Saudi Arabia Vows To Lead In Ethical And Responsible Global AI Development

Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi, Chief of the National Data Management Office in the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), highlighted Saudi Arabia's commitment to ethical and responsible AI development. He emphasized SDAIA's pivotal role in advancing global AI governance during the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance held from July 4 to 6 in Shanghai, China.

Al-Rebdi stated: "The Kingdom has invested heavily in AI research and development, established specialized centers, and has been keen to strengthen cooperation with leading global technology companies. It seeks to achieve global leadership in this field and benefit from its transformative power in various sectors to achieve the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030."

SDAIA actively engages with international organizations, governments, and industry leaders to shape global AI governance frameworks. Through partnerships, SDAIA aims to contribute its expertise and perspectives to shape AI policies and standards that foster innovation while upholding ethical principles.

Al-Rebdi reiterated the importance of upholding ethical principles in AI, including fairness, privacy and security, reliability and safety, transparency and explainability, accountability and responsibility, humanity, and social and environmental benefits. SDAIA's goal is to ensure that AI technologies are developed with a focus on human needs and promote both local and global values.

SDAIA is an active member of the international AI community. It participated effectively in preparing the initial international scientific report on advanced AI safety. This report resulted from joint cooperative efforts between 75 AI experts from 30 countries, the European Union, and the United Nations.

Furthermore, Al-Rebdi stressed SDAIA's commitment to driving responsible and ethical development of AI technologies through international collaboration. This includes ethical advocacy, regulatory framework development, knowledge exchange, and support for AI initiatives on local and international levels.

AI for Social Good

SDAIA recognizes AI's potential to positively impact societies worldwide. It actively supports initiatives that utilize AI for social good in areas such as healthcare, education, sustainable development, and public safety. Al-Rebdi called for efforts to shape a future where AI serves as a force for positive change.

He also invited representatives of participating countries to attend the third edition of the Global AI Summit. Organized by Saudi Arabia and represented by SDAIA, this summit will be held in Riyadh in September 2024. The event aims to bring together global thought leaders to explore AI's potential impact across various fields.

SDAIA aims to ensure that AI technologies are developed ethically with a focus on human needs while promoting both local and global values. The Kingdom’s dedication through SDAIA highlights its role in shaping a future where AI addresses global challenges while fostering an inclusive society.

With inputs from SPA