84% of Middle East corporations consider AI a top priority

The landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undergone significant changes in the past year due to the rapid adoption of Generative AI (GenAI). This shift has posed challenges for organizations in ensuring responsible AI practices and has placed increased pressure on Responsible AI (RAI) programs to adapt to these continuous advancements. These findings emerge from recent research conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The research report, titled "Developing Resilient RAI Initiatives in an Era of Expanding Third-Party AI Solutions," draws its insights from a global survey encompassing 1,240 participants. These respondents represent organizations with annual revenues exceeding $100 million and span across 59 industries and 87 countries. Notably, the survey reveals that 16% of organizations in the Middle East have embraced RAI policies, processes, and approaches throughout their operations.

East, both from a technological and regulatory perspective has changed dramatically,” said Elias Baltassis, Partner & Director, BCG X. “The rapid adoption of generative AI tools has brought AI to the forefront of conversations in the region. Yet, the fundamentals of responsible AI remain crucial. This year, our research emphasises the pressing need for Middle Eastern organisations to invest in and scale their RAI programs to address the growing uses and risks of AI in a region that is increasingly embracing digital transformation.”

In the Middle East region, Responsible AI (RAI) programs encompass various components, including overarching principles (43%), policy frameworks (49%), governance structures (76%), ongoing monitoring mechanisms (49%), tools and implementation strategies (51%), and change management practices (43%). These programs prioritize several key considerations, such as transparency and explainability (62%), assessment of social and environmental impacts (59%), accountability measures (57%), ensuring fairness (54%), addressing safety, security, and human well-being (68%), and safeguarding data security and privacy (86%).

The role of CEOs is pivotal in endorsing an organization's commitment to AI and sustaining necessary investments in this domain. Organizations benefit significantly when their CEO actively participates in RAI efforts, such as making decisions related to RAI-focused hiring, engaging in product-level discussions, or setting performance targets linked to RAI initiatives. These organizations report a remarkable 58% increase in business benefits compared to those where the CEO plays a less involved role, irrespective of their leadership status.