KUWAIT: In the backdrop of an increasing growth in the use of artificial intelligence, effective understanding and employment of this technology has become imperative for financial institutions that aim to maintain their leadership. To this end, the Learning and Development Department at the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) launched a series of advanced training masterclasses as part of the AI Leadership Program on the capabilities of artificial intelligence, titled “Preparing for the Future”. The aim of this series of intensive masterclasses is to introduce upper executive management to the latest developments and technologies in the field of artificial intelligence.

NBK is aware that AI is not merely a technological tool, but a key engine that can reshape and transform the banking sector. Therefore, these masterclasses strive to enable NBK employees to explore and apply the endless capabilities of AI by analyzing large data to identify new growth opportunities, enhance client attraction, and develop innovative services and products. Moreover, AI technologies can also contribute to enhancing operational efficiency by automating routine functions, enhancing risk management, and supporting quick decision making.

The workshops was presented by Warren Knight, a digital leader and AI transformation expert who worked alongside large regional and global institutions in the field of current and future AI strategies.

Knight holds wide experience in helping institutions execute innovative technological strategies and enhance performance using AI, and he has in-depth knowledge about the effect of technology on business and how to effectively integrate digital solutions in business development strategies.

Emad Al-Ablani

Commenting on this occasion, Emad Al-Ablani, Group Chief Human Resources Officer said: “We believe that human capital investment is a pillar to achieve sustainable growth and ensure the bank’s excellence and leadership. This is why we are committed to constantly providing innovative training programs that take into consideration the changing market dynamics and strive to keep up with the latest technological updates to build a resilient workforce capable of shaping the future.”

He added: “We continue to provide carefully designed development programs to enhance the integration of technology in the work environment, as we are committed to our strategy that aim to support continued learning and support human-led innovation across the group’s sectors and departments.”

Al-Ablani said that NBK’s learning and development strategy is “inclusive and is aligned with the highest international standards to enable employees to deal efficiently with future challenges amid an accelerating pace of technology, which should consequently help NBK achieve its long-term objectives.”

Finally, Al-Ablani emphasized that understanding the changes in the field of digital transformation and AI developments and their influence on the banking sector directly impacts the strategies and plans of financial institutions to keep up with the latest updates and achieve sustainable growth.

It should be noted that NBK maintains its leadership in the financial sector in Kuwait and the region by embracing a responsible digital transformation path. These initiatives reflect the bank’s unwavering commitment to empowering human talent, accelerating the pace of innovation, and setting new standards for AI-driven transformation in the banking sector, creating long-term value for customers and shareholders.

KUWAIT: Rehab Bouresly, Chair of the Kuwait Association for Families of Persons with Disabilities and member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, praised the State of Kuwait for its pioneering and humane approach in caring for and rehabilitating persons with disabilities. She highlighted Kuwait’s efforts to raise community and individual awareness, defend the rights of persons with disabilities and integrate them fully into society.

This commitment was reflected in the statement by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Bannai, during the celebration of the second anniversary of the International Day of Awareness at the UN headquarters. Ambassador Al-Bannai announced that Kuwait is working to draft a convention that enshrines, in international law, the principles of dignity, protection and equality in access to diagnosis, care and treatment for people with rare diseases.

Bouresly emphasized that this honorable and forward-looking initiative, aimed at developing a global legislative framework to support people with rare diseases, reinforces Kuwait’s leadership role. She noted the state’s comprehensive efforts, involving both government and private institutions and its regional and global influence in advancing the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. This initiative also reflects society’s positive outlook, unified vision and dedication to improving the quality of life for this segment of the population.

According to Bouresly, Kuwait’s initiative is a manifestation of its dedication to the development of health, social, cultural and sports services, enhancing psychological and social stability, securing needs and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. The strategy aims to create an environment that allows persons with disabilities to integrate fully into society as essential contributors to national development, in line with the United Nations’ 2015 Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of “New Kuwait 2035,” which seeks to provide a decent life for all citizens and residents, regardless of age, gender, or disability.

Bouresly also praised international efforts to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness. Affecting approximately one in every 3,500 to 5,000 births, it is most common among boys, usually between the ages of 3 and 5. Early symptoms include delayed walking, difficulty climbing stairs and frequent falls, while advanced stages can result in loss of walking ability (typically between ages 12 and 14) and weakness of the heart and respiratory muscles.

Although science has not yet found a cure, the global medical community continues to intensify efforts to treat the disease and manage its effects through medications, natural and rehabilitative therapies, heart and respiratory monitoring, as well as psychological and social support.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s healthcare system is exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape medical care, with the Ministry of Health taking steps to integrate the technology into diagnostics, treatment, and research. While AI is still largely in pilot or research stages, officials and experts say it has the potential to improve the speed and accuracy of disease detection, support clinical care, advance medical research, and enhance administrative efficiency.

At Jaber Hospital, AI is being trialed in surgeries, endoscopy, blood-flow imaging using ICG technology, and robotic procedures in specialties such as general surgery, urology, and obstetrics and gynecology. The ministry also recently hosted a Gulf workshop titled “Innovation and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”, focusing on exploring future applications of AI and strengthening regional collaboration.

AI is also being considered for patient-facing applications, including answering medical queries, explaining test results, guiding treatment decisions, and helping patients choose the right specialty. Experts say these tools could eventually support predictive, personalized, precise, and participatory care, improving patient outcomes and efficiency.

Ohoud Al-Enezi

Dr Anwar Mohammed

AI to predict disease

Dr Anwar Mohammed, a researcher at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, told KUNA that AI has become “a pivotal tool in developing medical and research sciences” and has enabled advances in predicting protein structures and their interactions with DNA and RNA using technologies such as AlphaFold.

“AI helps accelerate drug discovery by identifying precise therapeutic targets and understanding disease mechanisms at the molecular level,” he said. He also highlighted that AI reduces time and effort in genomics research by analyzing large biological datasets more accurately than traditional methods and aids in mapping gene interactions to understand chronic diseases such as diabetes.

He noted AI’s role in early detection by identifying precise biomarkers at the genetic or protein level, which can be measured in blood to predict diseases such as type 2 diabetes before symptoms appear. Mohammed explained that adapting protein structure prediction to patient samples could link molecular changes to clinical outcomes, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and enabling personalized care.

But the use of AI doesn’t come without challenges, said Mohammed. “The challenges include the need for high-quality, diverse data, the difficulty of interpreting complex models and linking them to clinical practice, as well as ethical considerations and protecting patient privacy.” He expects AI to have the greatest potential in specific medical fields, including endocrinology, metabolic diseases, especially diabetes, genetic medicine, and personalized medicine based on gene-centered treatments, as well as cancer.

Training is necessary

Dentistry is another field exploring AI’s potential. Dr Abdullah Marafi of the Ministry of Health described AI as a “clinical co-pilot” that could support doctors across treatment stages. He explained that AI can detect cavities, measure jawbone levels, and assist in planning procedures such as implants and orthodontics with high accuracy.

He also noted that challenges in applying AI in dentistry include cost and the need for specialized training programs. “The future depends on enhancing the role of doctors by freeing them from routine tasks so they can focus on critical thinking and human interaction with patients,” he said. “It also requires updating academic curricula to prepare dentists skilled in AI technologies.”

Nuclear medicine is another area seeing AI potential. Ohoud Al-Enezi, president of the Kuwait Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists, told KUNA that AI could revolutionize nuclear medicine by improving PET and SPECT imaging, supporting theranostics—which combines diagnosis and treatment—and accelerating accurate diagnoses of diseases such as cancer. She highlighted that FDA-approved AI devices in nuclear medicine increased from six in 2015 to 221 in 2023, and that AI can reduce radiation exposure by up to 50 percent while improving image quality and efficiency. — KUNA