His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), emphasized that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia places great importance on developing artificial intelligence in a responsible and safe manner by adopting proactive measures, strategic cooperation, and commitment to ethical standards; with the aim of harnessing the positive potential of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity as a whole.
These statements were made during a speech delivered by His Excellency at the ministerial meeting held as part of the Seoul AI Summit, organized by Korea and Britain in Seoul on May 21-22, 2024, under the theme “Enhancing AI Safety,” in the presence of ministers of technology, artificial intelligence, and communications from various countries around the world, in addition to major companies, experts, and innovators in the field of AI technologies.
Dr. Al-Ghamdi affirmed that the Kingdom is committed to contributing to the establishment of international standards and regulatory frameworks that enhance the safety of artificial intelligence by ensuring the compatibility of its technologies with strict safety standards. They aim to facilitate the adoption of a coordinated global approach to AI governance and will utilize the International Report on AI Safety to develop comprehensive policies and plans to mitigate negative impacts, promoting safe use of AI across all sectors. This initiative underscores their commitment to ensuring a secure integration of AI and securing a safe future supported by artificial intelligence, with international cooperation being an essential part of their approach.
He stated that hosting the third edition of the Global AI Summit in Riyadh will strengthen important discussions and enhance the development of coordinated protocols to ensure AI safety.
Dr. Al-Ghamdi expressed the Kingdom’s commitment to raising public awareness of the potential risks of artificial intelligence and safety measures through intensive training and educational campaigns that incorporate ideas from the International Report on AI Safety. He highlighted the importance of addressing safety challenges related to General Purpose AI (GPAI) by developing strategies to reduce negative effects and implementing strong safety protocols. He explained that the Kingdom is leading in setting international standards to ensure AI safety.
He noted that AI summits are vital platforms for enhancing global dialogue on the safety of this advanced technology. Saudi Arabia plays an active role in these global efforts, believing in the importance of ethically and safely integrating AI into our societies.
Dr. Al-Ghamdi confirmed that Saudi Arabia plays an active role in the global AI community and actively participates in preparing the International Scientific Report on Advanced AI Safety. This report is the result of collaborative efforts between 30 countries in cooperation with the United Nations organization, providing a necessary framework to understand the risks associated with advanced AI technologies and work towards mitigating them.
He emphasized that national initiatives serve as benchmarks due to continuous evaluations and monitoring, proactive safety systems, and called for prioritizing safety assessments and stringent protocols to prevent risks and enhance sectoral resilience, supporting economic diversification and ensuring the contribution of smart technology to achieving national development goals.
Global cooperation in the field of AI safety was discussed during the Seoul AI Summit. National and institutional efforts to enhance AI safety, risks related to current and future AI models were discussed. The focus was on increasing the capacity to respond to AI risks through international cooperation. Numerous opportunities for international collaboration in AI safety were discovered.
