• Executive Chair Chung discusses multifaceted cooperation with HRH the Crown Prince
• Explains collaboration initiatives and plans as strategic partner in realizing Saudi Arabia’s future vision for mobility and other areas
• Exchanges views on Saudi Vision 2030 and expresses expectation for expanded cooperation in future energy sectors 
• Executive Chair Chung Reviews Hyundai Motor’s local plant construction site and Hyundai Motor Group’s mid- to long-term strategy
• Hyundai Motor Group expands cooperation with major Saudi institutions in mobility, smart cities, and other sectors

SEOUL, South Korea and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia , Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung visited Saudi Arabia, the Middle East’s largest economy and a nation undergoing major industrial transformation. Chung met with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, to review the Group’s local growth strategy and explore future business opportunities.

During his visit, Executive Chair Chung held discussions with HRH the Crown Prince covering a wide range of topics including the automotive industry and smart cities. This marked the first one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, though they had previously met twice, including during the Crown Prince’s 2022 visit to Korea.

“Hyundai Motor Group deeply understands the meaning and importance of Saudi Vision 2030,” said Executive Chair Chung.” Based on our competitive business capabilities, we are participating in Saudi Arabia’s giga projects and look forward to expanding collaboration in future energy sectors including renewable energy, hydrogen, Small Modular Reactor (SMR), and nuclear energy.”

Strategic Partnership for Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia is pursuing “Vision 2030,” a national development project aimed at diversifying its economy from energy-focused industries toward manufacturing and hydrogen energy. The kingdom is hosting international events including the World Expo and FIFA World Cup, positioning itself as one of the world’s most prominent emerging economies.

As the Middle East’s largest automotive market, Saudi Arabia is actively attracting global automakers, including Hyundai Motor Company, with the long-term goal of becoming an automotive hub serving not only the Middle East but also North Africa.

Executive Chair Chung expressed gratitude for the Saudi government’s continued interest and support, outlining Hyundai Motor Group’s ongoing collaborative projects and future plans as a partner in realizing Saudi Arabia’s vision for mobility and other sectors.

• 66% of responding senior leaders say AI has already driven significant productivity improvements across their organization
• 41% of respondents anticipate returns on AI investments in under a year
• 72% of large enterprises surveyed (1,001 – 5,000 employees) report AI-driven productivity gains compared with 55% of SMEs
• Around 85% said interoperability, choice and transparency of AI systems is important

LONDON, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new study from IBM (NYSE: IBM) reveals enterprises across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are already reporting significant productivity gains from using AI, with many expecting returns on their investments (ROI) within the next year. However, the findings suggest small to medium sized enterprises (SME) and public sector organizations are falling behind larger, private sector firms in boosting productivity with AI.

IBM Corporation logo.

“The Race for ROI,” a new IBM report produced in partnership with Censuswide, surveyed 3,500 senior executives across ten countries, and reveals 66% of respondents said their organizations have achieved significant operational productivity improvements using AI. 

In addition, approximately one in five respondents said their organization has already realized ROI goals from AI-driven productivity initiatives, with a further 42% on average expecting to achieve ROI within 12 months across cost reduction (41%); time savings (45%); increased revenue (37%); employee satisfaction (42%) and increased Net Promoter Score (43%).

Further productivity benefits are expected from the introduction of AI Agents, with 92% of leaders expecting that agentic AI will deliver measurable ROI within two years.

According to the study, business areas achieving the biggest AI-driven productivity gains are software development and IT (32%), customer service (32%), and procurement (27%). At the same time, executives reported the top three benefits of enhanced productivity as greater operational efficiency (55%), enhanced decision-making (50%), and augmented workforce capabilities such as automating repetitive tasks (48%).

However, the gains are not evenly distributed across all types of organizations. While 72% of large enterprises surveyed reported productivity gains from AI, only 55% of SMEs say the same. The research also indicates that public sector organizations are in the earlier stages of realizing AI’s full potential, with only 55% reporting significant productivity improvements to date.

AI Transforming Business Models

Across EMEA, the data shows that leaders are increasingly using AI to enable strategic business transformation. Of the 66% of respondents who reported significant productivity gains, nearly a quarter (24%) credit AI with fundamentally changing their business models.

Strikingly, around a third of respondents are already using AI to change their operations in ways such as accelerating innovation timelines (36%); shifting to continuous AI-driven decision-making instead of periodic planning cycles (32%); and redesigning value streams around AI rather than automating existing steps (32%, and around 2 in 5 intend to do so across all these areas.

Nearly half of all senior leaders surveyed (48%) said that AI is augmenting workforce capabilities. For example, with the time saved from greater productivity, executives said employees are spending more time on tasks such as developing new ideas (38%), strategic decision-making and planning (36%), and engaging in creative work (33%), the report finds.

Ana Paula Assis, Senior Vice President and Chair, IBM EMEA and Growth Markets, said:

“The true value of AI for business goes far beyond individual productivity – it’s about strategic transformation. Our research suggests that, while we are still in the foothills of AI adoption, enterprises in EMEA are seeing meaningful productivity gains from infusing AI into their operations, with many redesigning their business models.

“On the question of technology autonomy, the response was emphatic: enterprises want to use technology on their terms, with transparency, choice and flexibility baked in.”

Prioritizing open systems, interoperability and choice

The study found that openness, interoperability, and choice are critical priorities for all types of organizations adopting AI. 85% of respondents emphasized the importance of transparency in AI systems and models, ensuring that the technology operates ethically and responsibly. Similarly, 84% stressed the need for interoperability, enabling seamless integration of AI tools into IT systems to maximize efficiency and adaptability.

A further 85% said they valued having the flexibility to choose and adapt AI solutions or providers as needs evolve, underscoring strong demand for autonomy.

Overcoming risk and complexity

While the findings suggest companies are progressing towards greater ROI on AI, it also identified concerns about security, privacy and ethics – including the risk of data breaches and the trustworthiness of AI – as the top barrier to scaling successful AI pilots, cited by 68% of respondents. Similarly, IT complexity challenges, such as integrating AI with legacy systems, was cited by 68% of senior leaders surveyed.

To accelerate ROI from AI, the report outlines five priorities for enterprise leaders:

• Establish an effective operating model for AI: Establishing a common and universally understood approach for AI transformation across the organization, such as a federated or hub-and-spoke model, along with clear ownership, is crucial for delivering return on investment.
• Cultivate AI literacy and a culture of innovation, from the Board to entry-level: In the coming years, AI tools will become increasingly embedded in every interaction. Knowledge of how and why to use these tools across teams and functions will help the organisation to adapt and thrive as AI capabilities and the opportunities they create continue to evolve.
• Get comfortable with uncertainty and rapid change: The world is moving into an era of AI everywhere. AI tools will be embedded and procured into every interaction layer we have – whether it is search engines, the device people interact with or the companies they engage with. Success in this era means developing a culture that embraces change and uncertainty, and enables rapid, purposeful innovation.
• Understand the risks around AI deployment: As with any technology, AI must be applied with caution and a detailed understanding of regulatory, reputational and operational risks. Enterprises should apply AI governance tooling to monitor and mitigate potential risks, such as unauthorized data sharing and unwanted bias.
• Establish a cross company “AI Board” to mitigate risk: The AI Board’s role is to define ethical principles and risk appetite and review higher risk AI use cases before they are implemented. This, combined with increased AI literacy, will give business units a high level of autonomy to implement AI use cases with confidence.

To discover more about how AI is helping unlock opportunities for growth and innovation in EMEA, including across major industry sectors, download the ‘The Race for ROI” report here.

Research Methodology 

This report is based on a survey conducted by IBM in partnership with Censuswide in September 2025, involving over 3,500 senior business leaders (aged 25+). This included 500 respondents in each of the following markets; UK, Germany, France, UAE and Saudi Arabia and 200 respondents in Spain, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Respondents were drawn from organizations which currently use AI tools, representing a range of industries, including Finance, Public Sector, Retail, Telecoms, and Energy.

Quotas were set to ensure an even split of responses from organizations of different sizes based on number of employees. The categories were split as follows: under 250 employees, 250 – 1,000 employees, 1,001 – 5,000 employees, over 5,000 employees.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Learn more at IBM.com.

Media Contact

Gregor Hastings
IBM EMEA Communications
gregor.hastings@ibm.com

Reconstructed Shock-Resistant Structure and Streamlined Exterior

TOKYO, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of a new addition to the G-STEEL line of G-SHOCK brand of shock-resistant watches, which combines signature toughness with a sleek metal exterior. The new GST-B1000D features a minimalist design with an enhanced fit.

Guided by the Casio Purpose —”Through the power to put wonder at hand, bring new levels of joy to lives one by one” — the company continues to bring unprecedented value to the world. Born from a developer’s passion to create a watch that would not break, G-SHOCK timepieces bring wonder and inspire people with their tough structure and advanced functionality.

The new GST-B1000D is a shock-resistant watch with a contemporary minimalist design that expresses the beauty of metal while delivering a very comfortable fit.

The watch features a newly developed compact module equipped with Tough Solar and Mobile Link* functionality using Bluetooth®. This enables a slim profile and lightweight design without compromising functionality, providing enhanced comfort on the wrist.

The streamlined bezel features a combination of straight and circular hairline finishes, along with mirror polishing, to bring out a refined metal texture. The octagonal case and the brick pattern on the dial are inspired by the design of the DW-5000C, the first-ever G-SHOCK.

The GST-B1000D-1A reflects G-SHOCK DNA with its inset dial, which employs accent colors inspired by the first G-SHOCK: red symbolizing the passion to take on challenges, blue representing water resistance, and yellow signifying outstanding shock resistance. The minimalist design is versatile enough to complement any style, from business to casual to outdoors.

Leading global enterprises are already using Xponential to drive real business impact 

Enables leaders to deploy AI with speed, quality, and scale

ASHBURN, Va., Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC), a leading Fortune 500 global technology services provider, today announced Xponential, a next-generation AI orchestration blueprint. Already a proven framework utilized by leading global enterprises, Xponential simplifies the complexity that often stalls large-scale AI adoption. The architecture seamlessly integrates people, processes, and technology to deliver measurable results, accelerate modernization, and helps enable businesses to operationalize AI securely and responsibly.

DXC Unveils Xponential – A Repeatable Blueprint to Accelerate Enterprise AI Outcomes

“Business leaders are eager to capture the promise of AI, but too often they get stuck in pilots or struggle to scale,” said Raul Fernandez, President and CEO of DXC. “DXC is uniquely positioned to help, with deep industry expertise, proven AI capabilities, and a track record of transforming complex operations. Xponential provides a blueprint that combines human expertise with AI, embeds governance and security from day one, and continuously evolves as AI matures –helping enterprises move from vision to value with speed and confidence.” 

As enterprises navigate a transitional AI era, many still lack a cohesive strategy connecting AI to their people and processes. Xponential provides a structured, repeatable blueprint for orchestrating AI across technology, embedding governance from day one, and delivering early wins that help organizations scale with speed and confidence. At the heart of Xponential are five interdependent pillars:

• Insight – Embedded governance, compliance, and observability to ensure responsible AI. 
• Accelerators – Proprietary and partner-built tools that speed up deployment and increase efficiency. 
• Automation – Agentic frameworks and protocols that optimize AI across processes. 
• Approach – Human+ collaboration that combines skilled professionals and AI to amplify outcomes. 
• Process – A delivery methodology with the flexibility to start small, achieve early wins, and scale rapidly across the enterprise.

DXC is helping global enterprises build, deploy, and scale AI with the Xponential framework across industries: 

• At Textron, a multi-industry company, DXC implemented AI-powered automation and workflow optimization, cutting service desk tickets by 20% and proactively resolving network issues for 32,000 employees.  
• The European Space Agency (ESA), an intergovernmental organization that collaborates internationally and supports European industry and the economy through space technology and research, is working with DXC to implement ASK ESA, an AI-powered platform that unifies data, accelerates research, and enhances collaboration across the agency. 
• Singapore General Hospital,Singapore’s largest tertiary hospital and ranked among the world’s best, partnered with DXC to develop the Augmented Intelligence in Infectious Diseases (AI2D) solution, using AI-driven insights and collaborative human+AI decision-making to guide antibiotic choices for lower respiratory tract infections with 90% accuracy and improve patient care while combating antimicrobial resistance.  
• Ferrovial, a global infrastructure company, is working with DXC to develop AI Workbench, a generative AI offering which combines consulting, engineering and secure enterprise services. Leveraging more than 30 AI Agents making real-time decisions, Ferrovial is already using AI Workbench to enhance operations for more than 25,500 employees.

To scale these proven results, DXC leverages its global team of 50,000 full-stack engineers and AI-first facilities including Innovation Centers, Centers of Competency, and Centers of Excellence across six continents. This worldwide network empowers DXC to accelerate responsible AI adoption, deliver measurable business impact, and help enterprises operationalize AI at scale across industries and regions.

To learn more about AI at DXC, visit our website.

About DXC Technology
DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) is a leading global provider of information technology services. We’re a trusted operating partner to many of the world’s most innovative organizations, building solutions that move industries and companies forward. Our engineering, consulting and technology experts help clients simplify, optimize and modernize their systems and processes, manage their most critical workloads, integrate AI-powered intelligence into their operations, and put security and trust at the forefront. Learn more on dxc.com.