Investments in artificial intelligence (AI) to boost operational efficiency have surpassed $120 billion, according to Dr. Esam bin Abdullah Al-Wagait, director of the National Information Center at the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA).
In reference to the International Data Corporation (IDC) report on global AI spending for 2023, Dr. Al-Wagait highlighted the rapid advancement of AI technologies and innovations aimed at enhancing operational excellence and ensuring the quality of products and services.
Dr. Al-Wagait shared these insights during his address at the main session titled “The Role of Advanced Technologies in Ensuring the Quality of Services and Products” at the 9th National Quality Conference, held lately in Riyadh.
AI’s role in organizational excellence
Moreover, Dr. Al-Wagait pointed out that over 72 percent of organizations are leveraging AI to achieve operational excellence in at least one facet of their operations, drawing on findings from the latest McKinsey Global Survey on AI, which analyzed data from more than 1,300 global entities. Additionally, he mentioned that the number of industrial robots utilized in manufacturing has exceeded four million in 2023, according to the International Federation of Robotics.
Impact of AI on quality and investment
These statistics, he noted, underscore AI’s vast potential in enhancing the quality of products and services, as well as the increasing trend among organizations across various sectors to boost their investments in this area.
Also, Dr. Al-Wagait emphasized that effective leadership within organizations is a fundamental pillar of operational excellence and explained that AI has become a reliable ally for organizational leaders by offering precise analytics and forecasts that empower them to make significant decisions. He referred to this phenomenon as AI-augmented leadership.
Furthermore, a study presented during the 2024 Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo revealed that a significant majority of CEOs believe that integrating AI has improved their performance, alleviated their administrative responsibilities, and strengthened their capacity to lead their organizations effectively.
