Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, the President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority “Sadaia,” affirmed that the world is on the brink of a major technological transformation driven by advancements in the field of artificial intelligence. He explained that realizing the benefits of these advancements requires engaging with the capabilities of change in this field, pointing out that the role of artificial intelligence by 2030 will not be limited to daily life but will be the foundation for the progress and success of countries worldwide.
In his speech today at the “GREAT FUTURES” Initiative conference held in Riyadh at the King Abdullah Financial Center “KAFC,” aiming to enhance economic ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom in several sectors, in addition to boosting mutual trade and investment.
He stated: “Our ambitious vision in the Kingdom adopts the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense – may God protect him – and based on these directives, several national initiatives have been launched to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a leading country in the field of artificial intelligence. Our goal is not only national pride but achieving sustainable competitive advantage. This is not a choice, but a pressing necessity.”
The speaker mentioned that innovative solutions have been launched in the field of data and artificial intelligence to achieve specific goals, such as precise diagnosis of cases of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, benefiting over 600 patients. He explained that the “Esteshraf” platform serves more than 100 government decision-makers and facilitates access to digital services, achieving financial savings exceeding SAR 51 billion.
He pointed out that “Sadaia” has trained more than 700 teachers and 20,000 students on artificial intelligence technologies as part of the “Future Programmers AI” initiative. He also emphasized that the “Tuwaiq” Academy is a testament to “Sadaia’s” commitment to developing human capabilities in advanced technologies. He clarified that the Kingdom is collaborating with Oxford University and other large international institutions to provide practical training in artificial intelligence for students and employees.
The Foreign Minister confirmed that the Kingdom is striving to be a leader in artificial intelligence legislation, hosting the International Center for AI Research and Ethics “iCAIRE” in Riyadh under the auspices of UNESCO. The Kingdom has established comprehensive governance standards for data management, enacted a personal data protection law, and issued AI development guidelines.
He noted that “Sadaia’s” commitment to artificial intelligence includes raising awareness of its capabilities, as evidenced by the National Olympiad for Programming and AI “Azm” setting a record with the participation of 260,000 students this year. The World AI Summit held in Riyadh in 2020 and 2022 organized international dialogues and attracted over 10,000 visitors, including policymakers, experts, and AI specialists from 90 countries. These initiatives have helped the Kingdom rank second globally in AI awareness, according to the 2023 Artificial Intelligence Index Report from Stanford University.
His Excellency affirmed that the Kingdom looks forward to intensifying collaboration efforts and expanding its international partnerships with countries worldwide. He noted that Britain is considered a fundamental ally in the development of artificial intelligence, as the Kingdom participated in the Artificial Intelligence Safety Summit hosted by Britain at Blenheim Palace in November 2023.
At the end of his speech, Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi extended an invitation to continue this dialogue during the third edition of the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit, which will be held in Riyadh in September. He encouraged everyone to embrace artificial intelligence together, not only for the progress it will bring, but also for the prosperity that will benefit individuals, societies, and nations.
