Microsoft Bahrain recently highlighted the importance and benefits of artificial intelligence in the establishment of smart societies, mirroring the ambitions demonstrated by Bahrain Vision 2030, at an event which was held in the kingdom.
Microsoft Bahrain participated as the Gold Sponsor of the Bahrain International eGovernment Forum & IT Expo 2018 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in Manama.
The two-day event, organised by Bahrain’s Information & Government Authority (iGA), is operating under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology, said a statement.
Now in its ninth edition, the Bahrain International eGovernment Forum has become a signature event in Bahrain’s business calendar. It is also the main platform for information exchange and collaboration for IT decision-makers and professionals from around the world.
Mohammed Ali AlQaed, chief executive, iGA, said: “The long cooperation between us and Microsoft Bahrain can be seen through the joint partnerships in IT programs and initiatives which support the strategic direction of Bahrain specifically during a period in which the country is anticipating advanced stages in the development and infrastructure agenda based on the strategic objectives of the Economic Vision 2030.”
“The forum reflects the achievements and aspirations of Bahrain in promoting economic infrastructure that is based on the development of an information and data society, as well as enhance future economic plans,” continued AlQaed.
The 2018 edition is split between five tracks, designed to encapsulate the hot trends and critical discussion areas extant within the global technology sector: cloud computing, digital transformation, blockchain, data analytics and cybersecurity.
Microsoft experts addressed forum delegates on the power of artificial intelligence and related technologies, and their ability to engage, empower, optimise and transform. Simon Bradford, Public Sector Industry Director, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, talked about how migration to the intelligent cloud – and the range of advanced technologies it hosts – can be advantageous to public-sector entities in pursuit of digital transformation and modernisation. Alessio Bagnaresi, Artificial Intelligence Director, Microsoft Europe Middle East and Africa, covered the more specific applications of AI and how its implementation can have a significant impact on the government sector’s ability to innovate.
Microsoft also showcased its broad range of AI solutions at the company’s booth. Visitors gained the opportunity to get hands-on exposure to some of the most cutting-edge solutions in the industry. Microsoft also demonstrated the cognitive-reasoning and machine-learning capabilities hosted on its Azure platform, using industry-specific use cases such as face recognition, chatbots, emotion detection and object analysis.
Microsoft’s partner Brainware demonstrated Pulses, its artificial intelligence platform that provides government decision-makers with multiple business-critical dashboards, detailing the satisfaction and happiness of citizens, and providing in-depth reports about the quality of services provided by employees. Pulse incorporates cutting-edge system design and combines it with deep-learning algorithms to analyse the full customer experience at service centres.
Saif Hilal Al Hosni, general manager, Microsoft Bahrain and Oman, said: “This platform offers the greatest of opportunities for us, and our partners, to demonstrate the power of artificial intelligence to government decision-makers.”
“AI is playing an increasing role in digital transformation journeys – delivering the power to engage citizens, empower public servants, optimise operations, and reinvent the way governments deliver key services to the public,” he added.
Bahrain is positioned 26th globally and fifth in Asia in the UN’s latest eGovernment Report, and is ranked fourth worldwide in the Telecoms Infrastructure index – a leap of seven places from the previous year’s rankings, it stated.