The 44th edition of Gitex Global in Dubai, one of the world’s most important events dedicated to technology, has concluded. From Oct. 14 to 18, more than 3,500 companies from all over the planet (including Google, Microsoft, Huawei and Nvidia), along with more than 400 government agencies, met and compared, especially surprise about artificial intelligence, digital transformation and sustainability in key sectors such as energy, healthcare, finance and cybersecurity. The main topic that has been discussed is AI.
It could not be otherwise, considering how, according to the most recent estimates, the global artificial intelligence market is set to reach $621 billion by 2024 and is expected to more than quadruple in less than a decade, surpassing $2,700 billion by 2032. This growth was summarised in presentations and panels at Gitex, focusing on innovations in deep learning, content generation, and multimodal AI, combining text, images, and video to create new applications in marketing and entertainment.
Microsoft’s innovations for process automation
One exciting aspect was the introduction of new autonomous AI agents, such as those presented by Microsoft. These are agents designed to automate a wide range of complex business processes, allowing enterprises to save time and resources and achieve better results. Agents can learn and adapt autonomously, improving the efficiency of business operations in real-time. Equally significant are advances in healthcare, where AI technologies are being used to analyze complex medical data, diagnose diseases and develop new treatments.
Gitex Global in Dubai
AI solutions for early cancer diagnostics, medical record management and optimization of personalized therapies were presented at Gitex. The financial sector has also seen tremendous adoption of AI, with solutions that improve the efficiency of banking processes, manage risk and optimize investments. At Gitex, the use of AI in fraud prevention and risk management and the creation of more sophisticated investment models capable of analyzing large volumes of data and providing accurate predictions about financial markets were discussed.
The future of network infrastructure
Another central theme at Gitex 2024 was the future of network infrastructure, particularly data centres and 5G networks. The exponential increase in the volume of data created by AI technologies, the Internet of Things and cloud applications has led to a growing demand for more powerful and efficient data centres. The region’s largest data centre symposium was presented in Dubai and featured industry leaders such as NTT Data, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv.
#Regarding the expansion of 5G, they discussed how the new protocol is already improving global connectivity and how it will continue to do so, with applications ranging from autonomous vehicles to telemedicine. Speaking of extending connectivity and breaking down the digital divide, the latest developments in the use of high-altitude platforms (HAPS), which leverage balloons or aerial vehicles to bring Internet connectivity to the most remote areas of the planet, offering broader coverage than satellites while being cheaper to deploy, were presented.
Solutions for the climate crisis
In this regard, in a context that can no longer ignore the climate crisis, Gitex devoted ample space to sustainability technologies, focusing on solutions to address climate change and improve energy efficiency. Among the most interesting innovations presented at the event was a new back-contact solar cell (HBC) developed in China, which achieved a record 27.09 per cent efficiency. But solar power and energy storage technologies were key themes throughout Gitex, with solutions aiming to improve energy resource management and reduce carbon emissions: the discussion also concerned the use of utility-scale batteries, which allow excess energy produced from renewable sources such as solar and wind power to be stored, making energy supply more stable and reliable.
When it comes to sustainability, smart cities and future mobility also become crucial. Projects from cities using IoT technologies to optimise energy consumption, improve public transportation and reduce pollution were presented at Gitex. In particular, new technologies for electric and autonomous vehicles were presented to reduce emissions and improve transportation efficiency while enabling better management of urban traffic and energy resources.
The threat of quantum computers to cybersecurity
Finally, with the rise of cyber threats globally, cybersecurity has also become a major area of focus at Gitex Global 2024: Gitex Cyber Valley brought together cybersecurity experts, information systems managers and business leaders to discuss the latest challenges and solutions in digital protection. Emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum computing, offer new opportunities to improve data security while presenting new threats. Advanced tools to protect critical infrastructure, prevent cyberattacks and mitigate risks associated with the growing dependence on digital connectivity were presented at Gitex.
