Tech & AI LIVE New York: Technology and Sustainability Panel

Tech & AI LIVE New York: Technology and Sustainability Panel

At Tech & AI LIVE New York, Joanna Newman, Tia Chang and Andrea Ruotolo discussed how technology is driving sustainability The Technology and Sustainability Panel at Tech & AI LIVE New York opened with an exploration of technology’s pivotal role in tackling climate change and advancing sustainability . Joanna Newman, former VP Technology for the Americas at Vodafone, highlighted how technology enables precise measurement and progress tracking. “What gets measured gets done,” she said, referencing the criticality of tools for performance improvements in emissions reduction. Tia Chang, Chief Product Officer at Nexus Digital Technology, noted the indispensability of AI in analysing the complexities of climate change. “The multivariate analysis required to address climate issues is impossible without technological innovation,” she explained. Andrea Ruotolo, Global Head of Customer Sustainability and Responsible AI at Rockwell Automation, underscored the importance of ensuring green AI. “If AI is powered by fossil fuels, we risk offsetting the very benefits it seeks to create,” she warned, calling for responsible implementation. Joanna Newman, former VP Technology for the Americas at Vodafone Innovations in action The panel highlighted practical examples of technology improving sustainability outcomes: Digital Twins : Andrea praised the role of digital twins in simulating […]

Provider investment needed to close digital divide

Provider investment needed to close digital divide

Photo: Weiquan Lin/Getty Images There’s a digital divide occurring in healthcare. This divide can refer to a gap between patient groups that have access to digital health technologies and those that don’t. It can also refer to the growing gap between healthcare organizations that are digitally mature or digitally nascent, and it’s on this last point that Renee Broadbent and her team are attempting to affect change. Broadbent is vice president of information technology at SoNE Health. She will present, along with Chartis Group principal Bret Anderson, a session called "Unlocking Digital Transformation for Equity and Value-Based Care" on Tuesday, March 4, at 2 p.m., in the Venetian, Room 3104 at the HIMSS25 Global Conference in Las Vegas. Broadbent cited the 2024 Digital Health survey indicating that most health systems are playing catch-up to the front-runners when it comes to digital capabilities. And the gap is widening, with 70% of systems still in the experimentation/planning phases. Closing that gap is important not just for health systems, but for the patients as well, said Broadbent. "While it’s important to ensure that patients have equitable access to digital tools like smartphones, broadband connections, etc., it’s also important to ensure that there […]

Accenture plc (ACN) Expands AI Collaboration with Repsol to Drive Digital Transformation

Accenture plc (ACN) Expands AI Collaboration with Repsol to Drive Digital Transformation

We recently compiled a list of the 9 Must-See AI News Updates That Are Trending on Wall Street . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) stands against the other AI stocks. CNBC recently spoke to companies worldwide on how DeepSeek’s new AI models will likely impact their operations and financials. Roadzen, a technology company using artificial intelligence to disrupt the auto insurance sector, was asked how things are now different with DeepSeek releasing its R1 model. According to its chief executive Rohan Malhotra, his company helps its insurance underwriting clients speed up claim processing, cutting the time to resolve 80% of minor accident claims from six weeks to two minutes. Since the nature of processing such claims is sensitive, the company has been using sophisticated AI models that produce accurate results, such as those from OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic. However, things may be different now that DeepSeek is in the picture. “Our clients cannot afford a model which has 60%-70% accuracy, that’s like a major economic issue. We need to deploy models that have 95%-99% accuracy.” Rough calculations reveal that the company may be able to incur costs 50% lower […]

KPMG report shows how Saudi Arabia balances innovation, risk in digital transformation

KPMG report shows how Saudi Arabia balances innovation, risk in digital transformation

Robert Ptaszynski, partner, head of digital and innovation at KPMG. KPMG has released its latest annual technology report, “Beyond the Hype: Balancing Speed, Security, and Value,” providing insights into the Kingdom’s digital transformation. Based on a global survey with 2,450 global technology executives — including 70 based in Saudi Arabia — the report explores how organizations adapt to fast-changing technologies, optimize investments, and tackle challenges like technical debt and cybersecurity. A key theme is the fear of missing out, which drives some organizations to adopt emerging technologies rapidly. While urgency is understandable, it carries risks if not guided by evidence-based approaches. “This year’s findings underscore the tremendous progress Saudi Arabia is making in its digital transformation journey, driven by a strategic focus on balancing innovation with resilience. As organizations prioritize emerging technologies like AI and everything-as-a-service, it is clear that evidence-based decision-making and addressing foundational challenges such as technical debt are critical to unlocking long-term value,” said Robert Ptaszynski, partner, head of digital and innovation at KPMG. Organizations in the Kingdom are advancing digital transformation, with 75 percent reporting increased profitability from tech investments in the past 24 months, commonly between 11 percent and 15 percent. This success stems […]

Elm Elevates Smart Solutions with Breakthrough Innovations at LEAP 2025

Elm Elevates Smart Solutions with Breakthrough Innovations at LEAP 2025

Sunday, February 9, 2025 Srishty_mishra_saudi_arabia_tour – travel and tour world Elm , a LEAP 2025 strategic sponsor, showcases groundbreaking smart solutions, AI innovations, and digital platforms driving Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation. Elm to Showcase Pioneering Digital Innovations as Strategic Sponsor of LEAP 2025 Elm, a trailblazer in digital solutions, is gearing up to unveil an impressive array of cutting-edge platforms and innovations as a strategic sponsor of LEAP 2025. Scheduled from February 9 to 12, 2025, at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, this highly anticipated event aligns with Elm’s vision to empower government and private sector entities while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the global digital economy. At LEAP 2025, Elm will debut a suite of advanced solutions designed to tackle emerging challenges and drive future innovation. By leveraging the event’s global reputation for attracting top talent and creative minds, Elm aims to forge strategic partnerships, promote smart solutions, and explore technologies that enhance quality of life. Highlighting Technological Milestones Elm’s participation will include showcasing the Elm Autonomous Vehicle , a state-of-the-art creation featuring drive-by-wire systems, multi-sensors, advanced computing, and Elm’s proprietary virtual driver software (L3/L4). This groundbreaking development reflects the evolving mobility sector and underscores Elm’s commitment […]

How Saudi Arabia is on its way to becoming the Digital Hub Dynamo

How Saudi Arabia is on its way to becoming the Digital Hub Dynamo

Eng Amjad Osama Arab, Chief Wholesale and Partnerships Officer at Etihad Salam Telecom Company, discusses the KSA’s rise from regional player to global competitor in digital transformation. By 2025, the world will create 182 zettabytes of data annually, equivalent to 1.56 times the length of the Great Wall of China if the wall were filled with one terabyte hard drives. Yet, this tidal wave of data is not cascading into progress across the board. In Saudi Arabia, data centre capacity lags 50-80% behind countries in the EU, USA, China, and Singapore. Rather than acting as a deterrent, the position of unfairness serves as a launchpad. A projected $18 billion investment pulling the nation’s data capacity from 300 MW to 1300 MW in addition to adding six new submarine cables to the existing 15 by 2030, foresees the Kingdom’s meteoric rise from regional player to global competitor. Through Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is embarking on a sweeping digital transformation, underlined by multi-billion dollar investments in gigacities like Neom. The ambition is crystal clear. As the world gravitates towards digitalisation, the kingdom is not merely participating, it is aiming to redefine the landscape. That said, a critical divide is emerging around […]

Cyberport’s Digital Transformation Support Programme empowers local SMEs

Cyberport’s Digital Transformation Support Programme empowers local SMEs

Cyberport Chief Public Mission Officer Eric Chan says the programme aims to accelerate the digital transformation of local SMEs and enhance their competitiveness. 9th February 2025 – (Hong Kong) The Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme, managed by Cyberport with a generous funding allocation of $500 million from the Government, is designed to accelerate the digital transformation of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The programme offers funding support on a 1:1 matching basis, enabling SMEs to adopt ready-to-use digital solutions such as digital payment systems, online promotion, and customer management tools. Eligible SMEs can receive funding to cover up to 50% of their total project costs, capped at a maximum of $50,000. Li Mei-yung, owner of a ginseng and dried seafood shop in Shek Mun, shared her experience after applying for the programme last year. Her business successfully established an online shopping platform using instant messaging software, allowing customers to browse product details and place orders at any time, significantly alleviating the workload for her frontline staff. Promotions conducted through this software have also proven effective in expanding her customer base. Ms Li noted that while most of her customers are middle-aged and senior locals, she aims to attract […]

KPMG Tech Report shows how Saudi Arabia balances innovation, risk, and long-term value in digital transformation

KPMG Tech Report shows how Saudi Arabia balances innovation, risk, and long-term value in digital transformation

Organizations in the Kingdom are advancing digital transformation. Image Courtesy: KPMG Riyadh: KPMG has released its latest annual technology report, “Beyond the Hype: Balancing Speed, Security, and Value,” providing insights into the country’s digital transformation. Based on a global survey with 2,450 global technology executives – including 70 based in Saudi Arabia – the report explores how organizations adapt to fast-changing technologies, optimize investments, and tackle challenges like technical debt and cybersecurity. A key theme is the fear of missing out (FOMO), which drives some organizations to adopt emerging technologies rapidly. While urgency is understandable, it carries risks if not guided by evidence-based approaches. “This year’s findings underscore the tremendous progress Saudi Arabia is making in its digital transformation journey, driven by a strategic focus on balancing innovation with resilience. As organizations prioritize emerging technologies like AI and Everything-as-a-Service (XaaS), it’s clear that evidence-based decision-making and addressing foundational challenges such as technical debt are critical to unlocking long-term value,” said Robert Ptaszynski, Partner, Head of Digital & Innovation at KPMG. Organizations in the Kingdom are advancing digital transformation, with 75% reporting increased profitability from tech investments in the past 24 months, commonly between 11% and 15%. This success stems […]

AI on cloud: Why cloud computing is essential for business transformation in East Africa

AI on cloud: Why cloud computing is essential for business transformation in East Africa

Cloud technology does more than just power AI; it integrates GenAI into existing business systems. Shutterstock Recently, I took a virtual tour through the Internet to try and understand how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has infiltrated different industries across the African continent. GenAI systems are trained on large datasets and use that ‘knowledge’ to create new text, images, music and videos. What I discovered is that GenAI has been applied in the most critical industries, and this is bound to expand in the coming years. Let me take you through my virtual journey. 8:00AM – I was scrolling mindfully through a site that explained how GenAI has been applied to create personalised learning experiences for students in Kenya. This means it can adapt to the student’s learning patterns and curate the learning material for more effective learning. Related Columnists Digital transformation plans for thriving in tough times Jan 02 – 4 min read Technology Cloud computing: Navigating innovation to get return on investment Aug 19 – 3 min read 9:00AM – Artificial Intelligence labs in Tanzania are focusing on agricultural development. The potential here is to optimise crop management, pest and diseases control. 10:00AM – The fintech industry in […]

Why rushing digital transformation could cost you more than you think

Why rushing digital transformation could cost you more than you think

Importance of a pragmatic approach to digital transformation When we talk about digital transformation, it’s about more than just slapping tech onto existing processes. It’s about fundamentally shifting how your business operates, how you interact with customers, and how your employees deliver value. In the rush to not get left behind, it’s easy to want to move fast. You’ve got to take a step back and think, really think, about what these technologies mean for your business. Ask yourself: Are we adopting this technology just because it’s trendy, or does it genuinely align with our long-term business goals? It’s important to plan with a clear mind and align every stakeholder involved. When this alignment happens, technology not only fits perfectly but also propels the business forward sustainably. Think of it as setting up a domino effect where each piece is placed with precision, mess up the alignment, and the whole setup could come crashing down. That’s why a pragmatic approach, one that evaluates the strategic fit of technology rather than its novelty, is essential. Financial discipline in managing technology investments Now, let’s talk money, because at the end of the day, that’s what it often comes down to. Integrating […]