People keep asking why a founder who is short on time would hand over a whole day for a conference. Fair enough. Most of the time my answer is no. But now and then a room shows up that is worth it, and this one is.
The invite to speak on the 22nd of October came in, and I did not really debate it. I would have gone anyway, mic or no mic.
A bit about where I am coming from
Some context first. I run Logic Works Information Technology LLC. My days look like most founders' days, which means a bit messy and full of people who expect things to just work.
That changes how you think about AI. I have almost no patience left for ideas that only shine on a slide. Show me something that holds up against a real deadline and a client who is not in a good mood, and then we can talk.
What I am actually bringing to the stage
I am not showing up to read you a neat prediction about 2030. Plenty of people do that, and most are guessing. Hell, you already have my book World in 2050 for that.
What I would rather share is the stuff I learned the hard way:
- Where AI has actually paid off for us
- The mistakes that cost me real money
- One or two things I would beg you not to repeat
Being honest about building here
Let me just say it. Setting up a tech company in this region was one of the smartest things I ever did.
The UAE moves. It does not make you say sorry for being ambitious. I once pitched an idea that half the room thought was too early, and within a year or so the same people were asking how to get in. That pace does something to you.
I watched this place grow, had a small hand in it, and that is what I want to pass along.
The part nobody puts on the agenda
Some advice from someone who has sat through plenty of these. Do not glue yourself to the main stage all day. You will miss the best bit.
The real value hides in the gaps. A few of my most important partnerships started with a rushed coffee and half a sentence. A corridor chat can quietly turn into a hire, or a deal, or a friend you still call years later.
So if you see me between sessions, come say something. That is usually where the good stuff starts anyway.
What I hope stays with you
I do not judge a talk by the applause. Anyone can clap. I judge it by what someone does the next morning.
My hope is simple. I want you leaving with at least one idea you can use straight away, and maybe a fresh angle on some problem you had nearly given up on. Manage that, and I will call the day a win.
A quick word on where this is heading
AI is not some far-off chapter we are all waiting on. It landed. It is already changing how we work, and the people who really get it are going to pull ahead of the ones who keep stalling.
I would rather you be in the first group. That, more than anything, is why I said yes.
See you in Dubai 22nd of October
So take this as a proper invitation. Bring real questions and a little nerve, and you will not leave empty-handed.
The date is the 22nd of October. The city is ready, the lineup is strong, and I am looking forward to it. The only thing left to sort out is whether you will be in that room with the rest of us who take this seriously. I hope you are.
