MUSCAT : The panel featured Saud Al Zakwani, VP of Information Digital Solution & Continuous Improvement at OQEP; Aankush Bhatia, Founder and CEO of Kitchenomiks; and Tariq Al Barwani, Founder of Knowledge Oman. The discussion was moderated by Tomy Bosco, Partner and Business Area Director at Nortal.

The session explored the readiness of Oman’s educational curriculum for AI incorporation. Tariq Al Barwani highlighted the widespread adoption of AI across sectors, noting, “Almost everyone is using AI – most institutions have programmes on big data in one way or another. The only concern is that they are missing real-world, hands-on training. We need closer collaboration between academia and industry leaders.”

On the impact of AI on employment, panellists emphasised augmentation rather than replacement. “AI will replace tasks, but not people. It will not eliminate jobs but will help create them,” said Al Barwani. He added that AI lacks emotions and context, and “should complement what you do, not conflict with your interests.”

Saud Al Zakwani highlighted OQEP’s approach to AI adoption in the energy sector, highlighting upskilling across three tiers: domain experts, citizen developers, and digital literacy. He stressed that responsible AI is crucial, noting, “We still value human decision-making. Sometimes we are not accurate, but it is far better to introduce AI, as it augments the process. Responsibility also involves action – it is not just about using ChatGPT for emails.”

Aankush Bhatia shared insights from the food-tech sector, explaining how AI is transforming Kitchenomiks’ operations. “We use technology to understand customer behavior, manage our supply chain, and even track dietary requirements,” he said. He stressed that while automation aids efficiency, “robots cannot replace the love of food. Every dish has to be processed in a certain way and remain consistent—the soul of the food will never die.”

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