< PreviousT he Nokia 3310 needs very little introduction – it’s etched in of mobile phone history. With a design so elegantly simple, a build seemingly impervious to destruction, and a battery life that could outlast a marathon, the 3310 remains an unrivalled icon of the 2000s. Back in the day, the Nokia 3310 conquered the sales charts with a whopping 126 million units sold worldwide. If you’re in your 30s or beyond, chances are you remember this as the first cool phone you owned, which made you the envy among your friends. Nokia 3310’s camera-less frame boasted an 84×48 pixel pure monochrome display with a green backlight. Weighing in at a sturdy 133g, the powerhouse of a phone laughed in the face of drops and rough use. And, if you wanted to spice things up, the phone had changeable front and back covers, allowing you to make a fashion statement. The Nokia 3310 was a game-changer in more ways than one. In a time when SMS ruled the airwaves, this mighty device let you send messages with up to 459 characters, which was three times longer than its competitors at the time. The mobile phone brought a whole suite of utilities that we take for granted today. These include a calculator, stopwatch, and reminder function. It also featured some of the most notable mobile games such as Pairs II, Space Impact, and the legendary Snake II. Countless hours were lost as we succumbed to the fiendishly addictive fun of guiding your snake around obstacles. Nokia 3310 was so iconic that in 2017, HMD Global – the Finnish company that acquired the rights to the Nokia brand, brought it back. Blending nostalgia and simplicity, the device was reintroduced with a modern touch, now featuring a colourful display, a sleeker design, and of course, the beloved Snake game. 10 edge_ july 2023 vintage tech By Adelle Geronimo An ‘indestructible’ iconThursday 5 Th OcTOber 2023 GrOsvenOr hOuse, dubai, uae Introducing the Education Excellence Awards - honouring the teachers, leadership teams and support staff, providing world class education in Dubai. Scan to visit website For further information, please contact: DANIEL FEWTRELL Director of Events & Marketing Tel: +971 4 444 3684 Email: daniel.fewtrell@itp.com For more information on the Education Excellence Awards please visit EdExcellenceAwards.com or contact our team today.event 12 edge_ july 2023EMPOWERING THE FUTURE: NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL ECONOMY A sneak peek into the inaugural Digital Future Forum DIGITAL FUTURE FORUM By Arya Devi edge_ july 2023 13 event14 edge_ july 2023 event U nder the theme, ‘Empowering the Future: Navigating the Digital Economy’, the Digital Future Forum, by edge , was held on the June 21st, 2023 at the Grosvenor House in Dubai Marina. The Forum was a captivating gathering that explored the realms of global economic competitiveness in the digital era. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and technology enthusiasts to engage in discussions and share insights on laying the foundations for a strong digital economy while paving the way for new opportunities and navigating challenges. edge’s Digital Future Forum explored how digital technologies are driving economic growth and prosperity in the region. The event also provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges that are shaping the digital economy today, and how they can capitalise on them to drive growth and success in their own organisations. The event hosted a total of five panel discussions, three fireside chats and a keynote session. One of the key highlights of the forum was the fireside chat with Saeed M. Belhoul, the Director of e-Gov Operations at the UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Belhoul, an eminent figure in the digitalisation landscape, delved into the crucial topic of raising global economic competitiveness in the digital era. During the enlightening conversation, Belhoul emphasised the significance of establishing a robust digital economy as a fundamental step towards enhancing the nation’s competitiveness on the global stage. Belhoul shed light on the pivotal role played by the TDRA in shaping policies and strategies that will allow UAE businesses to thrive in the digital era. He discussed the initiatives implemented by the TDRA to ensure that the UAE remains at the forefront of the global digital revolution. He then delved into how the government entity is promoting innovation, fostering partnerships with training organisations, and providing support to businesses through the ICT Fund TDRA. Snippets of the Digital Future Forumedge_ july 2023 15 event Christian Kunz, Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Venture Officer, DIFC, speaks on the digital future Saeed M. Belhoul, Director of e-Gov Operations, UAE TDRA, shares insights into the UAE digital economy Mohammed Yousef Al Mudharreb, CEO, Corporate Technology Support Services Sector, RTA Dubai, delves into the evolution of the CIO’s role Jeevan Badigari, Head of Cybersecurity, DAMAC, discusses cybersecurity priorities FIRESIDE CHATS The conference also saw Faiza Rahman, the Editor of Oil and Gas Middle East at ITP Media Group, engaged with industry leaders in two thought-provoking fireside chats. The “Forging a Strong Foundation for the Digital Future” fireside chat with Christian Kunz, Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Venture Officer at DIFC, centred around the strategies involved in mapping out the digital future of organisations and the impact of emerging technologies on business innovation and strategies. Meanwhile, Jeevan Badigari, Head of Cybersecurity at DAMAC, shared insights on the topic of “Digital Ambitions vs. Cyber Resilience”. The discussion focused on the critical task of striking a balance between enabling innovation through digitalisation and ensuring cyber resilience while building the economies of tomorrow. 16 edge_ july 2023 event KEYNOTE In the keynote address, Talal Al Hammadi, VP of Air Traffic Development at Dubai Air Navigation Services, shed light on the critical importance of AI in sustaining the future of the country. Focusing specifically on the role of AI in aviation, Al Hammadi highlighted the transformative impact of technology in the aviation industry. In another panel discussion titled “CIOs: Leading the Change in the Digital Revolution,” moderator Adelle Geronimo, Editor at edge, facilitated an engaging conversation with Mohammed Yousef Al Mudharreb, CEO of the Corporate Technology Support Services Sector at RTA Dubai; Linoy Kidd, CIO of MENAT HSBC; Supriya Kummamuru, CTO MEA at TCS; and Jamil Shinawi, CEO & Founder of AHOY. The discussion focused on key learnings and visions for CIOs in driving digitalisation, creating new value streams through technology innovation, and effectively adapting to the ever-changing business landscapes. PANEL DISCUSSIONS In the panel discussion titled “Evolving to Thrive in the Digital Economy”, moderator Arya Devi, Commercial Editor at edge , led a conversation with panellists Arul Jose Vigin, Head of Digital & Data at DIFC Courts; and Hoda A Alkhzaimi, President of the Emirates Digital Association for Women. The discussion centred around the need for embracing transformation, shifting investment priorities, and the value of public and private sector partnerships in order to flourish in the digital economy. Panellists spotlight how organisations can evolve to thrive in the digital economy Experts give perspectives on how IT leaders can drive the digital revolution Talal Al Hammadi, VP, Air Traffic Development, Dubai Air Navigation Services, discusses the future with AI During his address, Al Hammadi emphasised the significant advancements and innovations that AI has brought to the field of aviation. He elaborated on the ways in which AI-powered technologies have improved safety, efficiency, and overall operational effectiveness within the sector. The UAE Digital Economy Strategy aims to double the contribution of the digital economy to the country’s GDP within 10 yearsedge_ july 2023 17 event In the panel discussion “Scaling the Enterprise with Low-Code Digital Transformation,” Umesh Moolchandani, CIO of Bin Dasmal Group; and Gigi Thomas, Group Director of IT & Digital Transformation at Ittihad International Investment, came together to explore the future of coding methods and the role of low- code development in accelerating AI adoption to overcome organisational challenges. The session offered a comprehensive understanding about low-code development. Up next was the “Innovation Imperative: Business Success in the Age of Digital Transformation” panel discussion. The session hosted Leena Khalil, Co-founder and COO of Mumzworld; Mario M. Veljovic, General Manager at VAD Technologies; and Jamil Shinawi, CEO and Founder of AHOY. In the panel, they shared their perspectives on driving digital ambitions from the top, unifying digital and business strategies, and exploring new avenues for technology investment. The discussion provided valuable insights into the crucial role of innovation in achieving business success and longevity. “Workforce in the Digital World: Role of Reskilling and DEI,” moderator Kifaya Abu Thallam, HR Executive Advisor for HR Transformation & Organisation Design, facilitated an engaging conversation on how the digital economy is opening new opportunities and closing gaps in today’s workplaces with Manish Mohan Misra, Group Head of HR Transformation, Digital & Analytics at ENOC; and Suhrid Chaudhuri, Executive VP of Organisation Development, Culture, and Talent at Al Ghurair Investments. Industry pundits reveal how enterprises can scale with low code digital transformation HR experts delve into the role of reskilling and DEI in the future of workforces Business leaders share insights on how they are driving the innovation imperative in the digital age18 edge_ july 2023 feature A CONVERSATION WITH SAM ALTMAN The OpenAI CEO on the future of AI and the challenges of regulating its potential risks AI By Adelle Geronimoedge_ july 2023 19 feature A rtificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly prominent topic in news headlines, as its transformative potential captures the imagination of individuals and industries alike. Among the pioneering platforms driving this technological revolution is ChatGPT. Powered by AI, ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool that allows users to engage in human-like conversations. The generative AI sector, of which ChatGPT is a prominent part, is poised for exponential growth with projections indicating its expansion from $10 billion in 2022 to a whopping $110.8 billion by 2030. Furthermore, generative AI is anticipated to account for a remarkable 10 percent of all data produced by 2025. At the forefront of this AI movement is the creator of ChatGPT, OpenAI – an influential AI research company co-founded by Sam Altman, who also serves as its CEO. To date, OpenAI has secured a staggering $10 billion in funding from Microsoft, resulting in a valuation of nearly $30 billion. This substantial investment has been instrumental in propelling OpenAI’s growth, particularly in bolstering its computing infrastructure. With a steadfast dedication to championing the profound impact of AI and the need for meaningful conversations surrounding its development, Altman embarked on a global tour to engage with experts, entrepreneurs, students and government officials. Recently, Altman found himself in the bustling atrium of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) at an exclusive gathering hosted by Hub71, where he eagerly fielded a myriad of questions and shared his invaluable insights on AI’s present and future. Here are five notable quotes from Sam Altman’s visit to the UAE: ‘AI models are tools, not creatures’ Within the realm of AI, the notion of “singularity” holds great significance. This elusive concept represents the point at which AI surpasses human influence and brings about rapid societal transformations. What makes the AI singularity particularly intriguing is its inherent challenge in pinpointing its onset and comprehending what lies beyond this technological “event horizon.” When probed about the idea of singularity and its imminence, Altman said, “I think we’re close enough. But I think it’s important that we realise that these are tools and not creatures that we’re building.” He noted that when $110.8BN The forecasted value of the generative AI sector by 2030Next >