World

UAE small businesses embrace ChatGPT as tech allows productivity boost

Small companies across the United Arab Emirates are embracing ChatGPT to free up their time from doing mundane tasks which allows them to spend more time on creativity, business leaders told Al Arabiya English.

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ChatGPT is a piece of artificial intelligence that can converse with users and answer questions when asked. It can also help people with tasks such as writing copy using the supplied prompts.

Large companies including Meta and Shopify already use the technology, and Buzzfeed said in January it would begin using it to enhance quizzes on its website and personalize some content for audiences, the Wall Street Journal reported at the time. Such announcements by large companies have led to speculation that the technology could put people in certain jobs, such as content creation, out of work.

But for startups who don’t have access to the large resources of a multinational company, the technology could revolutionize the way they work.

“Rather than seeing those jobs eliminated, companies might be looking to [use ChatGPT to] make them more efficient, and essentially to free up their time.” Kurt Muehmel, AI strategic advisor at Paris-based Dataiku told Al Arabiya English.

One company using ChatGPT is Shaffra, a Dubai-based firm that uses the Metaverse, a virtual reality space that simulates scenes, to help companies plan business strategies such as construction projects.

“As a startup, our resources are kind of scarce,” said COO Alfred Manassah Shaffra, explaining that his time is now “significantly more efficient” because the technology does laborious content-based tasks for the company, thereby freeing his team to focus on jobs like product development.

“It pushes us to become more creative,” Shaffra added. “In our team we are [now] focused on developing our technology and getting more clients.”

Another UAE company looking to leverage the technology is Growdash. The startup works with restaurants on their advertising campaigns for platforms such as Deliveroo and Careem.

The company is hoping to use the AI tool to, for example, provide insight on why a particular marketing campaign has not performed well and how it can then be improved, as well as with manual tasks such as creating combo menus for restaurants.

“I see it [the technology] as an opportunity instead of competition because it’s so versatile,” said Makrukh Mir, cofounder.

Al Arabiya English spoke to several other UAE startups already using ChatGPT including EpicJam, CloudSource and GrubTech.

Head of EpicJam Hassan Sarwar told Al Arabiya English that it helps him with written tasks and creating more targeted content, while managing director of recruitment firm CloudSource said ChatGPT helps the company do things such as build job descriptions.

But ChatGPT is far from perfect, and flaws of the technology include it giving inaccurate responses at times and it being unclear on its information sources, Muehmel said.

It could be sourcing material from websites such as Wikipedia, which might not necessarily be accurate, he added.

“These technologies have a propensity to provide inaccurate responses. The challenge is when it responds confidently in the tone of an expert,” Muehmel said, adding that he once asked ChatGPT what date French scientist Louis Pasteur was born, and it gave him the wrong answer.

“Sometimes it just imagines responses because it’s not actually querying its database of information. What it’s doing is trying to create a sentence that sounds right,” he added.

AI regulation

Muehmel, alongside others, said more regulation is needed to deal with such problems arising from tech such as ChatGPT.

The EU is currently proposing legislation to further regulate the technology, which means, AI like ChatGPT could be rated from “minimal risk” to “unacceptable risk.”

EU industry chief Thierry Breton told Reuters in February that new proposed artificial intelligence rules will aim to tackle concerns about the risks around the ChatGPT chatbot and AI technology.

Under the EU draft rules, ChatGPT is considered a general-purpose AI system which can be used for multiple purposes including high-risk ones such as the selection of candidates for jobs and credit scoring.

And in a sign that smaller companies in the UAE may not become fully reliant on the tool soon, most are using it as a base for their work.

“We never take it as it is,” said Shaffra adding that he always proof-reads and rewrites the content.

“We don’t totally copy it, but it’s a great base,” added CloudSource’s Toffrey. “We can tailor things how we see fit.”

Google gears up against rival Microsoft, unveils ChatGPT rival Bard, AI search plans

ChatGPT frenzy sweeps China as firms scramble for home-grown options

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM