When companies connect their operations to external AI platforms, what happens to their ability to stay in control? And is owning their data enough?
In this interview with MENA TECH, Alex Haywood, CEO of MetisJean, discusses how businesses can approach AI ownership as intelligent systems become more closely connected to their decisions and daily operations. He explains why sending reasoning, business problems and operational processes to third-party providers can create dependencies that extend beyond data storage.
For Haywood, a central part of the answer is owning the orchestration layer—the software that coordinates how a company accesses and uses AI models. He argues that keeping this layer within the organization’s own environment can give businesses greater flexibility to change providers while maintaining control over access and governance.
The conversation also examines the human role in this transition. Haywood explains why meaningful involvement requires more than approving an automated action or pressing a button. He makes the case for people working as active partners alongside AI, with interaction and collaboration central to how the technology is used.
Turning to the region, Haywood discusses how the UAE’s AI Strategy 2031 influenced his decision to relocate with his family and establish his company in the country. He shares his perspective on the UAE’s potential as a base for sovereign AI development and the importance of building capabilities in both Arabic and English. This includes MetisJean’s work on bilingual governance and discussions about a potential partnership with Arabic.AI.
Computing capacity is another focus. Haywood identifies it as a potential bottleneck and describes MetisJean’s approach to reducing token consumption through a shift from probabilistic to deterministic reasoning. He says the company’s platform reduces token consumption by around 90%, presenting this as a result of its own approach.
The interview closes with his practical advice for business leaders: take ownership of the layer connecting the organization to AI providers, protect company data, and keep access to advanced models governed as adoption grows.
