New Artificial Intelligence Centre Of Excellence Will Help Transform Qatar’s Economy
December 19, 2021
Doha, Qatar: A new report released by global management consultancy Oliver Wyman examines how Qatar can build on its economic diversification by developing world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and scale by creating an AI Center of Excellence (CoE).
An AI CoE will help Qatar tap into this increasingly critical technology, ensuring that AI is applied for the benefit and support of Qatar’s national agenda, according to the report. Critically, AI has massive potential to diversify local economies, moving them away from oil and gas production.
“It can also play an important role in enabling national visions, ushering in a future of digital opportunity,” said Jad Haddad, Partner at Oliver Wyman. For Qatar, building an AI CoE will provide both an integral part of the nation’s digital future and will enable it to deliver impact at a national scale.”
The report highlights the five strategy pillars of an AI CoE, which includes: Strategy and Vision; Services; Organization and Governance; Technology; and Funding and Partnerships.
The development in AI applications in both the private and public sectors has seen significant growth globally due to the increase in data generated across social, machine and transactional platforms.
Nations in the GCC have also made investments in the area of AI since recognizing its contribution to global economic growth. GCC AI spending is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% by 2023. A number of GCC nations have developed AI strategies to support their national visions, including the United Arab Emirates in 2017, Qatar in 2019, and Saudi Arabia in 2020.
Already in place in Qatar is the Qatar Center for Artificial Intelligence (QCAI), which is of major importance for the country as it introduces AI strategy as an enabler to the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“The Qatari Government is using AI to tackle its most critical national concerns,” added Haddad. “AI is enabling innovation and helping in transforming the public sector on multiple dimensions. While it is clear the benefits of AI are already significant, there are of course challenges around execution, in particular across governance and organizational digital capabilities.”
About Oliver Wyman
Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting. With offices in 60 cities across 29 countries, Oliver Wyman combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation. The firm has more than 5,000 professionals around the world who work with clients to optimize their business, improve their operations and risk profile, and accelerate their organizational performance to seize the most attractive opportunities. Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC). For more information, visit www.oliverwyman.com. Follow Oliver Wyman on Twitter @OliverWyman.