AI Appreciation Day: Business Leaders Reflect On How The Technology Has Changed Our Lives

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Appreciation Day, celebrated every July 16, is a moment to reflect on the transformative power of AI in our daily lives. From revolutionizing healthcare and education to enhancing business efficiency and personal convenience, AI has become a cornerstone of modern innovation. This day encourages us to recognize the achievements of AI developers, explore ethical considerations, and spark conversations about the future of intelligent technology. As AI continues to evolve, AI Appreciation Day serves as both a celebration and a call to ensure its development remains inclusive, responsible, and beneficial to all.

“AI Appreciation Day is a powerful moment to reflect on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the real estate landscape - and as a business, we're building an ecosystem where AI isn't just a tool, but a catalyst for transformation. From automating workflows to enabling smarter, data-driven decisions, AI is redefining marketing, sales, and investment in real estate. For our company, AI helps us empower brokers with actionable insights and unmatched speed, as well as it drives hyper-personalized campaigns that move the needle. But beyond efficiency, AI allows us to reimagine how people discover, buy, and experience property. We're creating a connected, intelligent future - one where technology enhances human potential, not replaces it. As we build this ecosystem, our responsibility is clear: to ensure AI is ethical, inclusive, and transparent. The future of real estate isn't just smarter - it's more human,” said Imran Khan, CEO, PIXL Global & Invespy.

Mobile has long been the frontline of digital business, and it's also one of the most targeted. In the Middle East, 53% of organizations are mostly concerned about attacks on connected devices, including mobiles.“At Appknox, we use AI to test, secure, and continuously monitor mobile apps at scale, helping organizations stay ahead of threats and in step with compliance demands. From real-time compliance checks to automated threat detection, AI empowers us to help businesses secure their apps at the speed of innovation. On AI Appreciation Day, we recognize how automation is not just accelerating security - it's unlocking mobile as a driver of trust and competitive edge,” said Subho Halder, Co-founder and CEO, Appknox.

“AI is now essential to keeping pace with modern cyber threats-analyzing billions of signals, detecting unknown patterns, and enabling proactive defense. At Trend Micro, AI powers our Trend Vision OneTM platform, delivering real-time threat intelligence and cross-layer protection that helps organizations stay ahead of adversaries. On AI Appreciation Day, we celebrate the role of AI in transforming cybersecurity from reactive response to proactive security-built for the speed, scale, and complexity of today's digital world,” said Salah Suleiman, Managing Director, South Gulf, Trend Micro.

“AI Appreciation Day invites us to reflect on the responsibility that accompanies technological progress. At Mozn, we believe AI must be developed with purpose, transparency, and a deep understanding of local and regional contexts. As we celebrate the transformative power of AI, we remain committed to building solutions that advance industries, respect cultural identities, and uphold the highest standards of ethics and trust,” said Abdullah Alsaeed, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Mozn.

“On AI Appreciation Day, it's worth reflecting on how far we've already come. AI has democratised access to knowledge and creativity on an extraordinary scale. Anyone, anywhere, can now ask a question, generate an idea, draft a plan, and get instant help from the smartest tools we've ever built,” said Dinesh Varadhrajan, Chief Product Officer at Kissflow.

But the next, and arguably more important, step is to democratise AI development itself. Too often, the power to build and deploy digital solutions, apps, workflows, automations, remains locked away with a select few.“Developers carry that burden, while business teams wait on the sidelines. It's no wonder so many organisations find themselves stuck in what IDC calls 'AI pilot purgatory', dabbling with innovation but struggling to make it real. At Kissflow, we believe this is where AI can truly shine. When combined with low code and no code platforms, AI stops being just a backend enabler and starts becoming a creative partner. This turns natural language into workflows, offering intelligent suggestions, and opening the door for anyone to contribute to innovation. We've already seen how AI can empower people to learn, create, and imagine. Now we need to empower them to build. The future won't belong to those with the biggest coding teams. Rather it will belong to those who make innovation accessible to everyone,” he added.

In the MENA region, AI's transformative potential is becoming increasingly evident. From advancing complex automation with Agentic AI to harnessing the power of Generative AI for breaking down knowledge barriers, we are experiencing a new era of innovation.“In a region facing pressing challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and the critical need to diversify economies, AI goes beyond being just a tool-it is a vital resource. It supports smarter adaptation measures, accelerates resilience planning, and fosters inclusive innovation that transcends industries and national boundaries. Agentic AI allows us to enhance intelligent decision-making in sectors such as energy, finance, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Generative AI empowers youth, small businesses, and decision-makers to address issues in real time-without requiring technical expertise. Looking ahead to a future marked by economic inclusivity and climate resilience, particularly in the Global South, the MENA region stands at a pivotal moment. With AI, we have the opportunity to lead with vision, sustainability, and global impact,” said Levent Ergin, Chief Strategist for Climate, Sustainability and AI, Global Head of ESG Strategic Alliance Partnerships at Informatica.

“On AI Appreciation Day, I think it's worth reframing how we view AI's role in organisations. Too often, businesses fall into the trap of hunting for a 'killer app'. They're seeking out one big, transformational use case that changes everything overnight. It's an appealing idea, but it misses the real power of AI. Let's draw a parallel with Valentine's Day. We don't celebrate our partners for one single spectacular moment, but for the countless ways, both big and small, that they support us every day. AI in many ways is the same. Its value comes not from one flashy chatbot or headline-grabbing pilot, but from being pervasive, woven thoughtfully through every part of the business. AI enhances fraud detection, speeds up billing, makes reporting more meaningful, and improves customer journeys. It does this not with one magic bullet, but through many cumulative, interconnected improvements. So, my advice to leaders is simple: stop chasing hype and start embedding AI into your everyday workflows. When it becomes part of how your organisation thinks and operates, that's when the real productivity gains and competitive advantages emerge,” said Matt Cloke, Chief Technology Officer at Endava.

As the world recognises AI Appreciation Day on 16 July, now is the opportunity to reflect on how the technology has continued to reshape society and industries and holds the potential to transform security, safety and business performance.“Almost every day, the latest innovation or breakthrough signals the commitment that industry leaders have to realise AI's full potential, propelled by interest from consumers and companies alike. According to Axis' 'The state of AI in video surveillance' report published earlier this year, AI deployment has surged over the past two years thanks to increased customer demand, improved application knowledge and new use cases. Additionally, 34% of end customers view AI and generative AI (GenAI) as trends that will significantly shape the near future of their businesses. Tied directly to discussions surrounding ethics and responsible usage, Axis' guiding principle towards AI remains the same: it is a technology, like any other, that can leverage and augment human intelligence. As it transforms every function of the modern enterprise, AI can and will contribute to a smarter, more secure and more sustainable future for all,” said Assim Khedr, Engineering & Training Manager - Middle East at Axis Communications.

Everyone is chasing a GenAI moment, but the real win lies in sharp use cases and solid execution.“The future is not about automating workflows to look innovative. It is about automating decisions that drive real impact. And here's the shift – agents are not supposed to get it right the first time. Like humans, they learn by doing. This is a paradigm shift that demands experimentation over perfection. We are entering the Growth Mindset era for agents, where iteration beats accuracy and speed beats polish. The edge will belong to those who build fast, learn faster, and aren't afraid to break their own models in pursuit of something smarter,” said Inna Weiner, AVP Product at AppsFlyer.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming every facet of modern life - from how we secure data to how we enable critical decision-making in real time. On World AI Appreciation Day, it's important to both celebrate AI's achievements and acknowledge our responsibility in guiding its future.“At Acronis, our mission to safeguard critical data and systems is further progressed by leveraging AI. Acronis customers and partners capitalize on the power of AI with AI-guided analysis, AI-based incident prioritization, and the emerging capabilities of agentic AI - empowering autonomous systems to take context-aware, goal-driven actions that enhance cyber resilience. These tools give teams the ability to stop threats faster and stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape. But as with any powerful technology, AI also comes with ethical and security considerations. We must ensure its use remains transparent, fair, and aligned with our values. Cybersecurity leaders have a unique role to play in setting those guardrails - balancing innovation with responsibility,” said Ziad Nasr, General Manager – Acronis Middle East.

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