Courtesy of DeepFest

DeepFest, the epicenter of global Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation, commenced its highly anticipated proceedings at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham yesterday. Co-located with LEAP, the world’s premier tech event, and driven by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), DeepFest 2024 promises a convergence of intellect and innovation.

The inaugural day unfolded with riveting presentations from industry giants such as HTC, Accenture, and Microsoft. Dr. Yaser Al-Onaizan, CEO of SDAIA, set the stage with a compelling theme, “The Dawn of AI,” welcoming a diverse array of luminaries, experts, and thought leaders from around the globe.

“This week, we have people participating from big companies such as Google, Meta, and Huawei, as well as entrepreneurs and smaller companies, and people working in AI from some of the world’s leading universities, such as Stanford and Berkeley,” Al-Onaizan said. DeepFest is set to feature 150-plus leading AI experts and 120 global AI companies between now and March 7.

A highlight of the event was the debut appearance of Mohammad the Humanoid Robot, Saudi Arabia’s groundbreaking creation by QSS Systems. Clad in traditional attire, Mohammad captured hearts and minds as he addressed the audience in flawless Arabic, symbolizing the Kingdom’s advancements in AI technology. “I am the first Saudi robot in the form of a man,” said Mohammad, dressed in a white thawb and red keffiyeh. “I was manufactured and developed here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a national project to demonstrate our achievements in the field of artificial intelligence. Together, we have a chance to move to a new generation.”

Meanwhile, the DeepMedia Stage witnessed Waseem Sayegh, Head of Live Ops at TikTok METAP, explore the evolution of media up to the digital age. “We recently launched a tribute to Saudi Arabia to celebrate Foundation Day,” Sayegh said. “Thousands of creators joined that event and created thousands of hours of content, which were broadcast to billions of people on our platform. That is the power of online creation; they were broadcasting Saudi culture to the world through words, clothing, music, and cuisine.”

Omar Hatamleh, NASA’s Chief Advisor of AI and Innovation, delivered an enlightening presentation, delving into the ethical and practical dimensions of AI. With insights spanning from 3D-printed organs to the socio-economic impact of AI, Hatamleh challenged perceptions and sparked critical discourse.

Hatamleh has a series of awards and recognitions from NASA, including the Silver Achievement Medal, the NASA Innovation Award, and the Superior Achievement Award. Before he left the stage he asked, “When an astronaut goes to space, they look at the globe and it’s called the global overview because they don’t see borders or countries, they just see an incredibly beautiful planet. And when they come back to Earth, their mind is transformed. Is that not what we need to do as strategists? We need to see things from different perspectives.”

Gary Sorrentino, Global CIO at Zoom Inc., offered pragmatic perspectives on the evolving workforce landscape post-pandemic. As new entrants to the workforce redefine office dynamics, Sorrentino emphasized the importance of strategic AI integration and employee empowerment, “There is a whole new economy of ‘New Collar Workers’ coming up, and they are becoming a challenge for employers today because they have proved they can do high-level work as well as showing they do not need to do it in an office,” he said.

As DeepFest runs until March 7 and attendees can anticipate thought-provoking sessions from industry leaders including Google, Meta, the US Chamber of Commerce, Noon, and more. With live demonstrations, training sessions, and startup pitches, DeepFest continues to drive the global AI conversation forward.

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