AI's Role In Enhancing Social Responsibility: Insights From SDAIA President Abdullah Alghamdi

Abdullah Alghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) when used responsibly. He emphasised that AI can bring significant improvements in education, health, and environmental sustainability. Speaking at the Global CSR Forum, he noted that SDAIA is committed to social responsibility by building human capacity in data and AI through various initiatives.

Alghamdi discussed SDAIA's Elevate initiative, which aims to empower 25,000 women by providing training in data and AI. Additionally, the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad saw participation from 25 countries. The ALLaM model, a Saudi-developed AI system, was also introduced to answer questions on various knowledge fields in Arabic.

In healthcare, SDAIA collaborated with partners to create "Eyenai," an AI solution for eye health. This tool uses advanced analytics for early detection of eye diseases and has helped diagnose 846 patients last year. Furthermore, SDAIA supports individuals with disabilities by facilitating access to digital cards via the Tawakkalna app.

The Ehsan platform was mentioned as a significant achievement in charity work and volunteering. By leveraging data and AI, it managed charitable donations amounting to over SAR8.3 billion, benefiting more than 4.8 million people. SDAIA also oversees volunteer activities for several NGOs through 51 programs and initiatives.

SDAIA collaborates with ministries of environment, water, agriculture, and energy to support Saudi Vision 2030's environmental goals. Alghamdi explained how data analysis aids urban afforestation projects under the Saudi Green Initiative. This collaboration underscores the role of AI in achieving sustainability targets.

Riyadh hosts the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics in partnership with UNESCO. This centre reflects Saudi Arabia's dedication to upholding ethical principles in AI development. Alghamdi stressed that activating AI's potential requires cooperation among governments, companies, and individuals while prioritising ethics and human values.

The forum underscored SDAIA's efforts to integrate AI into various sectors responsibly. Through initiatives like Elevate and Eyenai, they aim to enhance human capacity while promoting ethical considerations in technology use.

With inputs from SPA