Registration

Time

13:30

Welcome Address by Fast Company Middle East

Time

14:30

PANEL DISCUSSION: AI Decoded

AI development is moving faster than we think and every day, we get closer to solving the complex challenges of achieving human-level intelligence and the development of true self-aware machines. Will AI singularity be a threat or a promise of a better future?

Speakers:

Fatmah Baothman, Member of the Global Future Council on the Future of Artificial Intelligence, World Economic Forum

Prof. Le Song, CTO, BioMap, Professor of Machine Learning, MBZUAI, Artificial Intelligence Scholar

Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Co-Founder of Astra Tech & CEO of Botim

Moderator:

Suraya Turk, Managing Partner, Legal Circle

Time

14:35

PANEL DISCUSSION: Reshaping the AI Narrative: The Interplay of Ethics and Responsible Innovation

As we enter a new era, the vital discourse is on how the interplay of ethics and innovation is steering AI development. The compelling question is: Can AI lead us into a future where ethics and progress unite for a better society?

Speakers:

Amith Rajan, Executive Vice President, Head, Wholesale Digital Banking & NeoVentures, Mashreq Bank

Amin Al Zarooni, Chief Executive Officer, Bedu

Tim Carmichael, Chief Data Officer, Chalhoub Group

Akram Awad, Partner and Global Lead for Smart Cities, BCG

Moderator:

Rachel Dawson, Senior Correspondent, Fast Company Middle East

Time

15:15

SESSION: ENERGY IN MOTION

DISCUSSION: The Fuel Of The Future And Sustainable Mobility: Is The Middle East Getting It Right?

Innovative and efficient technologies for green mobility --- renewable energy sources for public transport, green hydrogen for cars, and green power to charge electric vehicles -- are inextricably linked to incremental investment in energy transition. As the color of energy turns from brown to green, is a new mobility and energy ecosystem emerging in the Middle East, setting the stage for immense innovation?

Speakers:

Jack Uppal, President & MD, General Motors, Africa and Middle East

Otmane Benamar, CTO, Gas Power EMEA, GE Vernova

Stephen Severance, Director of Growth, Masdar City

Moderator:

Suha Hasan, Correspondent, Fast Company Middle East

Time

15:45

PANEL DISCUSSION: Scaling Startups: Does the Middle East have what it takes to be a global hub?

In the last few years, the Middle East has become a destination for many foreign investors. However, achieving the objective of making the region a global hub for startups requires more investors, a common regulatory framework, and much more.

Speakers:

Mudassir Sheikha, Co-Founder & CEO, Careem

Mostafa Kandil, CEO, Swvl

Mohamad Ballout, Co-Founder & CEO, Kitopi

Moderator:

Suha Hasan, Correspondent, Fast Company Middle East

Time

16:10

PANEL DISCUSSION: Tomorrow's Currency: Powering the World of Payments

Payment methods and digital currencies are undergoing a profound transformation. Tomorrow's Currency is not just a catchphrase; it represents the evolution of the digital payments ecosystem – the fusion of digital advancements and financial inclusion. The panel will explore how digital innovations, blockchain, and decentralized systems are shaping modern payments.

Speakers:

Ankur Sethi, Chief Operating Officer - Ecommerce, Aster DM Healthcare

Ola Doudin, CEO & Co-Founder, BitOasis

Sandeep Gomes, Regional Head - Merchant Acquiring, Amazon Payment Services

Jamal Al Awadhi, Chief Operating and Experience Officer, Wio Bank

Moderator:

Riaz Naqvi, Senior Editor, Hill+Knowlton Strategies

Time

16:50

DISCUSSION: Giga-projects and regenerative cities in Gulf: Empowering the regional economic diversification

As Gulf countries look to achieve economic sustainability beyond Oil & Gas, Giga-projects are what they are betting big on. Optimizing economies of scale, creating job prospects, and diversifying the economy apart from introducing cutting-edge technologies are reasons for countries to invest heavily in them. However, considering the time and cost, are they risk-worthy?

Speakers:

Talal Kensara, Chief Strategy Management Officer, Diriyah Company

Dr. Hafiz Ali Abdulla, ICOM Board Member, Director of Marketing and Communication at Msheireb Properties

Moderator:

Paul Dawalibi, CEO, Holodeck Ventures

Time

17:20

Closing Remarks

Time

17:45

VIRTUAL - PANEL DISCUSSION: AI Ethics, Policy, Regulations: How can the proper guardrails be implemented?

As Generative AI takes center stage, the pressing issue of ethical AI and the growing crisis of trust in artificial intelligence systems needs to be addressed. The importance of transparency, accountability, and responsible AI development to ensure the public's confidence and acceptance of AI technologies in various domains.

Speakers:

Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist, UNSW AI Institute

Lyric Jain, CEO, Logically

Diya Wynn, Sr. Practice Manager of Responsible AI, Amazon Web Services

John C Havens, Author of Heartificial Intelligence & Hacking Happiness, Executive Director, The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems

VIRTUAL