and implement impactful AI use cases across various sectors, including human resources, supply chain management, procurement, and application development.
Eid projected that AI’s influence would intensify by adopting “AI assistants” and “AI agents” capable of understanding context and making autonomous decisions with minimal human intervention.
Addressing the regional outlook, Eid observed substantial investments in AI infrastructure, applications, and model development among companies in the region. He noted a shift from experimentation to tangible returns on AI investments.
Eid stressed the necessity of robust data platforms and specialised, efficient AI models to improve accuracy and reduce costs while maintaining a balance between innovation, security, and reliability.
Referencing a study conducted by IBM in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation, Eid revealed that preliminary findings indicate 26% of organisations in the region have appointed a Chief AI Officer (CAIO), with expectations for this figure to rise to between 50% and 65% over the next two years. Organisations with a CAIO reportedly achieve 10% higher returns on their AI investments.
