蹤獲弝け

Leading the next wave of enterprise transformation

Leading the next wave of enterprise transformation

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As the global technology landscape undergoes a seismic shift with the rise of agentic artificial intelligence, 蹤獲弝け stands at a crossroads.

The Accenture Technology Vision 2025 Report has highlighted how enterprises worldwide are embracing this new paradigm. 蹤獲弝け is uniquely positioned to leverage these advancements to accelerate its ambitious Vision 2030 goals.

The Kingdom is investing heavily in AI and automation to boost productivity. In March 2024, the government announced the creation of a $40 billion fund dedicated to AI investments, aiming to optimize operations, reduce waste and enhance decision-making.

According to Accentures proprietary insights, generative AI has the potential to elevate KSAs gross domestic product by approximately $42.3 billion.

At an aggregate level, it will augment and automate nearly a third of all jobs, with highly skilled roles witnessing a radical transformation in terms of productivity, agility and collaboration.

And the country is only just getting started. The transition from traditional AI to agentic systems represents more than an incremental upgrade its a fundamental reimagining of how technology can serve business objectives.

Agentic AI is characterized by its ability to autonomously perform complex tasks with minimal human supervision, creating new possibilities for Saudi enterprises.

Currently one in three companies is pivoting towards innovating with agentic AI and those who embrace this shift swiftly stand to secure a competitive edge.

In the Kingdoms rapidly diversifying economy, the integration of these systems isnt merely a luxury but a competitive necessity.

For instance, oil giant Saudi Aramco has already begun deploying agentic AI solutions to optimize extraction processes, predict equipment failures and manage complex supply chains with unprecedented efficiency.

Early implementations have demonstrated cost reductions of up to 30 percent in maintenance operations while simultaneously improving safety metrics.

Agentic systems and composable digital cores are radically transforming the way we interact with technology and what users expect from it introducing new considerations.

A majority (88 percent) of executives in 蹤獲弝け worry large language models and chatbots could give every brand a similar voice.

However, 94 percent agree brands can solve this challenge by proactively building personified AI experiences and injecting distinct brand elements, such as culture, values and voice.

The transition from traditional AI to agentic systems represents more than an incremental upgrade its a fundamental reimagining of how technology can serve business objectives.

Omar Boulos

Enterprises in 蹤獲弝け are already taking steps to fine-tune AI in this way, like the Saudi National Bank, which is utilizing AI augmented functionality to develop innovative financial products tailored to 蹤獲弝けs unique market dynamics.

These systems analyze vast datasets of consumer behavior, religious considerations for Shariah-compliant finance, and global market trends to identify underserved niches and design appropriate solutions.

The Saudi healthcare sector, too, is witnessing transformation through AI augmentation.

Physicians at King Faisal Specialist Hospital are now working alongside AI systems that not only manage administrative burdens but actively contribute to diagnostic processes, treatment planning and medical research all while respecting the cultural sensitivities particular to healthcare delivery in the Kingdom.

Interestingly, 86 percent of executives in 蹤獲弝け believe that robots collaborating with people and continuously learning from those interactions will increase trust and teamwork between people and robots.

This may pave the way for robotic surgical assistants for simple procedures.

For Saudi enterprises, the strategic implementation of agentic AI represents a potential leapfrog opportunity. Rather than incrementally improving upon legacy systems, forward-thinking organizations are rebuilding their operating models around AI capabilities from the ground up.

The path to AI-powered transformation is not without obstacles. As the Accenture report highlights, organizations worldwide are grappling with questions of ethical AI deployment, and Saudi enterprises face these same challenges with additional considerations around cultural compatibility.

The Kingdom has responded proactively, with the Saudi Data and AI Authority developing comprehensive frameworks for responsible AI usage that balance innovation with ethical considerations.

These guidelines are helping enterprises navigate the complex terrain of AI implementation while maintaining alignment with 蹤獲弝けs unique cultural context.

Equally critical is the development of human capital to work alongside these new systems.

The Kingdoms substantial investments in technology education through initiatives like the Saudi Digital Academy are creating a new generation of professionals equipped to collaborate with AI systems, not merely operate them.

A key priority (81 percent) for leaders in 蹤獲弝け, almost on par with the global average (80 percent) is ensuring a positive relationship trajectory between people and AI so it is not derailed by fears of automation, starting with communicating the strategy and bringing employees into the process.

Creating a learning loop where AI and humans can collaborate to reimagine business capabilities will go a long way in scripting the next chapter in 蹤獲弝けs story of transformation.

Omar Boulos is Accentures CEO in the Middle East

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Spains economy minister says overtourism challenges need to be addressed

Spains economy minister says overtourism challenges need to be addressed
Updated 2 min 39 sec ago

Spains economy minister says overtourism challenges need to be addressed

Spains economy minister says overtourism challenges need to be addressed

MADRID: Spain could receive as many as 100 million tourists this year, according to some projections, which the countrys economy minister said poses challenges for the countrys residents that the government can no longer afford to ignore.
Last year, Spain received a record 94 million international visitors, making it one of the most visited countries in the world.
Its important to understand that these record numbers in terms of tourism also pose challenges, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. And we need to deal with those challenges also for our own population.
Tourism is a key sector for the Southern European nations economy, which grew faster than any major advanced economy last year at 3.2 percent, and is projected to grow at 2.4 percent this year, according to the Bank of Spain, well ahead of the expected eurozone average of 0.9 percent.
But a stubborn housing crisis in which home and rental costs have skyrocketed in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and elsewhere has led to growing frustration about one aspect tied to tourism in particular: the proliferation of short-term rental apartments in city centers.
The country has seen several large protests that have drawn tens of thousands of people to demand more government action on housing. Signs at demonstrations with slogans such as Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods point to the growing anger.
In response, the government recently announced it was cracking down on Airbnb listings that it said were operating in the country illegally, a decision that the company is appealing.
We are a 49 million-inhabitants country, Cuerpo said. The record numbers of tourists illustrate the attractiveness of our country, but also of the challenge that we have in terms of dealing and providing for a good experience for tourists, but at the same time avoiding overcharging  our own services and our own housing, he said.
The Bank of Spain recently said the country has a deficit of 450,000 homes. Building more public housing is critical to solve the problem, Cuerpo said. Spain has a lower stock of public housing than many other major European Union countries.
This is the key challenge for this term, the minister said of the countrys housing woes.
On the possibility of more US tariffs on EU goods, the top economic policymaker for the eurozones fourth-largest economy said he believed the EU still wanted to reinforce economic ties with the US
From the EU side, we are constructive but we are not naive, Cuerpo said, adding that the bloc would pursue other routes protecting our firms and industries if no agreement with the Trump administration can be reached.
A 90-day pause on tariffs announced by the EU and the US is slated to end on July 14. About halfway through that grace period, US President Donald Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on steel imports. The US has also enacted a 25 percent tariff on vehicles and 10 percent so-called reciprocal tariffs on most other goods.
On how Spains current housing woes got here, the minister said a steep drop in construction in Spain following the 2008 financial crisis played a role. So did population growth due to immigration, Cuerpo said, and pressures from an increase in the number of tourists.
While building more housing is key, the minister advocated for an all-of-the-above approach, including regulating Spains housing market and short-term rental platforms.
For us, theres no silver bullet, he said.


Syria rescuers say two killed in drone strikes on northwest

Syria rescuers say two killed in drone strikes on northwest
Updated 2 min 51 sec ago

Syria rescuers say two killed in drone strikes on northwest

Syria rescuers say two killed in drone strikes on northwest
  • During a meeting in Riyadh last month, US President Donald Trump called on his Syrian counterpart Ahmed Al-Sharaa to help Washington prevent a resurgence by Daesh

DAMASCUS: Two people were killed in separate drone strikes Tuesday on a car and a motorcycle in the northwestern bastion of the Islamist former rebels who now head the Syrian government, rescuers said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the twin drone strikes in the Idlib region but a US-led coalition in Syria has carried out past strikes on terrorists in the area.
Earlier this year, the United States said it killed several commanders of Al-Qaedas Syria affiliate Hurras Al-Din in the area.
The group had recently announced it was breaking up on the orders of the interim government set up by the rebels after their overthrow of Bashar Assad in December.
US troops are deployed in Syria as part of a US-led coalition to fight the Daesh group.
When contacted by AFP, a US defense official said they were aware of the reports but had nothing to provide at the time.
During a meeting in Riyadh last month, US President Donald Trump called on his Syrian counterpart Ahmed Al-Sharaa to help Washington prevent a resurgence by Daesh.
 

 


LA protests far different from 92 Rodney King riots

LA protests far different from 92 Rodney King riots
Updated 18 min 28 sec ago

LA protests far different from 92 Rodney King riots

LA protests far different from 92 Rodney King riots

The images of cars set ablaze, protesters tossing rocks at police and officers firing nonlethal rounds and tear gas at protesters hearkens back to the last time a president sent the National Guard to respond to violence on Los Angeles streets.
But the unrest during several days of protests over immigration enforcement is far different in scale from the 1992 riots that followed the acquittal of white police officers who were videotaped beating Black motorist Rodney King.
President George H.W. Bush used the Insurrection Act to call in the National Guard after requests from Mayor Tom Bradley and Gov. Pete Wilson. After the current protests began Friday over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 4,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines despite strident opposition from Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Trump cited a legal provision to mobilize federal service members when there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit Monday saying Trump had overstepped his authority. On Tuesday, Newsom filed an emergency motion in federal court to block the troops from assisting with immigration raids in Los Angeles.
Unlike the 1992 riots, protests have mainly been peaceful and been confined to a roughly five-block stretch of downtown LA, a tiny patch in the sprawling city of nearly 4 million people. No one has died. Theres been vandalism and some cars set on fire but no homes or buildings have burned.
More than 100 people have been arrested over the past several days of protests. The vast majority of arrests were for failing to disperse, while a few others were for assault with a deadly weapon, looting, vandalism and attempted murder for tossing a Molotov cocktail.
Several officers have had minor injuries and protesters and some journalists have been struck by some of the more than 600 rubber bullets and other less-lethal munitions fired by police.
Outrage over the verdicts on April 29, 1992 led to nearly a week of widespread violence that was one of the deadliest riots in American history. Hundreds of businesses were looted. Entire blocks of homes and stores were torched. More than 60 people died in shootings and other violence, mostly in South Los Angeles, an area with a heavily Black population at the time.
The 1992 uprising took many by surprise, including the Los Angeles Police Department, but the King verdict was a catalyst for racial tensions that had been building in the city for years.
In addition to frustration with their treatment by police, some directed their anger at Korean merchants who owned many of the local stores. Black residents felt the owners treated them more like shoplifters than shoppers. As looting and fires spread toward Koreatown, some merchants protected their stores with shotguns and rifles.


England stunned by Senegal to put Tuchel under immediate pressure

England stunned by Senegal to put Tuchel under immediate pressure
Updated 15 min 6 sec ago

England stunned by Senegal to put Tuchel under immediate pressure

England stunned by Senegal to put Tuchel under immediate pressure
  • Boos rained down from the disgruntled home support to leave Tuchel with plenty to ponder

NOTTINGHAM: United Kingdom, June 10, 2025 : England slumped to a 3-1 home friendly defeat by Senegal on Tuesday to ramp up the scrutiny on boss Thomas Tuchel one year out from the World Cup.
Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly inflicted Englands first ever defeat against African opposition at Nottingham Forests City Ground after Harry Kane had given the hosts an early lead.
Tuchel was scathing in his criticism of his sides dreary display in beating minnows Andorra just 1-0 in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.
The German, who was appointed with the task of ending Englands wait since 1966 for a major tournament win, has so far failed to spark a star-studded squad into looking like contenders for the World Cup, even if this was his first defeat in four games.
Tuchel responded by making 10 changes, with Kane the only player to retain his place.
It took just seven minutes for the England captain to maintain his record of scoring in every game since Tuchel took charge.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy should have done better when he could only parry Anthony Gordons shot into the path of Kane, who tapped in his 73rd international goal.
Dean Henderson was given a rare chance to impress in the England goal as Jordan Pickford was relegated to the bench.
The Crystal Palace stopper made impressive saves from his club team-mate Sarr and Idrissa Gana Gueye.
But he was helpless when Sarr made the most of a lack of concentration from Kyle Walker to meet Nicolas Jacksons cross and fire into the bottom corner.
England had never lost to African opposition in 22 previous matches but Senegal had been beaten just once from open play since losing to the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup.
Diarra was afforded acres of room to run in behind the England defense and slot between the legs of Henderson to put the visitors in front just after the hour mark.
Mendy made amends for his role in the opening goal with fine saves to deny Bukayo Saka and Morgan Gibbs-White a swift equalizer.
England thought they had levelled late on when Jude Bellingham smashed home from a corner.
But the goal was ruled out for a handball by Levi Colwill before the ball broke to the Real Madrid midfielder.
Senegal made the most of that reprieve to seal a famous win in stoppage time when Sabaly rounded off a slick counter-attack.
Boos rained down from the disgruntled home support to leave Tuchel with plenty to ponder before England are next in action in September.


Weinstein jury pores over accusers emails during deliberations

Weinstein jury pores over accusers emails during deliberations
Updated 26 min 49 sec ago

Weinstein jury pores over accusers emails during deliberations

Weinstein jury pores over accusers emails during deliberations
  • Jurors deliberated through the day, winding up with a request to rehear on Wednesday a key part of Manns testimony

NEW YORK: Jurors in Harvey Weinsteins sex crimes retrial appeared to be focusing on one of his three accusers as deliberations stretched into a fourth day Tuesday, with no further sign of interpersonal tensions that flared earlier.
The jury had requested to start off Tuesday with electronic copies of emails and other evidence pertaining to Jessica Mann the accuser with arguably the most complex history with Weinstein.
Jurors deliberated through the day, winding up with a request to rehear on Wednesday a key part of Manns testimony. Jurors also indicated they want on Wednesday to keep reviewing the emails and some medical records concerning her reaction to news accounts of other womens allegations against him.
During days of testimony, Mann said the Oscar-winning movie producer raped her in 2013 amid a consensual relationship that continued for years afterward. Weinsteins lawyers emphasized that she kept seeing him, accepting invitations and sending warm messages to him. Mann said she compartmentalized the pain he caused her.
Weinstein, 73, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges in the case. In addition to the rape charge, hes accused of sexually assaulting two other women, Mimi Haley and Kaja Sokola.
Weinstein didnt testify during the current trial, but maintained through his attorneys that he had completely consensual encounters with his accusers, who wanted his help building show business careers.
Weinstein was one of the movie industrys most powerful figures until a series of sexual misconduct allegations against him became public in 2017, fueling the #MeToo movement and eventually leading to criminal charges.
The jury is made up of seven women and five men. Their closed-door discussions began Thursday and apparently have been fractious at times.
One juror asked Friday to be excused because he felt one member of the group was being treated unfairly. Then on Monday, the foreperson complained to the judge, prosecutors and defense lawyers that some jurors were pushing others to change their minds, talking about Weinsteins past and going beyond the charges.
The foreperson didnt specify what was said. Trial evidence has included some testimony about allegations outside the scope of the current charges, such as mentions of the groundswell of claims against the ex-studio boss in 2017.
Yet another juror soon asked to speak to the court, where she opined that things were going well. By the end of Monday, the jury as a whole said in a note that it was making good progress.
There was progress Tuesday on at least one front: Jurors ultimately were given coffee, as requested, Judge Curtis Farber said. He hadnt initially thought the state court system could provide it.
Weinstein originally was convicted in New York in 2020 of raping Mann and forcing oral sex on Haley. Sokolas allegation was added last year, after New York states highest court overturned the 2020 conviction and sent the case back for retrial.
Meanwhile, Weinstein is appealing a 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles.
The Associated Press generally does not identify people without their permission if they say they have been sexually assaulted. Sokola, Mann and Haley have agreed to be named.