WTA IN DUBAI AT AI ELEVATE: FROM READINESS TO EXPONENTIAL GROWTH

Dubai, December 2024

On December 13th, Western Technology Alliance (WTA) had the honor of participating in AI Elevate: From Readiness to Exponential Growth, an international conference organized by the Harvard Digital, Data, and Design (D³) Institute in collaboration with the Harvard Business School Club of the GCC. The event took place at the iconic Museum of the Future in Dubai and convened a high-level, select, multidisciplinary audience of over 400 participants, including government ministers, global corporate executives, academic leaders, and technology innovators.

Representing WTA were CEO Jeremy Kahn and CTO Jerry Bradenbaugh, who joined this premier gathering to exchange insights, explore collaborations, and contribute to the global dialogue around artificial intelligence strategy and deployment.

Transforming Readiness Into Real-World Impact

The central theme of the conference—moving from AI readiness to exponential growth—resonated deeply with WTA’s mission. The agenda focused on how organizations, regardless of size or industry, can transition from early AI experimentation to wide-scale implementation that drives measurable impact. Harvard Professor Karim Lakhani, a global authority on digital transformation, presented a compelling framework for scaling AI initiatives. His message: organizations must go beyond isolated pilots and embed AI into the fabric of their operations, governance, and culture.

Key topics included:

• The role of leadership in enabling AI transformation.

• Scaling AI across business units, not just departments.

• Responsible and ethical AI adoption in both public and private sectors.

• Building AI-literate workforces to match evolving demands.

UAE’s Bold National Vision for AI

Among the most thought-provoking insights came from His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. He articulated the country’s deliberate, strategic approach to AI: one grounded in long-term infrastructure investment and deep human capital development.

“The UAE’s approach to AI is not reactionary,” he explained. “It is thoughtful, integrated, and purpose-driven—using technology to improve quality of life, not replace it.”

From biometric border controls to traffic optimization, the UAE is not simply piloting AI, it is institutionalizing it. These examples provided a valuable benchmark for WTA as it continues supporting digital transformation initiatives across environmental, infrastructure, and compliance sectors in the United States.

Takeaways for WTA’s Roadmap

The conference validated WTA’s current direction while also illuminating several future-focused priorities:

1. AI Integration, Not Isolation: The most effective AI programs don’t operate in silos. WTA will expand cross-functional pilots and ensure AI capabilities support broader business and client goals.

2. Workforce Enablement: Echoing the UAE’s investment in AI literacy, WTA will roll out new internal training initiatives for both technical and non-technical staff.

3. Ethical Guardrails: As AI tools become more pervasive, WTA remains committed to human-centered design, data transparency, and responsible innovation.

4. Public Sector Collaboration: Learning from the UAE’s government-led model, WTA sees expanded opportunity for public-private partnerships in AI: especially within regulatory, environmental, and civic tech domains.

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

AI Elevate was more than a conference: it was a catalyst. In the months since returning from Dubai, WTA has:

• Launched an internal AI taskforce focused on identifying scalable opportunities across our service lines.

• Initiated early-stage development on client-facing AI features within our compliance and data reporting platforms.

• Increased collaboration with public sector entities exploring AI for infrastructure and sustainability.

As we move through 2025, WTA will continue aligning itself with the core principles discussed at AI Elevate: measurable value, scalable systems, and ethical growth. We are proud to be part of a global conversation shaping the future of AI, and even more excited to put those ideas into action for the clients and communities we serve.