Business Extra

How can environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility come together? As the world commemorates the 54th Earth Day this week, host Cody Combs leads a discussion centred on the evolving role of an environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework in driving corporate strategies. Amy Lehoczky, director of ESG at G42, Abu Dhabi's leading artificial intelligence and cloud computing company, joins Combs to talk about this in the context of G42's $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft. During the conversation, Ms Lehoczky shares her journey into the ESG domain, the multifaceted role of its directors, the opportunities it presents and the potential to drive business growth while fostering a positive societal impact.

The Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is no stranger to motorsport memories. At the heart of those memories are usually big names such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. But now, a new type of race, without humans behind the wheel, is about to take place. In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs delves into the groundbreaking Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, set to take place at the Yas Marina Circuit on April 27. This unconventional race features autonomous vehicles, marking a significant moment in motorsport history and the advancement of autonomous technology. The host is joined by Thomas McCarthy, executive director of Aspire, the technology transition pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council, which organised the race. They discuss the unique aspects of the event, including how the UAE's affinity for technological advances led to its creation. They talk about the vehicles, the technology behind it, the teams and the role of AI in this race. They also touch on the ethical debates surrounding autonomous technology, including potential risks and the balance between innovation and safety.

Start-up Striver, which has football as its focus, is hoping to leave its mark as the world’s first abuse-free social media platform.   In this episode of Business Extra, host Cody Combs sits down with Tim Chase, co-founder of Striver, and Gilberto Silva, a former footballer also and co-founder of the app.   They look at how social media has mirrored the enthusiasm of sport, while also, inadvertently sometimes enabling hostile environments for athletes and fans online.   Mr Silva said that he is optimistic that artificial intelligence can help make social media a more civil place for football fans and players, especially through his company's app.   Striver, which was launched in November at Qatar’s Web Summit, seeks to create a respectful space for football fans and allows photos and videos to be posted, along with interaction with current and former football players who use the platform.

In today's fast-paced world, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, and religious rituals are no different. And in Ramadan, Muslims around the world increase their engagement with faith through fasting, performing prayers at mosques and reading the Quran. From checking Iftar, Suhoor and daily prayer timings, to recitations, and remembrances, Muslims now depend on many apps to assist them in their rituals and worshipping habits. In this episode of Business Extra, host Cody Combs delves into the intersection of technology and spirituality, and explore how Muslims are utilizing various apps to enrich their Ramadan experience. He interviews Nafees Khundker, the group managing director of Bitsmedia, the company that owns Muslim Pro app and Muslim streaming service Qalbox with over 2.1 million downloads in the UAE and 150 million downloads worldwide.

It’s Ramadan, a time of reflection and renewal in all aspects of life. And though it might seem like quite the juxtaposition, the themes of reflection and renewal are not lost on technology – especially in an age of artificial intelligence. AI is testing our relationship with technology like never before. It’s offering endless possibilities; it’s also creating ample concern, often overshadowing the possibilities. In this episode, we’re taking a look at the many upsides offered by artificial intelligence, and how those upsides offer an opportunity for renewal and reflection on multiple levels. For health care, education, sustainability and energy, those closest to AI say it can ratchet up solutions. Host Cody Combs is joined this week by Dr Mohamed Alloghani, senior adviser to the president of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

Ramadan is a time of reflection, solidarity and community. One of the core values of the month for Muslims is to gather with family members for big meals and to stay connected with them.   Yet, for millions of people living in conflict zones in the region, Ramadan is not the same as before and staying connected has become a lifeline.   A few months ago, the eSIM technology emerged as a game-changer in one of the biggest current conflicts in the Middle East; the Israel-Gaza war.   It offered seamless connectivity at times of prolonged communications blackouts that severed telephone and internet connections.   So how has the eSIM business become a driver of connectivity? And how does technology serve humanitarian purposes?   Dina Tsybulskaya, CEO of eSIM Plus, joins Business Extra host Cody Combs this week to talk about the eSIM industry's growth and its impact on conflict zones.

Never before have we had so much computing power so widely available. We have super computers, we have quantum computers and, yes, we have an unprecedented amount of data. It is all creating a perfect situation where we now have the ability to potentially make predictions, make progress and improve society like never before. In particular, data and computational sciences could be game changers for health care, energy, sustainability and financial inclusion. Adia Lab, Abu Dhabi’s independent institute dedicated to research in data and computer sciences, has focused on looking at ways data and computational sciences could positively affect societally important topics such as health care, energy, climate telecoms and financial inclusion. In this episode of Business Extra, host Cody Combs speaks to Horst Simon, the lab’s director and a world-renowned expert in computer science, about how Abu Dhabi and the UAE are positioned to be at the centre of all that computational progress.

AI-generated deepfake videos and images often go viral, deceiving millions before the truth comes out, and even then, it keeps on circulating. In fact, 2023, according to one study, saw a record-setting number of AI incidents. Can anything be done amid a technological climate where it’s easier than ever to create deepfakes? The short answer is yes, and as we speak, researchers are finding ways to identify deepfakes faster than ever. In this episode of Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs sat down with Professor Hao Li, associate professor of computer vision Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to know more about that and the first of its kind research hub, dedicated to immersive communication, digital content and spatial computing.

Since 2022, the ripple of artificial intelligence has turned into a tidal wave around the world, having an effect on almost all industries and areas of expertise, including finance and investing. Bloomberg, a leading global platform for business and financial information, has its own AI large language model. In this Business Extra episode from the World Governments Summit in Dubai, host Cody Combs is joined by two top executives from Bloomberg LP, chief technology officer Shawn Edwards, and head of quant technology strategy Gary Kazantsev. They dig deep into the hopes, aspirations and possible ramifications of AI in finance and investing, and explore how the technology is driving Bloomberg's investment and business decisions.

Large language models, more commonly known as LLM, are the backbone of what makes artificial intelligence so intelligent. M42, Abu Dhabi's technology-enabled healthcare company, has designed a clinical generative AI LLM to serve as an assistant to doctors, patients, nursing staff and other health professionals. Since October 2023, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health has been helping with the eventual implementation of a new clinical generative AI LLM, Med42, across the emirate’s healthcare system. Host Cody Combs sits down with Shadab Khan, head of AI and applied sciences at M42, to talk about the company's hopes for the large language model and its potential impact on the healthcare industry.

What do you do with a critical mass of talent yearning to make an entrepreneurial mark in the Middle East? That is the task faced by the UAE’s northern emirate of Sharjah. In particular, that is the task of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre, or Sheraa, a government-backed organisation launched with a mandate to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the emirate. On this episode, host Cody Combs spoke with Sheraa’s chief executive Najla Al Midfa about the accomplishments, goals and evolving road map for Sharjah entrepreneurs.

Does the world need another social network? Ayman Hariri, co-founder of Vero and son of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, thinks so. Host Cody Combs talked to the co-founder of the ad-free, algorithm-free alternative to Facebook, TikTok and Twitter at Abu Dhabi Finance Week. They discussed the big plans for the platform this year and the tech start-up culture in the Mena region.

AI isn't going away, the metaverse is still showing signs of life, and cybersecurity concerns remain abundant. Just when you thought it was safe to enter 2024 on a clean technology slate, similar themes and a cast of technology characters are re-emerging from the previous year. Yet, not everything is the same. There are some early hints of what to expect, and some clues from tech products that offer a glimpse at how our lives and businesses will change in the weeks and months ahead. Will deepfake videos cause a cacophony of problems? Will Apple's vision of spatial computing have us all wearing headsets? Will AI concerns finally become reality? Host Cody Combs looks at where things stand on all these topics and more. Interviews include analysis from Renee McGowan, Marsh McLennan’s chief executive for India, Middle East & Africa, and Robert Wahl, associate professor of computer science Concordia University in Wisconsin.

A new year is around the corner, and that particular time is always a great opportunity to look back and reflect. However, it's also essential to look ahead as well and understand the forces that will shape the coming year. 2024 promises to be a pivotal year, with major shifts in technology, political economy, and evolving factors. Host Cody Combs sits down with Sam Blatteis, co-founder and chief executive of The MENA Catalysts, to talk about what breakthroughs we can expect in 2024, and how will businesses leverage AI to stay ahead of the curve.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy will be moving into one of Masdar City’s net-zero buildings by the end of 2024, which shows the commitment to energy transition and a net-zero economy by 2050. Masdar City’s director of growth Steve Severance told Business Extra host Cody Combs on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate summit that city aims to be the world’s largest collection of net-zero buildings. Mr Severance also talked about how Masdar City has become a model for urban development, as well as the vital role of sustainable growth in the broader context of Cop28. During the interview, he also pointed how Abu Dhabi has become a real player in artificial intelligence projects in terms of research and implementation.

Manhat, an Emirati-founded start-up launched in 2019, wants to be among the first to introduce a new technology to generate fresh water from the ocean without using electricity. Emirati founder Saeed Alhassan told Business Extra host Cody Combs on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate summit that the start-up is using proprietary natural water distillation technology to speed up and capture the evaporation of ocean water on the surface. Mr Alhassan added that wants to harness his invention to build floating farms, using the fresh water collected to irrigate and grow crops right at the source. The technology is solving a major hurdle as the Arabian Gulf seeks ways to ensure water and food security, which has historically been problematic given the climate in the region.

Participants at Cop28 in Dubai are more adamant about cutting emissions this time, chief executive of Dynamic Planet Kristin Rechberger told Business Extra host Cody Combs in an interview on the sidelines of the climate summit. Ms Rechberger said there was a greater presence of nature-preserving pavilions at this Cop than at any previous climate summit. She also talked about green finance, blue finance and the importance of climate funds. She said her transition from being an executive at National Geographic to founding Dynamic Planet was about finding a way to restore nature and make money at the same time, and to encourage businesses to enter that realm. Dynamic Planet was founded in 2012 to “help advance markets to restore nature” through adopting new business models. It also focuses on developing responsible business with high-impact partners that regenerate landscapes, seascapes and communities.

Climate talks often conjure up images of smokestacks, car exhaust, and even aviation contrails. There’s also the mental image of endless climate meetings hosted by prominent politicians and policymakers. But what about Big Tech? What about the companies that paved the way for post-industrial prosperity around the world? What about the companies that many consider the new power brokers. On this climate edition of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs talks to Kate Brandt, chief sustainability officer at Google, to discuss the company’s vision for the climate, AI, and the tech road ahead.

The lives of 384 million people have been improved by more than 100 winners of the UAE’s Zayed Sustainability Awards over 15 years. This year’s award winners were announced at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai. Business Extra podcast host Cody Combs sat down with two remarkable winners who are making a big impact as they promote sustainable and humanitarian development. Ahmed Sourani, winner of the food category, shares the story behind the Gaza Urban & Peri-urban Agricultural Platform and its mission to bolster the agricultural sector in Gaza. We learn how this initiative positively impacts the lives of over 7,000 people, as well as the challenges and the community's resilience in the pursuit of sustainable farming. Caroline Slootweg, winner of the climate action category, takes us deep into the world of Namibian SME Kelp Blue to explore its ambitious efforts to cultivate kelp forests in deep waters, helping to restore ocean biodiversity. Caroline also explains the innovative approaches and the transformative power of sustainable ocean solutions.

In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs interviews three young climate advocates from the UAE, Morocco and Mauritania. Recording from the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, the climate advocates spoke about the different challenges in their communities, in addition to the work they do in reimagining the future of energy, examining the interplay between climate change and conflict, and enlisting corporate participation in reforestation efforts. They also shared how the Cop28 International Youth Climate Delegates programme has helped them to develop their ideas and projects.