july 2023 / vol. 1 issue 3 / an ITP Media Group publication Revealed: How gamers make more money than youwww.itp.net provocative. innovative. insightful. the voice of the digital revolution FOR ENQUIRIES Priyanka Pillai Senior Sales Manager, edge T: +971 4 444 3399 M: +971 52 576 0260 E: priyanka.pillai@itp.comedge_ july 2023 3 contents july 2023 10 12 22 cover story Pixels to paychecks The rise of gaming as a lucrative career choice 224 edge_ july 2023 “ How AI is built is the responsibility of both developers and business leaders” says Alteryx’s Karl Crowther From Page 46 32 other stories Tips: Optimise your Windows PC for gaming Quick, simple, and effective tweaks to elevate your gameplay 38 Gadget Watch 6 amazing gadgets to keep an eye out for 52 Review Anker Nebula Capsule 3 56 contents 18edge_ july 2023 5 editor’s letter PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve Deputy Managing Director Anil Bhoyrul Editorial Group Editor Kate-Lynne Wolmarans kate.wolmarans@itp.com Editor Adelle Geronimo +971 4 444 3497 / adelle.geronimo@itp.com Commercial Editor Arya Devi +971 4 444 3175 / arya.devi@itp.com Art Art Director Amjad Ayche Designer Tofi q Memon Advertising Group Commercial Director Anup Nagpurkar Senior Sales Manager Priyanka Pillai +971 4 444 3399 / priyanka.pillai@itp.com Client Services Manager Cherylann DAbreo +971 4 444 3404 / cherlyann.dabreo@itp.com Photography Chief Photographer Rajesh Raghav Videographer Muhammad Kaleem Video Editor Liju Cheruvathur Multimedia Producer Mina Vucic Group Social Media Manager Andy Ruedas Production Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator Manoj Mahadevan Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Distribution Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Marketing Director of Events & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies From pixels to polygons, from joysticks to motion controls, and from arcades to eSports arenas, the gaming industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation, captivating passionate players across the globe. In this issue, we immerse ourselves in the dynamic realm of gaming, where technology ceaselessly pushes boundaries and reshapes the very fabric of interactive entertainment. We embark on a journey tracing the evolution of the industry, from its humble origins as a beloved pastime to its growth to being the multi- billion industry it is today. We also take a closer look at the burgeoning opportunities for those who aspire to turn their passion for gaming into a viable career. From professional eSports players who command arenas and championships, to content creators who have built online empires, to game designers, and developers who shape the very worlds we explore, the gaming industry offers an array of paths to success. This month also features highlights from our inaugural Digital Future Forum, a gathering that brought together industry luminaries, visionaries, and experts to share their top insights on the digital economy. The forum delved into the transformative power of technology in driving economic success. It also explored the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape. Key industry figures, including the likes of Saeed M. Belhoul, the Director of e-Gov Operations at UAE TDRA; Mohammed Yousef Al Mudharreb, CEO of Corporate Technology Support Services Sector at RTA Dubai; and Christian Kunz, Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Venture Officer at DIFC, among other esteemed experts, graced the Digital Future Forum, leaving us with a wealth of knowledge to ponder upon. But that’s not all! This month you will find a special feature highlighting OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s recent visit to the UAE. With his invaluable insights on the future of AI, Altman provides a glimpse into the awe- inspiring possibilities that await us. Furthermore, we showcase some of the hottest games and trendiest gadgets that are hitting the market this summer. So, don’t waste another moment – dive right into this amazing issue! Game on! Adelle Geronimo editor Published by and © 2023 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.6 edge_ july 2023 news Sheikh Hamdan launches Dubai Centre for AI Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation has launched the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) at Emirates Towers, AREA 2071. The new facility aims to support government entities in implementing future technologies across key sectors. According to the Dubai Crown Prince, the launch comes as the emirate rapidly embraces artificial intelligence and other futuristic technologies, keeping pace with global innovation trends. “Dubai’s government will be the best in the world in deploying AI within its various entities. This new Centre is the first step in achieving this goal and developing future services to keep pace with rapid technological advancements,” Sheikh Hamdan explained. Adding, “We aim to see practical applications of generative AI technologies in our government sector. Technological development is moving very rapidly, and in Dubai we are determined to be just as fast in testing and harnessing it for the benefit of society. We want new AI-powered government tools to have a clear impact and tangible results.” The foundation of the Dubai Centre for AI will rest on three primary pillars: the development of legislation for modern technology, the enhancement of government sector performance, and the promotion of ethical and social considerations in generative AI applications. DIGITAL ECONOMY news bytes Stay in the loop with the latest news and trends from the tech scene $3BN The projected spending on AI in MENA in 2023edge_ july 2023 7 news The feature will be rolled out in Colombia and Singapore, followed by more countries over the coming months The “digital bridge” is the most recent innovation from a group of Swiss neuroscientists working to treat paralysis Meta-owned WhatsApp has unveiled an exciting addition to its platform that shifts the focus from conversations to broadcasts. The feature, aptly named Channels, enables administrators to deliver one-way communications by sharing a variety of content including text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls. To enhance the user experience, WhatsApp is working on a searchable directory that will facilitate the selection of channels to follow. This directory will encompass a wide range of interests, catering to hobbies, sports teams, and updates from local officials, among other categories. The California-based company said that Channels will be “a simple, reliable and private way to receive important updates from people and organisations, right within WhatsApp”. Moreover, messages sent on Channels will be deleted after 30 days and the company will not keep any record of them. “We are aspiring to build the most private broadcast service available. This starts by protecting the personal information of both admins and followers,” WhatsApp explained in a blog. WhatsApp introduces ‘Channels’ Paralysed man walks again using AI technology APPS AI Neuroscientists in Switzerland is making history by making a man, who was paralysed for over a decade, walk with the aid of technology. Gert-Jan Oskam met with a motorcycle crash in 2011, which left him paralysed from the waist down. Last year, in an attempt to regain movement, researchers in Switzerland, surgically inserted electronic implants in his brain and spinal cord. With the help of AI, they built what is called a “digital bridge” that will connect his brain and spine, which bypasses his injuries. In this technology, AI is being used as a ‘thought decoder’. The “digital bridge” project’s goal is to employ wireless signals to re-establish communication between the brain and muscles that become inactive after spinal cord neurons are severed. Oskam used a technology that sent impulses from a computer to his spinal cord to simulate the rhythmic steps of walking in a prior attempt. Although it enabled him to take many steps at once, the device’s movement was extremely robotic and required the press of a button or sensor. The technology is still not widely available as it is in the development stage.8 edge_ july 2023 news Nvidia unveils AI that allows NPCs to understand and speak to players in real-time Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to video games. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled a new platform that allows developers to infuse lifelike conversations into gaming characters. Nvidia Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) for Games or NVIDIA ACE is a custom AI model foundry service that aims to transform games by bringing intelligence to non-player characters (NPCs) through AI-powered natural language interactions. Imagine delving into a fantasy realm where characters dynamically respond to your every word and action, engaging you in immersive dialogues that make the game world feel more real than ever before. It’s like stepping into an interactive blockbuster movie, where the characters have a mind of their own! “Not only will AI contribute to the rendering and the synthesis of the environment, AI will also animate the characters,” Huang said. “AI will be a very big part of the future of video games.” Nvidia ACE for Games is a software suite consisting of three components: Nvidia NeMo, Nvidia Riva, and Nvidia Omniverse Audio2Face. NeMo is an AI framework designed for training and deploying Language and Linguistic Models (LLMs) in games. It includes NeMo Guardrails, which ensure safe and appropriate AI conversations by preventing NPCs from responding to inappropriate or off-topic prompts and protecting against AI manipulation or misuse. Riva is a speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion solution that seamlessly integrates with ACE for Games. The AI boom is propelled Nvidia to being the first semiconductor maker to reach $1 trillion in market valuation AIedge_ july 2023 9 news The initial encounter with an asteroid is expected to take place in February 2030 The tech giant will monitor employees’ compliance with the office attendance policy by periodically tracking their badge data The UAE has uneviled an ambitious space mission to land a craft on an asteroid 5 billion kilometres away. Dubbed the MBR explorer, after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the esteemed Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, the mission will encompass a 13-year odyssey, during which it will visit a total of seven asteroids. Describing the project as one of the most important in the field of space, Sheikh Mohammed said it would include six years of development and seven years for a space exploration journey. As part of its voyage, the spacecraft will visit to a total of seven asteroids: 10253 Westerwald, 623 Chimaera, 13294 Rockox, 88055, 23871, 59980, and 269 Justitia. The mission aims to add to our understanding of the foundation of the solar system and the presence and origins of the building blocks of life found in the asteroid belt, as well as prepare the ground for possible future resource extraction from asteroids. Sheikh Mohammed reveals new space mission to explore asteroid belt in 2034 Google cracks down on hybrid work SPACE BUSINESS Google wants its employees back in the office and has implemented stricter rules to the extent that it is now a crucial element of performance reviews. Initially, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Google was among the first major tech firms to permit voluntary remote work. However, it is now shifting its stance and requiring employees to be physically present in company offices for at least three days a week. The tech giant’s Chief People Officer, Fiona Cicconi, reportedly informed employees that remote work would now be considered an exception rather than the norm, overturning a pandemic policy that allowed numerous staff members to relocate away from company offices. As a component of its revised hybrid work policy, Google is urging employees who were previously granted permission to work remotely to reconsider and adopt a hybrid work schedule that involves coming to the office. The goal is to foster stronger connections within the Google community. Consequently, those employees who had been approved for full-time remote work may find that their approval is revoked.Next >