Saudi Arabia Sets A Leading Example In AI Governance At Paris Action Summit

Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), highlighted Saudi Arabia's leadership in AI governance at a session during the AI Action Summit in Paris. He emphasised the Kingdom's efforts to establish comprehensive AI governance frameworks that address global challenges and ensure equitable benefits from AI advancements.

He noted that comprehensive AI governance involves all stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and civil society. This approach fosters collaboration and transparency, mitigating risks and building trust. Dr. Alghamdi stressed the importance of diverse perspectives in policymaking to prevent AI from exacerbating inequalities or reinforcing biases.

Saudi Arabia has published 65 AI-related policies on the OECD's AI Policy Observatory, ranking third globally after the US and UK. The Kingdom also launched the AI Policy and Incident Observatory for the Middle East in Arabic, demonstrating its commitment to regional transparency and data-driven policymaking.

In 2020, Saudi Arabia hosted the first Global AI Summit in Riyadh, before recent breakthroughs in AI technology. By 2024, it organised the third and largest edition of this summit, gathering experts from over 100 countries to discuss shaping AI for humanity's benefit.

The Kingdom has played a significant role in international collaborations on AI ethics. It hosted the largest consultative session of the UN Advisory Body on AI in Riyadh with representatives from 53 Islamic countries. These efforts led to launching the Riyadh Charter for AI Ethics last September.

Dr. Alghamdi mentioned that Saudi Arabia established the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh as a Category 2 center under UNESCO. ICAIRE aims to shape ethical and responsible AI policies while enhancing capacity building through various initiatives.

Regional Efforts and Future Plans

ICAIRE has collaborated with organisations like the Arab League and GCC, organising events with over 100 experts from 28 countries. These efforts aim to strengthen regional governance frameworks for ethical regulations in AI development.

Saudi Arabia is poised to contribute significantly to shaping global partnerships on artificial intelligence. The Kingdom will participate actively in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) ministerial council meeting set for 2025 in Slovakia.

Dr. Alghamdi concluded by urging unified international efforts towards creating an innovative, trustworthy, and inclusive ecosystem for artificial intelligence worldwide.

With inputs from SPA