Qatar signs AI partnership with PwC and OpenAI
Deal establishes testbed for government and startup innovation
#Qatar #GenAI- Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has signed a cooperation agreement with Middle East consulting firm PwC Middle East and OpenAI to accelerate development of an integrated national AI ecosystem. The partnership will focus on establishing an AI testbed for government entities and startups. The partnership aims to improve operational efficiency and enhance service quality across Qatar’s public and private sectors via innovative, reliable and safe AI solutions.
SO WHAT? - OpenAI and PwC aim to help the Ministry of CIT meet the challenge of moving from experimental AI deployments to scalable impact across government operations. The partnership will develop a platform of governance, responsible innovation and practical adoption enabling public agencies and startups to develop AI solutions under structured guidance.
Here are some key points from the announcement:
Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has signed a partnership agreement with PwC Middle East and OpenAI to focus on three main pillars: establishing an AI testbed, boosting public-sector productivity and designing innovative AI-driven projects.
The agreement was signed by MCIT director of digital innovation Eman Al Kuwari, PwC Middle East consulting partner Yazan Al Safi, and OpenAI head of enterprise for MENA Farouk Hamzawi.
The planned AI testbed will provide an enabling environment for government agencies and startups to deploy AI solutions. It will allow entities to develop and test AI-based projects that enhance public services, improve efficiency and support Qatar’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
PwC Middle East will provide advisory expertise to help Qatari entities explore AI opportunities and develop productivity-enhancing initiatives, whilst OpenAI will offer technical support including access to advanced AI models and participation in developing the national AI testbed.
The collaboration will promote broadened access to tools such as ChatGPT across public-sector institutions. There will be a keen focus on enabling organisations to adopt AI responsibly, improve citizen experiences and unlock knowledge-based growth across priority sectors.
ZOOM OUT - The Qatar agreement builds upon PwC Middle East’s strategic partnership with OpenAI announced in October 2024, when the consulting firm became OpenAI’s first regional partner and reseller in the Middle East. That alliance, part of PwC’s global $1 billion investment in generative AI services announced in 2023, was designed to scale AI capabilities and drive accelerated impact for organisations across the region. The Qatar collaboration is the first major government-level deployment under the PwC-OpenAI partnership framework, and one of the first national AI ecosystem developments announced by PwC.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]