Future AI Factories Reshape Global Competitiveness at AIDC 2025
Industry leaders and technology experts emphasized that the integration of advanced infrastructure with human capabilities will define the next era of global competitiveness, during the high-profile session «Future AI Factories» held at AIDC 2025 as part of the 29th edition of Cairo ICT.
Moderated by Sherif Fouad, Chief Technology Officer at the Arab African International Bank, the session explored the accelerating transformation of artificial intelligence and the infrastructure required to support large-scale industrial applications. Fouad stressed that building the right digital foundations has become a prerequisite for economies seeking to fully harness the AI-driven industrial revolution.
The session gathered senior specialists and executives from leading international and regional technology companies who addressed core challenges around energy consumption, smart storage, cooling efficiency and digital skills, alongside the emerging model of AI-powered factories capable of reshaping global industries. Speakers unanimously agreed that access to advanced technology alone is no longer sufficient; instead, the synergy between infrastructure, talent and operational systems is the decisive factor for unlocking the full value of AI, particularly amid intensifying global competition over computing power.
Energy Pressures and the Rise of Intelligent Storage
Ali Hassib, Regional Director at Pure Storage, highlighted the mounting energy and processing demands imposed by large-scale AI projects. He underscored the need for more intelligent, sustainable storage solutions capable of managing the exponential growth in data volumes. Cooling performance and efficient power management, he noted, are becoming mission-critical for any advanced AI ecosystem.
Hassib explained that Pure Storage has developed a new generation of flash technologies tailored for AI environments, delivering high processing performance with lower energy consumption. This provides enterprises with the flexibility required to support deep learning workloads and large-scale model training. Storage, he said, is no longer a technical add-on but a central component of AI factory architectures that rely on fast, secure data flow.
He added that gaps in technical skills and infrastructure readiness remain key barriers facing countries seeking wider AI adoption, especially given the vast energy and cooling requirements of next-generation computing. The coming years, he predicted, will see surging demand for smart storage technologies as organizations race to meet the data and compute needs of advanced AI systems.
Accelerating the AI Adoption Curve
Engy Abbas, Head of Business Development for North Africa and the Levant at Intel, outlined the company’s strategy for supporting rapid AI adoption across industries. She noted that AI technologies are becoming indispensable across both production and service sectors, prompting Intel to invest in next-generation processors and computing architectures that enable efficient, scalable AI solutions.
Abbas emphasized that moving toward AI-enabled factories requires a fully integrated digital environment encompassing infrastructure, data and specialized skills. Data readiness, she explained, is one of the most significant challenges facing enterprises, underscoring the need for robust platforms that ensure high-quality, well-prepared datasets to enhance model accuracy.
She added that generative AI is expected to see widespread integration into industrial operations in the coming phase, driving heightened demand for massive computing power and ultra-fast storage to support deep learning models. Establishing the right infrastructure, Abbas noted, is a fundamental requirement for building globally competitive AI factories, and cross-sector partnerships will be key to developing practical, deployable solutions. Investments in digital infrastructure, she asserted, will become a principal indicator of economic strength in the coming decade.
Storage-Processing Convergence Defines the Next Era
Ayman Al-Merazqi, Regional Pre-Sales Director at Dell Technologies, said the world is advancing toward an era where AI factories function as vast hubs of high-performance computing powered by immense energy and storage resources. Companies, he added, are seeking scalable, flexible solutions to meet the skyrocketing demand for processing, particularly for large-scale AI models.
Al-Merazqi explained that building AI factories requires seamless integration between infrastructure, data and end-to-end services. Dell Technologies is working to deliver comprehensive solutions that help organizations prepare and connect their data efficiently with AI platforms. Institutions that structure their data correctly, he stressed, will achieve faster, higher-quality AI results.
He further noted that Dell Technologies is enabling enterprises to construct data pipelines capable of transferring massive datasets efficiently, while providing advanced storage systems that integrate graphics processing units directly into operational environments. This convergence, he said, will amplify computing performance and enhance outcomes for AI-driven projects. The future of AI factories, he concluded, will depend on complete harmony between storage and processing, supported by continuous investment in smart infrastructure and talent development.
Accurate Data as the Cornerstone of AI Success
Ahmed Samir, Director of Data and AI at I-Score, discussed the essential role of advanced infrastructure in enabling wide-scale AI deployment. He emphasized the rising importance of clean, accurate and ready-to-use data, noting that I-Score is developing technologies for efficient big-data processing and secure machine learning environments.
Samir highlighted Egypt’s strong potential to benefit from AI applications in financial and banking sectors, enabled by the abundance of high-value datasets. Investing in advanced analytics, he said, will significantly enhance decision-making capabilities within enterprises. The future of AI ecosystems, Samir added, will depend on an organization’s ability to build infrastructure capable of managing massive datasets while leveraging growing storage and computing capacities for increasingly complex AI models.
He stressed that delivering effective AI solutions requires combining technology with deep understanding of market needs and customer behavior. Building AI factories in Egypt, he noted, will require strong infrastructure, sustained investment and highly skilled talent capable of driving digital transformation.
Cairo ICT 2025, held from November 16 to 19 at Egypt International Exhibition Center, is organized under the patronage of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat under the theme «AI Everywhere». The 29th edition brings together more than 500 exhibitors and features five major events: PAFIX for digital payments, AIDC for AI and data centers, Connecta for youth and digital entertainment, Innovation Arena, and Cyber Zone. The event is hosted across two locations for the first time.
Key participants include the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Central Bank of Egypt, the Financial Regulatory Authority, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), ITIDA, Egypt Post, the Arab Organization for Industrialization, and Future of Egypt Authority (Guest of Honor).
This year’s sponsors include: Dell Technologies, e-Finance, WB Engineers+Consultants, CIB, Huawei, Orange Egypt, EgyptAir, Egypt Trust, Mastercard, Midar, Fortinet, Salesforce, BENYA Group, Khazna, National Bank of Egypt, Arab African International Bank, Bank of Alexandria, Shaker Group, ICT Misr, IoT Misr, Network International and Meinhardt.