SCHEDULE
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November 2, 2023 | Museum of the Future, Dubai
Registration
Time
13:30
Welcome Address by Fast Company Middle East
Time
14:30
PANEL DISCUSSION: AI Decoded
AI development is moving faster than we think and every day, we get closer to solving the complex challenges of achieving human-level intelligence and the development of true self-aware machines. Will AI singularity be a threat or a promise of a better future?
Speakers:
Fatmah Baothman, Member of the Global Future Council on the Future of Artificial Intelligence, World Economic Forum
Prof. Le Song, CTO, BioMap, Professor of Machine Learning, MBZUAI, Artificial Intelligence Scholar
Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Co-Founder of Astra Tech & CEO of Botim
Moderator:
Suraya Turk, Managing Partner, Legal Circle
Time
14:35
PANEL DISCUSSION: Reshaping the AI Narrative: The Interplay of Ethics and Responsible Innovation
As we enter a new era, the vital discourse is on how the interplay of ethics and innovation is steering AI development. The compelling question is: Can AI lead us into a future where ethics and progress unite for a better society?
Speakers:
Amith Rajan, Executive Vice President, Head, Wholesale Digital Banking & NeoVentures, Mashreq Bank
Amin Al Zarooni, Chief Executive Officer, Bedu
Tim Carmichael, Chief Data Officer, Chalhoub Group
Akram Awad, Partner and Global Lead for Smart Cities, BCG
Moderator:
Rachel Dawson, Senior Correspondent, Fast Company Middle East
Time
15:15
SESSION: ENERGY IN MOTION
DISCUSSION: The Fuel Of The Future And Sustainable Mobility: Is The Middle East Getting It Right?
Innovative and efficient technologies for green mobility --- renewable energy sources for public transport, green hydrogen for cars, and green power to charge electric vehicles -- are inextricably linked to incremental investment in energy transition. As the color of energy turns from brown to green, is a new mobility and energy ecosystem emerging in the Middle East, setting the stage for immense innovation?
Speakers:
Jack Uppal, President & MD, General Motors, Africa and Middle East
Otmane Benamar, CTO, Gas Power EMEA, GE Vernova
Stephen Severance, Director of Growth, Masdar City
Moderator:
Suha Hasan, Correspondent, Fast Company Middle East
Time
15:45
PANEL DISCUSSION: Scaling Startups: Does the Middle East have what it takes to be a global hub?
In the last few years, the Middle East has become a destination for many foreign investors. However, achieving the objective of making the region a global hub for startups requires more investors, a common regulatory framework, and much more.
Speakers:
Mudassir Sheikha, Co-Founder & CEO, Careem
Mostafa Kandil, CEO, Swvl
Mohamad Ballout, Co-Founder & CEO, Kitopi
Moderator:
Suha Hasan, Correspondent, Fast Company Middle East
Time
16:10
PANEL DISCUSSION: Tomorrow's Currency: Powering the World of Payments
Payment methods and digital currencies are undergoing a profound transformation. Tomorrow's Currency is not just a catchphrase; it represents the evolution of the digital payments ecosystem – the fusion of digital advancements and financial inclusion. The panel will explore how digital innovations, blockchain, and decentralized systems are shaping modern payments.
Speakers:
Ankur Sethi, Chief Operating Officer - Ecommerce, Aster DM Healthcare
Ola Doudin, CEO & Co-Founder, BitOasis
Sandeep Gomes, Regional Head - Merchant Acquiring, Amazon Payment Services
Jamal Al Awadhi, Chief Operating and Experience Officer, Wio Bank
Moderator:
Riaz Naqvi, Senior Editor, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Time
16:50
DISCUSSION: Giga-projects and regenerative cities in Gulf: Empowering the regional economic diversification
As Gulf countries look to achieve economic sustainability beyond Oil & Gas, Giga-projects are what they are betting big on. Optimizing economies of scale, creating job prospects, and diversifying the economy apart from introducing cutting-edge technologies are reasons for countries to invest heavily in them. However, considering the time and cost, are they risk-worthy?
Speakers:
Talal Kensara, Chief Strategy Management Officer, Diriyah Company
Dr. Hafiz Ali Abdulla, ICOM Board Member, Director of Marketing and Communication at Msheireb Properties
Moderator:
Paul Dawalibi, CEO, Holodeck Ventures
Time
17:20
Closing Remarks
Time
17:45
VIRTUAL - PANEL DISCUSSION: AI Ethics, Policy, Regulations: How can the proper guardrails be implemented?
As Generative AI takes center stage, the pressing issue of ethical AI and the growing crisis of trust in artificial intelligence systems needs to be addressed. The importance of transparency, accountability, and responsible AI development to ensure the public's confidence and acceptance of AI technologies in various domains.
Speakers:
Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist, UNSW AI Institute
Lyric Jain, CEO, Logically
Diya Wynn, Sr. Practice Manager of Responsible AI, Amazon Web Services
John C Havens, Author of Heartificial Intelligence & Hacking Happiness, Executive Director, The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems