Saudi Arabia set to become international focus for AI

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

Saudi Arabia officially announced the Global AI Summit, a new global-level platform to promote the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies.

The Global AI Summit will take place in Riyadh on March 30-31 2020, and will be the leading international forum to advance AI and create knowledge sharing and interchange among global AI experts.

The Summit will also highlight Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a leader in AI technology, and drive discussions and partnerships between local and international stakeholders in the AI field. The event will be a focus for discussion on AI, its importance, applications and impact on societies, economies and politics.

The Global AI Summit was announced on the sidelines of the Foreign Investment Initiative (FII 2019) during a talk given by Dr. Abdullah Bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Speaking at the announcement Dr Abdullah said: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a central role in the digital transformation of all sectors of human activity, from business and enterprise, to key national industries, government, healthcare, and many more areas beside. AI is bringing us new insight and new capabilities that is reshaping the world around us. The Global AI Summit will become an international platform to discuss those changes and to understand how AI technology can be utilised for the benefit of all.”

The Saudi Data and Artificial intelligence Authority was established by Royal decree in August 2019, to become the main government entity to facilitate and enable the adoption of AI in the Kingdom, particularly in relation to achieving the Vision 2030 goals.

The Global AI Summit is intended to be a forum for high-level engagement, with attendance from government leaders, heads of enterprise and industry, and technology companies, along with academics and researchers in AI; AI startups, investors and entrepreneurs.

The Summit will include a full programme of keynote sessions from thought leaders in the field of AI and related disciplines, along with plenary sessions and breakouts to create the world’s most active forum for discussion and interaction around AI. The focus will be on enabling a global conversation, and creating dialogue centered on the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and how participating countries and enterprises can become leaders in deploying AI in practical applications in key vertical sectors and innovative new deployments. The event also aims to drive knowledge exchange and create new partnerships between companies, academic institutions and innovators in artificial intelligence.

The Summit will be complemented by an exhibition and AI Experience Zone that will allow attendees to experience AI in action and explore different deployments and use cases for the technology.

The Global AI Summit will take place at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center and Ritz Carlton Hotel, in Riyadh in March 2020.

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority was established by a Royal Decree in August 2019 to be the official authority with responsibility for the national data and artificial intelligence agenda in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to realise the Saudi Vision 2030 and its goals.

Meanwhile the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Deputy Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation, Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, said that the First Global DXB Challenge, a robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) competition that is being held for the first time in the region from Oct.24-27, will promote Dubai as a global centre for robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

Al Olama said that the organisation of such events reflects the UAE’s emergence as one of the leading countries harnessing key future technologies like robotics and AI to enhance people’s lives. He further said that hosting the event is in line with the UAE’s efforts to promote advanced science and technology, as well as enhancing partnerships with key global firms to create a brighter future.

Dubai has created a conducive environment for youth to engage with advanced sciences, especially robotics and artificial intelligence. Selecting ‘Ocean Opportunities’ as the theme of the 2019 First Global DXB Challenge reflects UAE’s keen interest in protecting the environment and instilling a culture of conservation. Ocean pollution is a global issue that requires collective global action, he stressed.

DFF CEO Khalfan Belhoul said that the 2019 First Global DXB Challenge will be the largest ever edition of the event bringing together more than 1,500 youth from over 191 countries to collaborate, create and compete for a better future.