Zand’s AI-Powered Digital-First Approach to Banking

In this episode, John Dee (Somerford) and James Astley (Somerford) are both joined by Husain Al Khalsan (Zand Bank), where they delve into the evolving cybersecurity landscape in the UAE, spotlighting the challenges of reactive mindsets, the importance of resilience, and the need for board-level understanding of risk. Despite the country's progressive national cybersecurity strategies, breaches still occur - largely due to organisations prioritising action only after incidents happen. The conversation highlights the crucial role of CISOs in bridging the gap between technical realities and business understanding, stressing the importance of articulating cyber risk in plain language, akin to explaining the value of insurance. With the rapid pace of digital development in the region, especially in cities like Dubai, staying ahead of threats while maintaining business agility remains a complex balancing act.

Looking ahead, the panel reflect on the disruptive potential of Generative AI - both as a transformative business enabler and a new threat vector. They explore the provocative idea of whether AI might one day replace roles such as the CISO, drawing parallels with AI-assisted surgery or autonomous flight. While AI has the capacity to fill certain skill gaps and increase resilience, the consensus is that human oversight, contextual understanding, and cultural adaptability remain irreplaceable, for now.