During the IBM Think 2026 conference held in Boston, it was emphasized that success in enterprise artificial intelligence does not depend on the number of available models, but rather on the actual ability to integrate these models into business processes. Mohamed Ali, Senior Vice President and Head of IBM Consulting, pointed out that many organizations face challenges in reorganizing work to achieve better value.
The new phase of artificial intelligence requires redesigning workflows and organizing data, ensuring that processes are under control. Ali explained that many organizations are no longer suffering from a lack of tools but from not changing their working methods. He stressed that the challenge lies in how to re-engineer processes to achieve real value.
Event Details
In his remarks, Ali noted that the first phase of artificial intelligence focused on specific tasks, while the next phase requires integrating these tasks in a secure manner. He added that many enterprise efforts fail to move beyond the trial phase due to broad ambitions. Successful organizations start with limited use cases and then gradually expand them.
Ali also addressed the issue of 'shadow AI,' where some departments adopt tools separately without a comprehensive vision, leading to value destruction instead of creation. This highlights the importance of an AI operating model that focuses on integrating these technologies into daily operations.
Background & Context
IBM believes that the maturity of artificial intelligence allows for linking individual use cases in a way that enables work re-engineering. Ali cited an example from within IBM, where the company dismantled its operations into 490 workflows, selecting 70 of them to build 220 digital workers, resulting in significant cost reductions.
He also referred to the experience of Riyadh Air, which was entirely built using artificial intelligence, giving it a competitive edge over traditional companies struggling with legacy systems. The financial and internal processes were designed to ensure greater efficiency.
Impact & Consequences
The new phase of artificial intelligence requires a focus on governance, making it essential to have controls related to encryption, identity, and access. Mark Hughes, Global Managing Partner for Cybersecurity Services at IBM Consulting, pointed out that weak governance can lead to project failures.
He emphasized the importance of systematic thinking about how to bring artificial intelligence into production, noting that successful organizations are those that effectively adopt governance. There must be a unified vision for managing digital agents, reflecting the importance of data in this context.
Regional Significance
As reliance on artificial intelligence in enterprises increases, Arab companies must adopt these trends to ensure their competitiveness. These technologies can contribute to improving efficiency and reducing costs, enhancing companies' ability to innovate and grow.
At the conclusion of the conference, speakers emphasized that artificial intelligence will change the job market, as new jobs will emerge as a result of using these technologies. Therefore, Arab organizations must prepare for this transformation by developing their employees' skills and adopting new operating models.