AFRICA APAC EUROPE MIDDLE EAST NORTH AMERICA

Providing detailed insights into the attitudes and perspectives of CEOs from around the world , the annual CEO study , CEO decision-making in the age of AI , Act with intention , found that 50 % of CEO respondents in the region believe that regulatory factors will continue to significantly impact organisations in the Middle East , with 48 % pinpointing technology factors as crucial to shaping the future of their respective entities .

At a time when digital acceleration continues to transform the regional and global economic landscape , Middle East CEOs expect to realise significant value from advanced AI . Sixty-one percent of respondents believe AI , including generative AI , Deep Learning and Machine Learning , will help deliver results in the coming years . Fifty-five percent of CEOs are looking to cloud computing as an all-important tool to attain positive outcomes , and 51 % believe automation will help drive success . most pressing issues to contend with . As per the survey , 28 % of respondents say market share growth will also be a top challenge for the next three years .

Notably , there is a growing awareness among Middle East-based CEOs of the influence of technology on their prospects , with more executives becoming increasingly reliant on technology and data leaders as strategic decision-makers . In addition , just shy of three-quarters ( 73 %) of the CEOs surveyed believe Chief Operations Officers will be crucial to their strategic decision-making . Forty-eight percent say Chief Financial Officers will be essential to guiding strategy , while 32 % suggest Chief Information Officers will steer the strategic direction of their businesses and organisations .

" Generative AI can be a game-changer in driving a new wave of productivity , efficiency and service quality across industries , reducing barriers to AI adoption ," said Saad Toma , General Manager , IBM Middle East and Africa . " To deploy emerging generative AI use cases at scale , CEOs need to assess company requirements in areas such as CRM , HR , modernisation , data privacy , security and sustainability .

“ The emergence of generative AI as a business and decision-making tool is a defining moment – one where CEOs need to define a clear plan , have the right capabilities in place and handle disruptions of all shapes and sizes . And they need to do this without slowing down or losing focus of their strategic vision in order to accomplish their objectives and safeguard their futures .” x

Moreover , the newly published report also maps out the range of challenges concerning Middle East CEOs . According to the study , 47 % of executives in the region assert that environmental sustainability will be the most pressing challenge of the next few years , with 28 % of respondents underlining that diversity and inclusion will present the

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