2024 COMMENTS & CONTRIBUTIONS | Introduction

Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the Gulf region, with over 400 separate entities operating across the Middle East, Europe and the Americas in real estate, agriculture, healthcare, energy, food & beverage, IT & communications, retail & leisure, and capital. “The Board is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective system of internal control,” IHC’s 2023 annual report reads, “and has established a control framework within which the Group operates.”1 The report offers the reassuring portrait of a reliable modern enterprise, with all of the standard processes, systems, and controls to ensure effective risk governance – plus one unique feature: in February this year, the IHC board announced it had appointed a new non-voting member, “Aiden Insight,” an artificial intelligence.“Aiden will provide us with unparalleled data analysis and strategic insights, ensuring that IHC remains at the forefront of industry developments and continues to deliver value to our stakeholders,” company Chairman Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan said. “Our decision to appoint Aiden Insight as an AI board observer is a testament to IHC's commitment to innovation and forward-thinking leadership.”2

Powered by Microsoft and the Emirati AI powerhouse G42, Aiden is described as “a virtual entity with sophisticated AI capabilities.” Serving as a board observer “with the ability to continuously process and instantly analyse decades of business data, financial information, market trends, and global economic indicators,” Aiden promises to help IHC “focus on transparency, innovation, and ethical business practices.”