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Accelerating Into a Smarter, Digital Future

Managing opportunities and challenges associated with digitalization
Accelerating Into a Smarter, Digital Future
Dr. Alaa Elshimy, the managing director and senior vice president of Huawei Enterprise Business Group for the Middle East & Central Asia Region

Innovation is currently advancing at an unprecedented pace, largely propelled by artificial intelligence (AI). In a recent discussion, we connected with Dr. Alaa Elshimy, the managing director and senior vice president of Huawei Enterprise Business Group for the Middle East & Central Asia Region, to delve into the opportunities and challenges presented by a world fueled by these transformative technologies. 

How are AI, networks and cloud technologies converging to reshape both our professional and personal lives? 

In the professional sphere, AI is being integrated into various industries, enhancing productivity and efficiency. AI-driven algorithms analyze vast datasets to extract insights and make predictions.

At Huawei, we are committed to bringing forth new industry opportunities and technological advancements to this domain. We recently unveiled the Pangu Model 3.0 and Ascend AI cloud services to empower industry customers and partners, and to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence for transformative growth across a range of sectors.

Pangu Models 3.0 is a system of pre-trained models that can quickly be adapted to meet scenario-specific needs and address complex challenges across multiple industries. By leveraging large-scale data sets and machine learning algorithms, Pangu 3.0 is set to revolutionize the industrial application of AI in diverse areas such as weather forecasting, drug development, fault identification in trains, and the mining industry.

We also developed the Pangu Weather AI model, the first AI prediction model to demonstrate higher precision than traditional numerical weather forecast methods. The model enables a 10,000-fold improvement in prediction speed, reducing global weather prediction time to seconds.

The role of networks is crucial in this transformation. High-speed, low-latency networks facilitate real-time communication between AI-driven devices and data centers. 5G technology, for example, enables autonomous vehicles to communicate with traffic management systems, making transportation safer and more efficient. In the professional world, this means faster data transmission, enabling remote work and collaboration on a global scale.

Cloud technologies play a central role by providing the infrastructure and computational resources needed to support AI and network applications. Cloud platforms offer scalable solutions, allowing businesses to access the computational power required for AI models.

On a personal level, AI-driven technologies are becoming part of our daily lives. For instance, AI algorithms power recommendation systems on streaming platforms, suggesting content based on our preferences.

What are the opportunities and challenges facing businesses, industries and ecosystems when it comes to a smarter, more digital future? 

The digital shift promises increased efficiency as businesses streamline operations and make data-driven decisions. Innovation thrives with new business models emerging, fueled by technologies such as the Internet of Things, AI and Blockchain. Companies now have the chance to expand their global reach, accessing untapped customer bases and revenue streams. Additionally, data analytics and AI enable personalization, enhancing customer experiences and loyalty.

However, these opportunities come with challenges. Increased digitalization brings increased cybersecurity threats, making the protection of sensitive data and critical infrastructure a top priority. Privacy concerns are also relevant as the collection of personal data raises questions, making it necessary to comply with regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Furthermore, workforce adaptation is also important, with companies needing to upskill and reskill their employees to embrace emerging technologies despite talent shortages. Navigating the complex web of regional regulations is another hurdle as companies strive to maintain compliance while driving innovation and agility in this digital age.

Read more: Huawei to highlight win-win tech solutions at GITEX GLOBAL

What aspects of cybersecurity and data privacy have you incorporated and upgraded in 2023 to provide more robust protection for end-users? 

In 2023, Huawei has enhanced its cybersecurity and data privacy measures with a multi-faceted approach. Advanced threat detection mechanisms powered by AI and machine learning are in place to identify and counter evolving cyber threats in real time, ensuring robust protection for end-users. Huawei has also implemented Privacy by Design as a fundamental principle, integrating privacy safeguards into all aspects of operations, emphasizing a proactive privacy protection approach.

The company also believes that empowering end-users with knowledge is prioritized through educational resources and best practices dissemination, fostering informed users capable of safeguarding their data and privacy. Also, Huawei’s commitment extends to secure hardware, with the development of proprietary processors to enhance control and security of hardware components, enhancing overall product security.

In addition, collaboration is central to Huawei’s strategy, involving industry partnerships, government cooperation, and information sharing to collectively defend against cyber threats. This collaborative ecosystem strengthens the cybersecurity landscape.

digital future

How important are events like GITEX GLOBAL and the more focused GITEX Cyber Valley for your company to discuss and create partnerships toward integrating intelligence into various industries, accelerating the development of green technology, and ensuring a profitable digital future for all? 

Events like GITEX GLOBAL and GITEX Cyber Valley hold a position of paramount importance within Huawei’s strategic agenda, serving as a platform for us to discuss and create partnerships that our goals of integrating intelligence into various industries, accelerating green technology development, and ensuring a prosperous digital future for all.

Huawei is proud to be the gold sponsor of GITEX GLOBAL and Lead Sponsor for the Cyber Valley. Through our Enterprise, Digital Power and Cloud Business groups, we will showcase our “Accelerate Intelligence” theme and present our latest innovations and solutions to drive industry intelligence digitalization, foster sustainability through green technology and lead in cybersecurity practices.

Events like these also provide invaluable opportunities to connect with industry leaders, government officials and potential partners. By participating, we effectively demonstrate our commitment to integrating intelligence into diverse industries and our dedication to enhancing the development of green technologies.

Furthermore, Huawei leverages such industry-leading events to showcase its expertise in important industries such as cybersecurity, AI and green technology. Through engaging in keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops, we can share our expertise and insights, contributing to the collective wisdom of the broader industry ecosystem.

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Disclaimer: Opinions conveyed in this article are solely those of the author. The information presented in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute advice on tax and legal matters; neither are they financial or investment recommendations. Refer to our full disclaimer policy here.