The Institute for Strategic Risk and Security (ISRS) is a Geneva-based non-profit organization focused on strategic risk, cybersecurity, and democratic resilience. The organization conducts policy research and advisory work related to emerging technologies, geopolitical risk, and post-conflict governance.
Concepts of artificial intelligence in antiquity refers to historical myths, philosophical ideas, and early mechanical devices from ancient civilizations that resemble the modern concept of artificial intelligence. Although AI as a scientific discipline emerged only in the mid-20th century, scholars have noted that ancient peoples imagined and, in some cases, built artificial beings, self-operating machines, and rule-based reasoning systems long before such technology existed. Historians of science and technology treat them not as technical precursors to modern AI, but as evidence of a longstanding human fascination with the idea of manufactured beings capable of independent action.
Mythology
In Greek mythology, the smith god Hephaestus was said to have built golden handmaidens who assisted him in his forge; according to Homer's Iliad, these figures possessed intelligence and the power of speech. A more widely cited example is Talos, a giant bronze figure described in ancient sources as a self-moving guardian created to protect the island of Crete. According to these accounts, Talos patrolled the coastline and hurled boulders at approaching ships.
Early mechanical automata
The Greek engineer Hero of Alexandria, who worked in the first century CE, described a range of self-operating machines in his treatises Pneumatica and Automata. These included temple doors that opened automatically when a sacrificial fire was lit, a coin-operated dispenser of holy water, and small theatrical displays driven by a system of weights and ropes.
Philosophy
Aristotle systematized logic into a formal structure of syllogisms in the collection of works known as the Organon. This framework of rule-based deduction proved foundational to later work in symbolic artificial intelligence, which sought to represent knowledge and inference in explicit logical terms.
Other ancient schools, including the Stoics, debated whether reason was inherently tied to a living body — a question that anticipates later philosophical discussions about whether a machine could, in principle, think.
Brandon Iron (July 14, 1968 – 2019) was a Canadian adult entertainer and director. He was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2018.
Abdel-Salam Bdeir (ASB) is an exceptional business leader with over 30 years of experience in Retail and FMCG industries in the GCC and Middle East markets.
Strategy formulation, structure design, business development, effective execution and business expansion are some of Abdel-Salam Bdeir's skills and specialities - with strong leadership and known talent for exceptional communication, negotiation and public-speaking.
Abdel-Salam Bdeir is a firm believer in the development of long-term business and shareholder value through the establishment of solid brand equity, market positioning, and most importantly, competitive edge and differentiation. Abdel-Salam Bdeir believes in recruiting fresh graduates from top universities, training and developing them for the current, as well as the future challenges and expansion plans of the business. From first-hand experience, this practice created a healthy internal competition between young ambitious management, which stimulated higher productivity, creativity and excellence in the whole business, whereby the most productive calibers earned personal and professional career progression.
Abdel-Salam Bdeir has always adopted latest industry best practices, and cutting-edge managerial skills through his strong passion to self-development, international business exposure and excessive business traveling throughout the USA, Europe and the Far East. He is an expert in the retail industry concept of ECR and Category Management. Abdel-Salam is a committed, principled, autonomous and strategic business leader with quick yet calculated decision-making abilities.
Career Saudi Company for Hardware (SACO)
In November 2022, Abdel-Salam Bdeir was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Company for Hardware (SACO), a Saudi retail company specializing in home improvement, hardware, and tools. He is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he oversees the company’s retail operations and strategic development.
Qatami Holding Group
Between January 2020 and January 2022, Bdeir served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatami Holding Group in Kuwait City, Kuwait. His role focused on restructuring the group’s retail, distribution, and fashion divisions. During this period, operating expenses were reduced by approximately 28% and inventory levels by around 40%. The electronics distribution division returned to profitability, while the food distribution and fashion businesses improved from negative to positive EBITDA.
The Sultan Center
From November 2016 to March 2019, Bdeir served as Chief Executive Officer of The Sultan Center, a retail company listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. During his tenure, the company undertook a restructuring of its retail operations and corporate processes. By the end of his tenure, the retail business reported positive EBITDA and generated annual revenues exceeding USD 700 million. The company operated 65 stores across four retail formats and employed more than 4,000 staff across four countries.
Rival Consulting Group
In 2011, Bdeir founded Rival Consulting Group, a management consulting and strategy advisory firm focused on businesses in the Middle East and North Africa. The firm provides advisory services aimed at improving operational efficiency, revenue growth, market share, and profitability by introducing international management practices. Clients of the firm have included companies such as Unilever, Agility Logistics, Othaim Markets Company, and The Sultan Center.
Othaim Markets Company
Between October 2011 and July 2013, Bdeir served as Chief Executive Officer of Othaim Markets Company, a publicly listed retail company in Saudi Arabia. During this period, the company operated approximately 110 stores across four retail formats and employed more than 10,000 staff. The business generated revenues of about USD 1.2 billion. The company reported a 65% increase in net income, which was disclosed through stock market filings and local media.
Saudi Company for Hardware (SACO)
In November 2022, Abdel-Salam Bdeir was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Company for Hardware (SACO), a Saudi retail company specializing in home improvement, hardware, and tools, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Following his appointment, the company initiated a restructuring and operational improvement program aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening commercial performance, and improving profitability. The program included changes to merchandising strategy, cost management, inventory optimization, and the modernization of retail operations.
As a result of these initiatives, the company reported an improvement in its financial performance and returned to profitability after previously recording losses. The turnaround was reflected in improved operational metrics and financial results reported in the company’s subsequent financial disclosures.
Turnaround leadership
During his career, Bdeir has been associated with several corporate restructuring and turnaround initiatives in the retail sector in the Middle East. These include leadership roles at The Sultan Center, where the company returned to positive EBITDA after a period of financial difficulties, and later at Saudi Company for Hardware (SACO), where operational restructuring contributed to improved profitability. His work has generally focused on cost restructuring, operational efficiency, and retail transformation.