'Zain' Strengthens Dialogue on AI Governance and Cybersecurity

Zain Kuwait announced that it is the strategic partner for the fourth edition of the 2026 Gulf Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Forum, hosted by the American International University in Kuwait (AIU), with the participation of a select group of decision-makers, government, academic, and technological leaders, experts, and specialists from Kuwait and the region.

Zain’s participation is an extension of its role in supporting platforms that bring together the private sector, academic institutions, and decision-makers, opening the door for the exchange of knowledge and expertise on the major transformations the technology sector is witnessing, particularly given the rapid acceleration in AI applications and the associated challenges related to governance, cybersecurity, privacy, ethics, and the responsible use of technology.

The forum featured a comprehensive two-day program focused on the future of AI and cybersecurity, including policies, large language models (LLMs), agentic AI, digital transformation, and governance. The first day brought together executive and government leaders for strategic dialogues, while the second day, held on the university campus, focused on the next generation of technical talent through workshops, panel discussions, and practical demonstrations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Al-Khesheti stated, “Zain’s strategic partnership with this forum comes at a time when AI is evolving rapidly, reshaping the way we work, innovate, and create value for society.”

He added, “At Zain, we believe in the importance of public-private-academic partnerships, particularly because dealing with emerging technologies cannot be done in isolation. The private sector offers practical expertise and real-world application, while the academic sector provides research, knowledge, and young talent that will help shape the future.”

Al-Khesheti continued, “Zain was among the first companies in Kuwait to implement the responsible use of AI across several of its business units, including solutions based on large language models (LLMs). Importantly, these capabilities are developed and managed internally by our national talent and operated within Zain’s internal infrastructure, ensuring data sovereignty and enhancing security and privacy.”

He emphasized that innovation and cybersecurity must advance together, noting that Zain continues to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities, foster a strong corporate cybersecurity culture, and invest in the next generation by empowering youth with digital skills and AI and cybersecurity competencies that will be essential for the future of Kuwait’s digital economy.

Al-Khesheti concluded, “The real opportunity lies not only in adopting AI at a faster pace, but in adopting it responsibly and securely, in a way that creates sustainable value for all.”

On the sidelines of the forum, Zain participated in several panel discussions, including a session titled “AI Policies and Governance: Shaping Responsible Adoption,” in which Hessa Al-Amiri, Head of Cloud Systems and Database Team at Zain Kuwait, took part. The session discussed practical approaches that governments, institutions, and companies can use to build effective frameworks for the responsible adoption and governance of AI.

The discussion focused on how to balance supporting innovation with implementing appropriate controls, alongside issues of accountability, transparency, trust, privacy, security, risk management, and the responsible use of technology, while highlighting the specificities and requirements of the regional context.

Zain also participated on the second day of the forum in a panel discussion titled “From Education to Innovation: Preparing the Next Generation for a Digital Future,” featuring Hamoud Al-Khamis, Director of Cloud Network Management at Zain Kuwait. The session addressed the importance of developing digital skills among youth and enhancing the integration between academic education and practical application, thereby helping students keep pace with emerging technologies and evolving labor market demands.

The session also highlighted the role of partnerships between the academic and private sectors in transforming knowledge into practical experience and preparing young talent to actively participate in the innovation ecosystem and the digital economy.

The forum discussed several issues dominating today’s technological landscape, including the future of AI-related policies, governance and ethics, large language models, agent-based AI, digital transformation, and the growing relationship between the advancement of AI technologies and cybersecurity requirements. The program included specialized sessions and workshops, with participation from regional and international experts, aiming to shift the dialogue on these technologies from forecasting opportunities and challenges to actionable practices and recommendations.

This partnership aligns with Zain’s ongoing efforts to support Kuwait’s innovation ecosystem, strengthen collaboration between the private sector and academic institutions, and contribute to developing national skills in advanced technological fields, thereby supporting the construction of a more secure, innovative digital economy capable of leveraging the opportunities offered by future technologies.