GenAI@Work: The Transformation Is Happening

AI TECH TALK at INSEAD Middle East Campus | GenAI@Work: The Transformation Is Happening

AI isn’t just changing how we work; it’s becoming a part of it. That was the central theme of the AI TECH TALK, moderated by Anton Ovchinnikov, Associate Professor of Decision Sciences.

Joined by Maria Sanchez, Senior Vice President of AI Delivery at Inception (a G42 company), Sami Mahroum, Director for Government and Public Institutions at Oliver Wyman, and Aidan Millar, Head of AI Enablement at Mubadala, the discussion explored how leading organisations are moving beyond experimentation to embed GenAI within their core operations.

From pilot to policy: embedding AI in the business core
Across industries, the message was clear: AI is no longer an add-on. It’s rewiring how decisions are made, and how teams and workflows are designed.
At Mubadala, nearly 99 % of the organisation’s data is unstructured - millions of reports, memos and models that once lived beyond human reach. With GenAI, that knowledge can be connected, interpreted and applied to high-stakes investment decisions. This is truly transformative. 
The $230 billion sovereign fund is also developing digital twins of experts - AI counterparts of a lawyer, tax specialist and CFO - to challenge assumptions and enrich judgment at the Investment Committee level. The aim is not to replace expertise, but to augment decision-making with scale and speed.

Turning research into scalable solutions
At Inception, progress in AI is defined by translation, turning cutting-edge research into solutions that work at scale.
One example is Nomad, a product where models debate one another: one generates hypotheses, the other challenges them. Applied recently to over 100,000 corporate contracts across G42, this approach surfaced hidden risks and exposures, demonstrating how AI can uncover insights that humans might overlook.
As Maria Sanchez explained, “True progress in AI lies in turning research into something real, useful and scalable.” 

Consulting at a crossroads
In the consulting world, Sami Mahroum described a similar inflection point..
At Oliver Wyman, clients who once hired large consulting teams are now asking for custom-built AI agents.
He foresees a shift from from projects to products, with teams composed not only of partners and managers but also product managers, developers and prompt engineers. This evolution, he noted, will redefine advisory work: from delivering reports to building living, intelligent systems that keep learning over time.

The human edge in an AI-driven world
For the panelists, one conclusion stood out: as AI takes on more of the execution, the human edge lies in critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability - the ability to question, connect, and reinvent. 
As Aidan Millar reminded the audience in his closing words: “You must, must, must not be lazy.”
A timely reminder that while AI can think fast, it’s still up to us to think deep.

This event was part of the AI TECH TALK Series - a space for real conversations about AI’s impact on business and society. Hosted at INSEAD Middle East Campus and featuring industry experts and INSEAD faculty, these exclusive events deliver meaningful dialogue, valuable connections and practical insights. It also served as a live class for MBA students enrolled in the new elective GenAI @ Work. This course invites students to imagine and reflect on how their future roles - in finance, consulting, or technology - might evolve in an AI-powered world.

How to get to INSEAD Middle East Campus?

Please click here to get directions to the INSEAD Middle East Campus.
Al Khatem Tower, 30th floor
ADGM Square, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Parking

Park at the Galleria Mall West Car Park - Levels P2, P3 or P4.
Take the lift and exit at P4.
The Al Khatem Tower will be directly in front of you on the left. 

Campus access

Please carry a valid ID, as it may be required at the main reception to access the lifts.

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