AI is attracting global significance, and the IBBC Tech forum’s ‘Navigating AI and digital technology‘ webinar attracted a large audience of members and businesses to hear how AI affects macro-Infrastructure in Iraq, the implications for recruitment, skills and training people, and to respond to the challenges and opportunities AI technologies bring.

Vipul Narula, CEO of Commercis, opened the discussion on the wider landscape in Iraq and why and how AI is affecting all aspects of business, government and life. He says ‘ We are at a stage of digital transformation that has implications for security, data , national sovereignty and many opportunities for business and society’.

Fay Jaffar of AL Majal outlined the E Youth platform that Al Majal use and invest in, to match skills, mindsets and jobs for graduates moving into the jobs market- and access to the learning they may need to adapt from academia to practical business experiences. Over 4 million people use the platform, which can be used and accessed internationally.

Jillian Low, strategy director at VI Virtual Internships, gave a fascinating view of the report they undertook to understand attitudes and responsibilities to learning and teaching AI, with stark implications for universities, individuals and businesses- in short, everyone needs to work together to develop skills, rather than leave it to the employee or university or others to pick up. A bright spot in this area, is that employers still value Critical thinking and communication skills above AI expertise, so graduates need to integrate AI skills into their other classical abilities for all to thrive.

Mohammed Al Samarra, from IN2 and founder of QAF labs- explains how their incubator lab in Mosul is supporting successful tech entrepreneurs in key areas like agritech and communications, as they collaborate with countries and businesses to expand the entrepreneurial capabilities in Iraq.

Harriet Van Der Vliet of Oxford instruments engaged us all with insights into   cutting edgeQuantum technologies, the next big wave of innovative projects, gave us a glimpse of the future, however, she explained Quantum is already being used in scanners and to detect oil and gas field data beneath the ground, and will increasingly integrate into business and AI, to create powerful new technological uses for business and the world.

Do view the whole webinar here as it sheds inspirational light on what we can all be doing now to adapt and benefit from these new technologies: