The real opportunity for Saudi companies lies not in applying standalone AI tools, but in designing and managing 'smart agents' that determine how individuals, brands, and institutions interact with technology over the next decade, according to Federico Benovi, CEO of Globant in Asia and the Middle East, in an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah.

AI agents are widely seen as the next revolution in the tech world, surpassing traditional tools that only answer questions, transforming into intelligent assistants capable of autonomous thinking, decision-making, and executing complex, multi-step tasks completely independently.

By integrating planning capabilities, cumulative memory, and the use of digital tools such as browsing and sending emails, these software programs can manage entire projects, automate business processes, and solve customer problems without continuous human intervention.

Thu, 04 2026

Benovi said this model helps accelerate business completion, automate repetitive tasks, and improve operational efficiency while maintaining human oversight.

He said Globant is applying these solutions in several Saudi projects, including the Saudi Pro League, where the company uses AI to prepare match schedules, predict operational needs for stadiums and security, and generate reports, allowing competition management teams to focus on strategic decisions rather than administrative tasks.

He said the model achieved practical results for the company’s clients, contributing to a 20% acceleration in business completion during Globant’s partnership with FIFA, along with improved ability to predict work outcomes and increased transparency.

He added that the company is also investing in building local capabilities by training Saudi talent in AI engineering and AI solutions, supporting organizations' transition to operating models that rely more heavily on AI and smart agents.

About $17 billion size of the AI market in Saudi Arabia

He explained that Saudi Arabia has an exceptional opportunity to adopt AI on a large scale thanks to its new projects and investments in digital transformation, expecting the AI market in the Kingdom to reach $16.9 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 34.3%.

The company, specialized in digital transformation and AI solutions, founded in 2003 and operating in over 35 countries, is also participating in developing the technical infrastructure for Qiddiya City, along with projects in the tourism sector with the Red Sea, as well as executing projects in financial services, gaming, retail, and real estate sectors. It has strengthened its presence in Saudi Arabia by establishing its regional headquarters in Riyadh.

Smart agent accelerates business by about 7 times compared to traditional models

He clarified that the company does not aim to replace employees with AI, but rather to redesign the service delivery model by relying on 'smart agents,' systems that perform repetitive operational tasks under expert supervision, thereby increasing productivity and shifting focus from counting work hours to delivering scalable results.

He noted that the model developed by the company relies on teams managed by smart agents, with human oversight on output quality, explaining that this model can speed up business execution by up to 7 times compared to traditional models, leveraging more than 140 large language models depending on the nature of each use.