AI and automation are no longer just about speed or efficiency.   They are about earning the trust to move faster, smarter, and more responsibly. In a recent panel I had the opportunity to moderate a discussion on “Intelligent Transformation: How AI and Automation Are Powering the Next Wave of Business Agility,”where we explored how leaders can balance innovation with governance, scale with ethics, and ambition with accountability, because the real measure of agility today is not how quickly you move, but how sustainably you grow.

What Intelligent Transformation Really Means

It was a privilege to moderate this conversation hosted by AiCoreSpot, with two exceptional panelists – Ajay Pundhir, Director of AI at Presight and Founder of AI Exponent, and Mohammad Iqtadar, Chief Compliance Officer at Ajman Bank.

What made this discussion stand out was how it went beyond the “what” of AI tools and automation platforms, and focused on the “how” – how businesses can stay truly agile by combining technology, governance, and human judgment to build trust, resilience, and continuous innovation.

Agility Isn’t Just About Speed Anymore

For years, agility was defined by how fast an organization could move, effectively how quickly it could pivot, launch, or scale. But as one of the panelists rightly said, “real agility means moving at the speed of trust.”

Ajay introduced a powerful idea, the Minimum Viable Governance (MVG) framework,  as a way to balance innovation with accountability. He drew an important distinction between technical debt and ethical debt: you can fix bad code later, but you can’t repair broken trust.

That thought stayed with me. Governance isn’t a speed breaker; it’s the foundation for sustainable growth. When organizations embed governance early – defining principles, data boundaries, and ethical guardrails – they don’t slow down innovation; they enable it.

Afterall, the ROI of responsible AI isn’t measured in quick wins, but in credibility, resilience, and long-term business value.

How Intelligent Automation Is Changing Risk and Compliance

Mohammad brought a compelling view from the banking world on how AI and automation are transforming the very core of risk management.

He explained how intelligent automation is strengthening the “three lines of defence”: risk management, compliance, and internal audit. With AI-driven anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and continuous monitoring, banks are identifying risks faster and ensuring proactive compliance.

But what stood out was his emphasis on ‘human oversight’. Machines can flag anomalies; but it takes human judgment to interpret, investigate, and decide.

He described it as a hybrid model: automation managing scale, humans managing exceptions. That balance between adaptability and accountability defines true agility in an AI-driven world.

When Everyone Has AI – Where Does Differentiation Come From?

A question I often hear from leaders: If everyone has access to the same AI models, where’s the competitive edge?

Ajay’s answer was simple yet profound: context and trust.

AI models may be global, but business problems are always local and specific. The real differentiation lies in how companies adapt AI to their context, their data, customers, and ethics.

In a world where technology is commoditized, trust becomes the ultimate differentiator.
It’s not about what tools you use; it’s about how responsibly you use them.

The UAE’s Approach: Policy as an Enabler of Agility

We also explored how the UAE has become a model for intelligent transformation through its National AI Strategy 2031and UAE AI Charter.

Ajay highlighted how these frameworks promote responsible innovation through clear, actionable principles — a rare balance of governance and agility. It’s a reminder that regulation doesn’t have to restrict innovation; it can accelerate it when done right.

For organizations operating in the GCC, this policy clarity is enabling faster go-to-market strategies, global competitiveness, and most importantly, trust at scale.

Responsible AI Is Now a Talent Strategy

One statistic from our discussion still stands out: “78% of AI engineers prefer working for ethically responsible companies”.

That says everything about the new generation of talent. They’re not just looking for compensation; they’re looking for purpose.

Organizations that make their ethics visible, embed responsible AI into their design practices, and create open conversations around fairness and transparency are the ones attracting and retaining top talent.

Ethics is no longer just a compliance checkbox – it’s a brand differentiator and a talent magnet.

How to Break the “Pilot Trap”

Almost every enterprise today has an AI pilot somewhere. But only a few move beyond the experimentation phase.

Ajay captured it perfectly: “Technology is 20% of the equation; governance is 30%; mindset is 50%.”

Success starts with the right mindset: defining purpose, aligning stakeholders, and designing for scale from day one.

Mohammad added a practical banker’s lens: “If you don’t plan for integration and ROI from the start, your project will stall.”
Transformation isn’t about flashy pilots; it’s about connecting people, processes, and technology – all under a trusted, governed framework.

Choosing the Right AI Tool for Your Business

An audience question summed up what many leaders wonder: How do you choose the right AI tool when everyone, from GPT to Gemini, offer similar capabilities?

Mohammad’s advice was clear: “Start with your business need, not the product’s demo.”

The right AI tool isn’t the one with the most features; it’s the one that fits your context, integrates with your data ecosystem, and can be governed sustainably. Alignment always beats attraction.

The Future of Intelligent Transformation: Moving at the Speed of Trust

As the session wrapped up, I asked both panelists to describe intelligent transformation in a single word.

Ajay called it “Trust Velocity” – the speed at which organizations can innovate responsibly.
Mohammad chose “Digitization” – reflecting how deeply AI and automation are embedded into business.
For me, it’s “Convergence” – where people, process, and purpose meet.

AI and automation aren’t just changing how we work; they’re reshaping how we think, decide, and lead.

The next wave of business agility won’t be about moving faster.
It will be about moving smarter, and always, at the speed of trust.

▶️ Watch the full discussion here: Intelligent Transformation: How AI and Automation Are Powering the Next Wave of Business Agility