During the 42nd session of UNESCO‘s General Conference in Paris, Prince Badr Bin Farhan, the Saudi Minister of Culture, announced the establishment of the International Center of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Ethics in Riyadh.
The primary objective of this center is to enhance competencies and develop legislative frameworks in the field of AI.
Read more: Saudi Arabia signs world-first global declaration on AI
Approved by Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in June, this initiative seeks to propel competencies and legislative frameworks in the realm of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.
Originally presented to UNESCO in March 2022, the proposal for the International Center for AI Research and Ethics received backing from Kuwait and Oman. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the center will function with legal autonomy and financial and administrative independence, with the aim of nurturing the advancement of advanced technologies such as AI within the Kingdom.
Global recognition
In a projection earlier this year, consultancy firm PwC estimated that by 2030, artificial intelligence would make a significant contribution of $135 billion to the Saudi economy. This positioning the Kingdom as the leading beneficiary of technology in the Middle East.
PwC stated in its report that Saudi Arabia is projected to experience the largest gains in absolute terms, with AI expected to contribute over $135.2 billion to the economy by 2030. This amount is equivalent to 12.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
With the objective of harnessing the potential of cyberspace and bolstering global initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity, Saudi Arabia established the Global Cybersecurity Forum Institute in Riyadh in June.
In July 2023, Saudi claimed the top spot globally in the Government’s AI Strategy Index, a component of Tortoise Media’s World Classification of AI. This comprehensive index evaluates over 60 countries worldwide. Germany secured the second position, while China ranked third.
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