Saudi Arabia's SDAIA President Highlights AI Advancements And Global Decision-Making Contributions

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) President, Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, highlighted Saudi Arabia's significant progress in technology. The Kingdom has become a global contender in data and AI technologies. This was evident during the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh, which attracted worldwide attention and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's leading role in this advanced tech sector.

Dr. Al-Ghamdi attributed this success to the unwavering support from His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. As Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and SDAIA Chairman of the Board of Directors, his backing has raised expectations for excellence and global competitiveness. This support aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a hub for advanced technologies.

The SDAIA president emphasized that the Kingdom continues to achieve milestones under Saudi Vision 2030. This vision serves as a roadmap for local, regional, and international achievements. The Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World, announced at the third summit, showcases Saudi leadership. It aims to develop AI technologies aligned with Islamic values while promoting sustainable development.

In 2024, Saudi Arabia achieved several global milestones. UNESCO announced the establishment of the "International Center for Research and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence" in Riyadh during the last summit. This center will operate under UNESCO's auspices. Additionally, guidelines were launched to address fake technology operations using AI tools, promoting responsible use of these promising technologies.

Saudi Arabia ranked 14th globally and first among Arab nations in the Global AI Index among 83 countries worldwide. The United Nations' AI Advisory Body endorsed this ranking. The Kingdom also maintained its top position globally in the Government AI Strategy metric according to the same index. This highlights its status as the world's fastest-growing country in AI.

The SDAIA president noted that Saudi Arabia topped the United Nations' 2024 e-Government Development Index (OSI) for open government data and digital knowledge skills. These achievements underscore efforts towards transitioning to a digital economy within the Saudi Vision 2030 framework.

Initiatives and Agreements

The third Global AI Summit introduced additional technological initiatives benefiting Saudi Arabia. Agreements were signed with major global technology and AI companies to acquire skills and localize expertise. These agreements aim to enhance the capabilities of Saudi nationals.

The summit also saw the launch of SPINE (Saudi Private Integration Network Exchange). SPINE aims to build an integrated network system for virtual connections at both international and local levels with the National Information Center. It covers all regions of the Kingdom with high-speed service for governmental and non-governmental entities.

Education Initiatives

This year marked the launch of a significant national initiative called "Million Saudis for AI" (SMAI). In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, it aims to equip one million Saudis with skills in data and AI technologies. This aligns with SDAIA’s efforts to develop human capital in line with leadership aspirations for global tech leadership.

"The Global AI Summit has been pivotal," said Dr. Al-Ghamdi, "serving as a platform engaging with advanced world tech movements." He added that it yielded outcomes aligning with Saudi technical interests while supporting its role in international decision-making within this field.

With inputs from SPA