Stellar launches as catalyst to transform education in KSA

Ahead of the LEAP 2025 conference in Riyadh, Cisco announced findings from its latest AI Readiness Index, which reveals that 72 percent of organizations in the Kingdom have a strategy to deploy AI powered solutions in their organization. The report highlights that despite increasing urgency in deployment and investment, businesses in Saudi Arabia face challenges in adopting, deploying, and fully leveraging AI, amid the rapid market evolution and the significant impact AI is anticipated to have on business operations.

The index is based on a double-blind survey of 7,985 senior business leaders from organizations with 500 or more employees across 30 markets, including Saudi Arabia. These leaders are responsible for AI integration and deployment within their organizations. The AI Readiness Index is measured across six pillars: strategy, infrastructure, data, governance, talent, and culture.

Key findings include:

Acting with urgency

AI has become a cornerstone for business strategy, and there is an increasing urgency among companies to adopt and deploy AI technologies. In the Kingdom, nearly all (98 percent) report an increased urgency to deploy AI in the past year, primarily driven by the CEO and leadership team. Nearly all (86 percent) companies say they only have 18 months to start demonstrating the impact of AI. More than half (60 percent) give it only 12 months.

Rising investment

Over the past year, AI has been a priority spend for organizations in Saudi Arabia, with 50 percent allocating 10-30 percent of their IT budgets to AI projects. AI investments have focused on three strategic areas: IT infrastructure (51 percent), cybersecurity (40 percent), and data management (38 percent). The top three outcomes they aim to achieve include improving the efficiency of systems, processes, operations, and profitability; the ability to innovate and remain competitive; and creating a better experience for customers and partners. 

Infrastructure gaps

Networks are yet to be equipped to meet AI workloads. There are gaps in compute, data center network performance, and cybersecurity, among other areas. Only 31 percent of organizations have the necessary GPUs to meet current and future AI demands and nearly a third (34 percent) have the capabilities to protect data in AI models with end–to–end encryption, security audits, continuous monitoring, and instant threat response. In Saudi Arabia, 62 percent rated improving scalability, flexibility, and manageability of their IT infrastructure as their top priorities, showing they are aware of the gaps that need to be addressed.

Skills development

A lack of skilled talent is a top challenge for companies in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the critical need for skilled professionals to drive AI initiatives. Only 46 percent of Saudi organizations claim their talent is at a high state of readiness to fully leverage AI, and 39 percent say their organizations lack in-house talent necessary for successful AI deployment.

Salman Faqeeh, managing director, Cisco Saudi Arabia, said: “Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of embracing AI as a catalyst for digital transformation. The findings of Cisco’s recent AI Readiness Index highlight the significant strides organizations in the Kingdom are making, with clearly defined strategies and increasing investments in AI. At Cisco, we are committed to empowering organizations with cutting-edge technologies and expertise to realize the full potential of AI.”

He added: “Our participation at LEAP 2025 under the theme ‘Cisco Connects and Protects the AI Era,’ underscores our dedication to promoting innovation and collaboration in the country, in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.”

This year, Cisco’s participation at LEAP 2025 centers around connecting and protecting businesses in the AI era. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with subject matter experts at Cisco’s booth and explore innovative solutions designed to transform data centers to power AI workloads, modernize workplaces for seamless collaboration, and enhance digital resilience with advanced security and observability.

The International Institute for Iranian Studies, known as Rasanah, has released its 2024-2025 Annual Strategic Report titled "Globalization of Crises and Complexity of Conflicts," providing an in-depth analysis of the geopolitical landscape shaping 2025.

The report documents the complexities of significant conflicts, offering insights into potential scenarios for the coming year, an official statement explained. It broadens its scope to include new geopolitical arenas, offering a detailed look at how traditional and emerging powers navigate the shifting sands of international influence.

Rasanah critically examines the ineffectiveness of UN bodies in conflict resolution and the impact of regime changes in the Middle East, which has emerged as a focal point of volatility and transformation.

Through four comprehensive sections, Rasanah provides insights into international developments, regional shifts and Saudi policy trends as well as the ebb and flow of Iranian regional and international influence.

Saudi Arabia's Strategic Positioning

Highlighting Saudi Arabia's alignment with Vision 2030, the report praises the Kingdom's efforts to bolster its regional and global standing.
The report discusses Saudi policies and responses to challenges with a resilient vision, including the Saudi response to Arab and regional developments and Saudi Arabia’s position amid global shifts.
According to the report, Saudi Arabia will continue its support of the future of the Middle East, including the Gulf region, by cooperating with its regional and international allies to de-escalate tensions and end conflicts in the region.
The Kingdom will likely mediate major regional thorny issues between different countries with the aim to restore stability and security to the Middle East.

Global Developments

The section on global developments dissects the interactions among major powers, the economic implications of these interactions, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, now described as a war of attrition. It also delves into non-traditional security issues as well as the evolving religious landscape in the Islamic world.

Regional Developments

2024 saw intensified geopolitical rivalry in the Middle East, with Israel and Iran particularly vying  to establish a new paradigm of regional deterrence and conflict. The Gulf states have adopted a stance of positive neutrality, while Turkiye has pursued new strategies for regional and international benefits.
The report notes that in contrast, Africa continued to grapple with instability, fueled by internal crises and external interventions. The crisis in Bangladesh further reverberated across South Asia.

It forecasts continued geopolitical evolution into 2025, with Iran likely struggling to reclaim its previous influence.

Iran's Strategic Reassessment

In 2024, Iran underwent critical political, economic, social and military shifts that significantly influenced its domestic and foreign policy strategies.
Regionally, Iran faced unprecedented challenges, particularly in Syria and Lebanon, prompting a reevaluation of its traditional geopolitical strategies amid diminishing influence.
On the international stage, Iran’s diplomatic relations with both global and regional powers experienced notable shifts, impacting its strategic leverage and laying the groundwork for potential implications as it moves into 2025.

Rasanah's report not only maps out the intricate web of global and regional conflicts but also provides a sobering forecast for 2025, emphasizing the need for strategic foresight and international cooperation to navigate the complexities of modern geopolitics.

This comprehensive analysis, supported by robust data and scenario planning, serves as a critical tool for policymakers, scholars, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of global politics in an era marked by crises and complex conflicts.