NEOM Chief Futurist and keynote speaker shares expectation that AI will eliminate unconscious bias in recruitment, promotion, compensation and succession planning

By: Bakinam Khaled

Women from Europe, KSA and the UAE who are leaders in their field of human resources (HR) gathered for an SAP UAE Business Women's Network exclusive event this month, driving dialogue on diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I), and the role of AI in shaping the future of HR.

The event, hosted in partnership with Advantage Consultores, Microsoft, and Connecting Women in Technology (CWIT) MENA, brought together C-level HR women executives to share best practices, drive collaboration, and explore the transformative potential of AI in building DE&I initiatives that shape more inclusive workplace cultures. Participants explored how AI could enhance HR strategies, while exchanging innovative ideas to collectively advance inclusive practices in the workplace.

Keynote speaker Dr. Kate Barker, Chief Futurist from NEOM in KSA and a global people and technology advisor, commented, “AI will revolutionise DE&I by eliminating unconscious bias in recruitment, promotions, compensation, and succession planning. It uses advanced data analytics to detect patterns of bias so organisations can make data-driven decisions to build diverse talent pools, ensuring equitable opportunities across the workforce. This fosters a workplace that is not only inclusive but also strategically aligned with long-term diversity goals, driving sustainable progress and innovation.”

Dr. Barker also participated in a panel at the event focused on breaking biases, alongside Anna Bufi Gaig from Cellnex, Sarah Tabet from Siemens Energy and Parita Labbe from Chalhoub Group, with SAP’s Hanan Abdulkarim moderating the session.

SAP UAE Managing Director Marwan Zeineddine, who also attended the event, commented, “The rapid rise of AI has been transformative to the practice of HR, and platforms like these enable thought leaders to come together, share experiences and engage in deep discussions on pivotal topics such as diversity, inclusion and the responsible use of AI in HR.”