What are the common pitfalls in AI implementation and how they can be avoided?
AI project implementation often faces several common pitfalls, including a lack of clear objectives, an over-reliance on technology over strategy, poor data quality, and unrealistic timelines or expectations. To avoid these challenges, organizations should develop strong problem statements, align stakeholders from the start, build iterative MVPs, and emphasize data readiness and model explainability. Concrete takeaways include a checklist for avoiding pitfalls and case studies of both failed and successful AI projects.
Mario Sauke
Co-Founder and CFO
Impala & Pergamon Labs
Harnessing Causal AI to Unlock Hidden Insights
Harnessing Causal AI enables businesses to uncover hidden insights .This approach enhances predictive capabilities, drives strategic impact and fosters ethical, adaptive and explainable AI-driven intelligence across industries. This session will dive into cutting-edge techniques, real-world applications and the future of AI-driven intelligence offering a fresh perspective on unlocking actionable insights
Padma Priya
Senior Engineering Manager - Machine Learning
PayPal
Future of AI
The Future of Generative AI
Abhinav Sharma
CTO & Director - AI & Automation Leader
Cisco
Adel Miran
Director of Administration & Facilities Management
Dubai Holding Real Estate
Larissa Murmann
Digital Chief HR Officer, Unilever International
Unilever
Nitin Akarte
AI Network Director
Microsoft
Building The Cognitive Enterprise: Unlocking value with AI and Automation
The Keynote focuses on how organizations can leverage AI and automation to create a cognitive enterprise – one that is smarter, more efficient, and agile. Strategies to integrate AI-Driven technologies, streamline operations, and unlock new value, ensuring businesses stay competitive and future ready in rapidly changing landscape.
Sreeram Potukuchi
Chief Data and AI Officer
Spintheory Inc
Built to Rise: How Human Stories Are Powering the Future of AI
The talk highlights how iRiseUp.AI is bridging technology with purpose—drawing from real human experiences, including stories like that of Pete Griffin—to show how empathy-driven AI can reshape business, education, and personal empowerment on a global scale.
Julia Marie Victori
Chief Operating Officer
iRiseup.AI
Building AI-Driven Organizations
Scaling AI: From PoC to Production
Ankit Chhajer
Managing Director and Head of AI
Barclays
Awad El-Sidiq
Head of AI & Analytics
ADNOC Distribution
Bakir Najjar
Sr. Technical Specialist Azure App Innovation and AI
Microsoft
Larissa Murmann
Digital Chief HR Officer, Unilever International
Unilever
The rise of agentic AI: How DevOps empowers reskilling and safe adoption.
Agentic AI, capable of independent decision-making, is transforming workflows and productivity. However, successful integration requires reskilling employees. In this session James explores how DevOps automation supports this by simplifying AI integration, driving AI literacy, and fostering collaboration. He will based discuss the importance of new roles and continuous delivery in preparing for the future of work. By aligning reskilling and automation, organizations can responsibly and sustainably embrace agentic AI. Join this talk to learn how DevOps will empower your workforce in the AI-driven era.
James Hunter
Program Director @ IBM | Driving DevOps Automation and AI
IBM
Unlocking AI's Potential: Building a Graph Center of Excellence for Strategic Advantage
In today's rapidly evolving AI landscape, organizations are seeking strategic approaches to leverage its transformative power. Graph technologies offer a unique lens for unlocking deeper insights and driving impactful AI initiatives. This presentation explores how building a Graph Center of Excellence (CoE) can empower your organization to strategically implement AI. We'll delve into how graph databases uncover hidden relationships within your data, fueling more intelligent AI applications. Discover how a CoE fosters innovation, accelerates development, and ensures alignment between AI strategy and business objectives. This session will provide practical strategies and best practices for establishing a successful Graph CoE, enabling you to maximize your AI investments and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Learn how to overcome common challenges, build a skilled team, and demonstrate ROI through targeted graph-powered AI solutions.
Andreas Blumauer
SVP Growth
Graphwise.ai
Malavika Lakireddy
Director of Product Management
Uber
Autonomous organizations : future Trends and implications
Assess the disruptive potential of fully autonomous organizations powered by Agentic AI, and the potential impact on traditional business models. What are the advantages of building an AI-first company versus trying to transform legacy enterprises?
Jean Paul Sacy
Head of Middle East and Africa
Wand AI
AI in the Enterprise: Challenges and Best Practices
Investor Perspectives: Funding the Next AI Unicorn
Aniket Patange
Head of Engineering, R&D Services, and Digital Services for HCL Tech
HCL Tech
Bakir Najjar
Sr. Technical Specialist Azure App Innovation and AI
Microsoft
James Hunter
Program Director @ IBM | Driving DevOps Automation and AI
IBM
Building the AI-Powered Enterprise: From Data to Intelligence
Best practices for integrating AI into enterprises, from cloud AI solutions to automation and data-driven strategies. Discuss AI adoption challenges, implementation roadmaps, and business case studies.
Imran Sheikh
Head of Unit – Artificial Intelligence
Abu Dhabi Media Network
The Future of Critical Infrastructure: The advent of AI and Small Modular Reactors
Luis F. Gonzalez
Chief Operating Officer for Power and Industrials & Head of Applied Research, Aboitiz Data Innovation and Chief Data & AI Officer, Aboitiz Power Corporation
Aboitiz
Matt Lemay
CEO and Co-Founder
Lemay.ai
Tony Pagliocco
Senior Vice President - Product Management
Aldar Properties
Transforming Industries: How AI Is Reshaping Lifestyle, Healthcare, Real Estate, Education, and Finance
Awadesh Tiwari
Program Director - Advanced Analytics
Tata Consultancy Services
Karthik Jagannathan
Co-founder and CEO
Gallabox
Sher Ali
Associate Director of Data and AI
Majid AL Futtaim
Sreeram Potukuchi
Chief Data and AI Officer
Spintheory Inc
Explainable AI: Trust Through Transparency
This presentation introduces the concept of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), emphasizing the importance of transparency in building trust with AI-driven systems. It will explore why understanding AI's decision-making processes matters, especially in high-stakes areas such as healthcare, finance, and law. Attendees will learn about the key techniques used to interpret AI models, the balance between accuracy and interpretability, and how XAI can foster ethical and responsible AI practices.
Nikita Pushkarev
Chief AI/ERP Officer
Industrial Innovation Group
AI Adoption & Transformation in Global Bid Management
Elizabeth Pearson
Director & PMO for Oscar (Artificial Intelligence)
AECOM
How to Win the AI Race—Fast: Unlock the Power Multipliers That Supercharge Value Creation and Dominate the Future
In the relentless pursuit of competitive advantage, organizations are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative force. However, the journey from AI exploration to tangible business value is fraught with challenges. Studies indicate that only 26% of companies have developed the necessary capabilities to move beyond proofs of concept and generate real value from AI initiatives. This keynote will delve into the critical strategies that distinguish successful AI adopters: Strategic Alignment: Ensuring AI initiatives are tightly integrated with overarching business objectives to drive meaningful outcomes. Robust Data Infrastructure: Establishing a solid data foundation is paramount, as challenges in data integration and quality can impede AI effectiveness. Talent and Change Management: Addressing the key ai adoption and ai power exploitation are essential for seamless AI integration. Over 50% of organizations highlight a lack of internal expertise as a significant impediment to AI adoption. Scalability and Integration: Transitioning from pilot projects to scalable AI solutions requires meticulous planning and execution. Many organizations struggle to achieve and scale value from their AI investments. Ethical, Safe and Responsible AI Use: Implementing AI responsibly is crucial to maintain trust and compliance. Adopting responsible AI principles ensures alignment with ethical and security standards and regulatory requirements.
Nitin Akarte
AI Network Director
Microsoft
Adel Miran
Director of Administration & Facilities Management
Dubai Holding Real Estate
AI in 2030 - What’s Next?
AI for Business Growth and Digital Transformation
Abhinav Sharma
CTO & Director - AI & Automation Leader
Cisco
Elizabeth Pearson
Director & PMO for Oscar (Artificial Intelligence)
AECOM
James Hunter
Program Director @ IBM | Driving DevOps Automation and AI
IBM
Nitin Akarte
AI Network Director
Microsoft
Leveraging generative AI to be a better consultant
"Generative AI is transforming industries and driving innovation at a rapid pace. At a time when AI technologies are performing so many tasks efficiently, many things still require human connection. Many roles like sales, marketing, human resources and even technology need humans with comprehensive verbal skills, leadership skills and emotional intelligence to build teams, connect personally and help pave the way for a better future. This is particularly important for consultants in customer-facing roles where one has to master the art of human engineering to set themselves and their customers up for success. Generative AI can be an effective tool for improving and upskilling these much-needed consulting skills by offering personalized and interactive learning experiences. For instance, AI-powered platforms can provide real-time feedback on communication skills, enabling users to refine their verbal and written expression. Additionally, AI can simulate certain real-world scenarios to help consultants practice empathy and emotional intelligence. This session is focused on ideas and strategies for using powerful AI models to improve soft skills. These include prompt engineering techniques, structured learning, and integration with tools to enhance various consulting skills, such as negotiation, problem-solving, and critical thinking—skills a successful consultant needs to have in an increasingly AI-driven world."
Santhoshkumar Srinivasan
Senior Cloud Architect
AWS
The AI of Human Judgment: Scaling Wellbeing, Values, and Performance in the Age of Innovation
As organisations worldwide grapple with burnout, disengagement, and costly attrition—draining $8.9 trillion annually—it's clear that the way we work must evolve. In this Keynote speech, Tia Lancaster, CEO of Revaluate180, explores how the power of generative AI, when grounded in human insight and values, can not only boost productivity but also re-energise the workforce. Gain insight into how R180 harnesses AI and proprietary analytics to uncover blind spots, enhance team dynamics, and drive high organisational performance
Tia Lancaster
CEO
Revaluate180
AI and Gen AI in Manufacturing
Synopsis: This session explores the transformative power of AI and GenAI in manufacturing. Understand how these technologies optimize operations through predictive maintenance, process automation and real-time decision-making, enhancing efficiency and productivity. Discover how AI/GenAI improves product quality, reduces downtime and enables businesses to achieve manufacturing excellence. The session will also cover the importance of robust foundational systems for successful AI implementation in manufacturing
Key takeaways:
How AI and GenAI optimize manufacturing, driving efficiency via predictive maintenance, automation and real-time decisions to reduce downtime and boost throughput
How AI enhances product quality and enables early anomaly detection, preventing escalating maintenance issues and ensuring consistent standards
Discover the importance of robust systems and data for deploying AI in manufacturing, and the need for a scalable business case with ongoing support
Aniket Patange
Head of Engineering, R&D Services, and Digital Services for HCL Tech
HCL Tech
From Agentic AI to Autonomous Intelligence: The Road to AGI in BFSI and Beyond
Discover how Agentic AI is transforming the BFSI sector by enabling autonomous decision-making, real-time fraud detection, and hyper-personalized financial services. In this session, Awadesh shares insights from global enterprise experience to explore how today's agentic systems are laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s AGI-powered financial institutions—and what that means for innovation, governance, and leadership in a digital-first world.
Awadesh Tiwari
Program Director - Advanced Analytics
Tata Consultancy Services
In a constantly evolving tech landscape, this session explores key industry trends embraced by regional customers to fast-track their business transformation
Umair Riaz
Field Solutions Architect
Pure Storage
How to Get Leaders Excited About AI
Many leaders are hesitant to embrace AI, overwhelmed by the complexity and potential risks. This session provides a roadmap for overcoming that resistance and replacing overwhelm with excitement.
Fahed Bizzari
Founder
Bellamy Alden AI Consulting
Responsible AI
Compliance and Bias in AI
DEEPAK VYAS
Group Director of Engineering & Technology
Anax Holding
Gabriel Diaz Rodriguez
Senior Executive
AICelerant
Malavika Lakireddy
Director of Product Management
Uber
Shailesh Dhuri
Chief Executive Officer and Board Member
Decimal Point Analytics
How AI is changing the way Engineering, Architecture, Manufacturing
Roman Mironenko
Partner
Robbox
Role of AI In PropTech and Trading
1. Hyper-Personalized AI Assistants as financial and real estate advisor 2. AI + Quantum Computing in Trading 3. Regulatory AI Compliance Automated KYC, AML, & fraud detection for safer investments. 4. Metaverse & AI-Driven Virtual Real Estate
DEEPAK VYAS
Group Director of Engineering & Technology
Anax Holding
DIY AI: Transform Domains & Industries with Simple Use Cases—Empower, Adopt, and Innovate Boldly!
Discover how to harness the power of AI to transform domains and industries with a modern, utility-focused approach. This keynote shows you that you don't need to solve complex problems from day one or obsess over ROI—instead, start small with simple use cases. Learn how a good laptop, a bit of Python, and the right tools can empower you to adopt, iterate, and make a big impact over time. Empower yourself, act boldly, and let AI be your trusted collaborator in driving innovation and real-world change.
Vishal Mishra
Head of AI and Architecture
IDC Technologies