Will ChatGPT and AI have an impact on Saudi workforce productivity?

Raymond Khoury believes that ChatGPT and AI can provide tailor-made training programs for employees, access to customized online courses, and foster collaboration and communication amongst team members. (LEAP)
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Updated 05 March 2023
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Will ChatGPT and AI have an impact on Saudi workforce productivity?

  • Raymond Khoury, senior partner at Arthur D. Little, shares insights on the beneficial impact of AI technologies

CAIRO: ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence platforms have created a wave of change in the global workforce that could turn out to be a useful tool for Saudi Arabia’s personnel to boost economic development.

AI has raised concerns about replacing manpower with robots and software but as seen with ChatGPT’s massive popularity, embracing innovation can also serve as an opportunity to boost productivity.

Alleviating employees’ fear

According to a survey by Kaspersky, 48 percent of employees in the Kingdom fear losing their jobs to AI. However, in an exclusive interview with Arab News, Raymond Khoury, senior partner at Arthur D. Little, has alleviated these fear by sharing some insights on the beneficial impact of AI and ChatGPT.

“Nurturing the right talent with a strong AI culture is the human dimension that needs to be availed for successfully imbedding AI into operations,” he said.

“With the true value of AI realized through individual or collective team innovation, experimentation, learning and collaboration, organizations need to promote and maintain such an AI culture.”

Khoury went on to explain that the implementation of AI technologies and the use of robots would certainly require human labor that can positively impact Saudi Arabia’s workforce. 

“Looking at career-related skills from a talent management perspective, AI, specifically ChatGPT, can positively impact recruitment and hiring, training and development, upskilling and reskilling, talent collaboration as well as knowledge management,” he said.

Khoury believes that ChatGPT and AI can provide tailor-made training programs for employees, access to customized online courses, and foster collaboration and communication amongst team members.

“ChatGPT and AI will likely affect the Kingdom’s workforce, reshaping and even emancipating it in both the short and long term,” he added. “It will help the workforce to become more productive within the respective organization with increased efficiency as more mundane and repetitive tasks get automated, leaving workers with more time to focus on strategic activities.”

Kaspersky’s survey supports Khoury’s point as 50 percent of employees believe AI increases productivity and 51 percent believe that incorporating robots will open opportunities for employees to retain better positions.

Khoury explained that AI will impact the Kingdom’s public sector as well as healthcare, transportation, energy, utilities, finance and retail.

“For the government, AI will allow for more efficient internal operations and more seamless external constituent service delivery,” he said.

Looking at career-related skills from a talent management perspective, AI, specifically ChatGPT, can positively impact recruitment and hiring, training and development, upskilling and reskilling, talent collaboration as well as knowledge management.

Raymond Khoury, Senior partner at Arthur D. Little

He added that AI can greatly transform healthcare by personalizing treatment for chronic diseases and predetermining outcomes as well as enhance diagnosis which is already implemented in some countries.

“For transportation, AI can be used to optimize road or shipping routes to ensure timely commutes or logistics delivery. Traffic patterns can be used to enable intelligent traffic signals operations, ensuring traffic flows in the least disruptive manner,” Khoury explained.

With regard to the energy sector, innovative technologies can pinpoint various oil and gas exploration activities using certain algorithms to produce a better level of accuracy while in finance, AI can be used to detect fraud on a large scale.

“And for retail, AI can create new opportunities for growth and innovation, particularly in customer segmentation and targeted marketing campaigns. Add to this the use of sensory data and AI tools to analyze and extract marketing insights from shopping mall footfall or supporting business setup decisions at mass transit stations,” he continued.

The flip side

Khoury described the role of AI in creating a positive impact on workers by creating more productive and efficient outcomes by removing mundane and repetitive tasks from employees.

However, on the other hand, the automation of tasks might put employee stability in danger when the human factor is no longer required. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• ChatGPT and AI can provide tailor-made training programs for employees, access to customized online courses, and foster collaboration and communication amongst team members.

• Embedding AI in the operations of Saudi companies and employees will require a holistic approach that clearly defines the strategic objectives, advantages and disadvantages.

• Kaspersky’s survey supports Khoury’s point as 50 percent of employees believe AI increases productivity and 51 percent believe that incorporating robots will open opportunities for employees to retain better positions.

“On the negative side, ChatGPT will most likely replace workers who are entrusted to fulfill mundane and repetitive tedious functions which will get automated,” Khoury said.

He added: “This will push workers to acquire new skills through retraining or upskilling to become more marketable in a more and more AI-enabled digital world.”

To put things into context, Khoury said that ChatGPT recently produced a list of jobs that it will likely replace in the future.

“The above stated affects and their impact will obviously depend on the pace of technological change and the adaptability of both workers and organizations, in both the public and private sectors, to these changes as brought forward by ChatGPT and other future generative AI tools,” Khoury pointed out.

Implementation of AI

Khoury explained that embedding AI in the operations of Saudi companies and employees will require a holistic approach that clearly defines the strategic objectives, advantages and disadvantages.

“Understanding the operational bottlenecks or mundane functions within an organization and knowing how AI can address them with clear articulation of goals and implementation objectives is of paramount importance from the onset,” he said.

“With this foundational step completed, next comes the need to understand which specific AI tools or technologies can help the organization and workers achieve these strategic business objectives, and which best set of AI tools or technologies can be deployed optimally within the organization given its current and planned investments in information and communication technologies,” Khoury explained.

In addition to a strategic roadmap, fostering an optimistic environment for learning and improvement is mandatory to ensure a positive employee and client experience.

“Seemingly intricate, the embedding of AI into organizations’ operations requires solid leadership, a futuristic view, and agility in making timely changes as and when needed, and at times proactively,” Khoury concluded.


Oil Updates — prices rise on short-covering, but tariff worries linger 

Updated 5 sec ago
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Oil Updates — prices rise on short-covering, but tariff worries linger 

SINGAPORE: Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as investors took advantage of the previous day’s losses to cover short positions, although concerns persisted over economic headwinds from tariffs and US monetary policy that could dampen fuel demand, according to Reuters. 

Brent crude futures rose 42 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $66.68 a barrel at 09:20 a.m. Saudi time. The US West Texas Intermediate crude contract for May, which expires on Tuesday, was at $63.53 a barrel, up 45 cents, or 0.7 percent. 

The more actively traded WTI June contract was up 0.7 percent, or 45 cents, at $62.86 a barrel. 

Both benchmarks dropped more than 2 percent on Monday, as signs of progress in nuclear deal talks between the US and Iran helped ease supply concerns. 

“Some short-covering emerged after Monday’s sharp sell-off,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities. 

“However, concerns about a potential recession driven by the tariff war persist,” he said, predicting that WTI will likely trade in the $55–$65 range for the time being given ongoing uncertainty related to tariffs. 

On Monday, US President Donald Trump repeated his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and said the US economy could slow unless interest rates were lowered immediately. 

His comments about Powell fuelled worries about the Fed’s independence in setting monetary policy and the outlook for US assets. Major US stock indexes dropped and the dollar index slid to a three-year low on Monday. 

“The growing uncertainty surrounding US monetary policy is expected to negatively impact financial markets and the broader economy, raising fears that it could lead to a decline in crude oil demand,” Kikukawa said. 

A Reuters poll on April 17 showed investors believe the tariff policy will trigger a significant slowdown in the US economy this year and next, with the median probability of recession in the next 12 months approaching 50 percent. 

The US is the world’s biggest oil consumer. 

Progress in talks between the US and Iran, which on Saturday agreed to begin drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal, could also weigh on oil prices and reduce supply concerns as the Middle Eastern country is a major producer. 

“Our view that Iran’s oil exports face imminent downside risks due to the enforcement of US sanctions has eased given ongoing talks between US and Iran,” Vivek Dhar, an analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a note, adding that US sanctions relief was potentially on the table. 

Meanwhile, Russia’s economy ministry has cut its forecast for the average price of Brent crude in 2025 by nearly 17 percent from what it saw in its September calculations, according to documents obtained by Reuters. 

US crude oil and gasoline stockpiles were expected to have fallen last week, while distillate inventories likely rose, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday, ahead of weekly reports from the American Petroleum Institute and the Energy Information Administration. 


Pakistan reassures IMF it will stay reform course on sidelines of IMF-World Bank meetings

Updated 22 April 2025
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Pakistan reassures IMF it will stay reform course on sidelines of IMF-World Bank meetings

  • IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva acknowledges Pakistan has made ‘great progress’ in restoring macroeconomic stability despite global challenges
  • The statement came after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s meeting with Georgieva in Washington on the sidelines of IMF-World Bank spring meetings

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has reassured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that his country would stay the reform course under its $7 billion bailout program, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Tuesday, on the opening day of the IMF-World Bank spring meetings.

Aurangzeb is currently on a visit to Washington, United States to attend the 2025 spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group, where he has held a series of high-level engagements on the sidelines.

In his meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Aurangzeb thanked the IMF team for a staff-level agreement on the first review of Pakistan’s $7 billion program and a new arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

Pakistan secured the $7 billion program in Sept. last year as it moved to consolidate its economy since averting a default in 2023. Islamabad has since undertaken several reforms to reduce public debt, maintain low inflation, improve energy sector viability, and to accelerate growth.

“He reiterated the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining the reform momentum and extended an invitation from the Prime Minister of Pakistan for Ms. Georgieva to visit the country,” the Pakistani finance ministry said.
Georgieva said Pakistan had made “great progress” in restoring macroeconomic stability despite global challenges.

“We continue to work with the authorities on their reform agenda for the benefit of Pakistan’s people,” she said on X, following her meeting with the Pakistani finance minister and central bank governor.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva (left) Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Jameel Ahmad, during the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, US, on April 21, 2025. (@KGeorgieva/X)

The finance minister held a meeting with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and commended its leadership in developing a transformative Country Partnership Framework (CPF) — a decade-long strategic roadmap centered around measurable impacts and outcomes.

“He appreciated the World Bank’s ongoing assistance in crafting a comprehensive implementation strategy and action plan to operationalize the CPF while simultaneously enhancing overall efficiency,” Aurangzeb’s ministry said.

“The Minister also provided a detailed overview of Pakistan’s macroeconomic turnaround and reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring sustainable economic stability.”

Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb (fourth right) holds meeting with officials of The World Bank Group in Washington DC, US, on April 21, 2025. (Finance Ministry)

In his meetings with Deloitte and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) officials, Aurangzeb discussed cooperation in multiple areas like energy and private sector reforms and critical minerals.

“The Finance Minister met with the Deloitte delegation and apprised them of Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, the government’s sectoral development agenda, and its export-led growth priorities. Both sides explored potential collaboration in energy sector reforms, critical minerals extraction and marketing, privatization, technology, crypto policy, and the operationalization of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF),” the Pakistani finance ministry said.

“He reviewed progress on Diversified Payment Rights (DPR) and commended the IFC’s pivotal role in securing USD 2.5 billion in debt financing for the Reko Diq Copper and Gold Mine Project in Balochistan. The Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that local communities benefit from the project’s economic gains.”

Earlier in the day, the finance minister attended a luncheon hosted by the US-Pakistan Business Council at the US Chamber of Commerce, where he engaged with corporate leaders and detailed Pakistan’s economic progress and reform measures in taxation, energy, and privatization. He emphasized the importance of regional trade, market diversification, and sectoral expansion, and expressed Pakistan’s commitment to continued collaboration in the mining and minerals sector.

During his visit to Washington, Aurangzeb would also meet with finance ministers and counterpart leaders of China, the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and officials of global credit rating agencies, commercial and investment banks.


PepsiCo opens regional headquarters in Riyadh, unveils $8m R&D center

Updated 21 April 2025
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PepsiCo opens regional headquarters in Riyadh, unveils $8m R&D center

RIYADH: Global beverage giant PepsiCo has opened its new Middle East regional headquarters in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to the region.

Spanning 2,800 sq. m, the state-of-the-art facility will accommodate more than 150 employees and serve as a central hub for PepsiCo’s operations across the Middle East.

“Our new RHQ in Riyadh signals our firm and long-term commitment to this region’s future and its people – through job creation, agricultural partnerships, social impact and environmental stewardship,” said Ahmed El-Sheikh, president and general manager for Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan Foods.

The inauguration ceremony drew attendance from top PepsiCo executives, including Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta, alongside senior Saudi officials and business leaders.

As part of its regional growth strategy, PepsiCo also announced plans to launch a new research and development center in the Kingdom, with an investment of SR30 million ($7.99 million). The R&D hub will focus on innovation in product development and packaging tailored to regional preferences.

The facility will feature a culinary lab and an immersive sensory studio designed to refine products in alignment with local consumer tastes.

In addition to serving as a business and innovation center, the Riyadh headquarters will also house PepsiCo’s flagship social impact programs, including Tamakani and MENA Innovates, both aimed at empowering youth and fostering sustainable innovation.

PepsiCo has invested over SR9 billion in Saudi Arabia over the past eight years. In 2023 alone, the company allocated SR199 million to expand its Dammam manufacturing facility.

Today, PepsiCo operates across 86 locations in the Kingdom and employs nearly 9,000 people through direct operations and its franchise network.


Closing Bell: Saudi indices end day in the red

Updated 21 April 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi indices end day in the red

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s stock market closed lower on Monday, with the Tadawul All Share Index falling 77.94 points, or 0.67 percent, to end the session at 11,548.66.

Total trading turnover stood at SR3.5 billion ($953.3 million), as 45 stocks advanced while 195 declined.

The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, also closed in the red, shedding 340.41 points, or 1.17 percent, to finish at 28,637.78.

Of the listed stocks, 29 rose while 44 declined. The MSCI Tadawul Index dipped by 8.02 points, or 0.54 percent, closing at 1,466.51.

Alistithmar Capital REIT was the session’s top performer on the main index, jumping 9.92 percent to close at SR7.98.

Saudi Printing and Packaging Co. followed closely, gaining 9.86 percent to reach SR12.70. Nice One Beauty Digital Marketing Co. also saw notable gains, rising 4.78 percent to SR38.35, while Zamil Industrial Investment Co. climbed 3.92 percent to SR38.40.

On the other end of the spectrum, Dar Alarkan Real Estate Development Co. posted the steepest decline, falling 5.51 percent to SR22.30. Eastern Province Cement Co. dropped 4.48 percent to SR34.10, and Riyadh Cables Group Co. slid 4.26 percent to SR126.

National Gypsum Co. announced a 22.03 percent year-on-year increase in revenue for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, reporting SR63.32 million compared to SR51.89 million the previous year. Despite the rise in sales, the company posted a net loss of SR14.72 million, reversing a profit of SR5.13 million a year earlier.

The loss was attributed to higher sales costs and a decline in other income, including a SR10.7 million fine paid to the General Authority for Competition and the absence of land compensation income that had been recorded the prior year. Shares of National Gypsum Co. dropped 1.59 percent to settle at SR19.80.

Banque Saudi Fransi reported a 16.38 percent increase in net profit for the first quarter ending March 31, 2025, reaching SR1.34 billion compared to SR1.15 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.

The bank’s total operating income rose 13.17 percent year on year to SR2.64 billion, driven by increases in special commission income and trading income.

Net income growth was supported by an 8.1 percent rise in net special commission income, while operating expenses grew by 12.16 percent. Total comprehensive income more than doubled to SR1.92 billion, up 120.85 percent from the same period last year. The bank’s share price rose 0.92 percent to SR17.50.

Riyad Bank posted a 19.39 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2025, reaching SR2.49 billion compared to SR2.07 billion in the same period last year.

Total operating income grew 10.18 percent year on year to SR4.5 billion, while total comprehensive income increased by 23.62 percent to SR2.68 billion.

The bank attributed the rise in profitability to growth in net special commission income, trading income, exchange income, and net fee and commission income.

Operating expenses fell due to lower impairment charges for credit losses and other financial assets, though this was partially offset by higher employee and premises-related costs. Despite the strong earnings, Riyad Bank’s share price slipped 0.82 percent to SR30.15.


Davos meet founder Klaus Schwab quits as WEF chair

Updated 21 April 2025
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Davos meet founder Klaus Schwab quits as WEF chair

ZURICH: Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, whose annual gathering of business and political leaders in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos became a symbol of globalization, has resigned as chair of its trustees.

The Geneva-based WEF made the announcement on Monday after revealing earlier this month that the 87-year-old Schwab, who for decades has been the face of the Davos get-together, would be stepping down, without giving a firm timeline.

“Following my recent announcement, and as I enter my 88th year, I have decided to step down from the position of Chair and as a member of the Board of Trustees, with immediate effect,” Schwab said in a statement released by the WEF.

The forum did not say why he was quitting.

The WEF board said in the statement it had accepted Schwab’s resignation at an extraordinary meeting on April 20, with Vice Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe serving as interim chairman while the search for a new chair began.

The German-born Schwab established the WEF in 1971 with the aim of creating a forum for policymakers and top corporate executives to tackle major global issues.

The village of Davos gradually became a fixture on the international calendar in January when political leaders, CEOs and celebrities got together in discreet, neutral Switzerland to discuss the agenda for the coming year.