Latest news with #SaudiDataandAIAuthority
Leaders
a day ago
- Business
- Leaders
SDAIA Supports Ethical AI in Thailand Session
Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), took part in a high-level ministerial session focused on enhancing international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. The session was held during the 3rd Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI), organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Kingdom of Thailand and in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science. Abdullah Al-Khudairi, Chief Executive of the Strategy Management Office at SDAIA, represented the Kingdom alongside delegates from over 20 UNESCO member states and a panel of international AI experts. The session aimed to foster global dialogue on building ethical governance frameworks for AI, encouraging the exchange of national policies and best practices that support responsible and inclusive AI development. Key topics included the advancement of AI governance, ethical challenges arising from rapid technological progress, and the role of multilateral cooperation in sharing expertise and knowledge in this critical domain. Related Topics : Paris AI Action Summit: SDAIA Highlights Saudi Arabia as Comprehensive Governance Model SDAIA Winter School Boosts AI Sector with International Researchers NEOM Ignites AI Revolution with $5 Billion Oxagon Data Center Saudi Arabia Hosts Catwalk 2025 in Al-Jouf, Hail Short link : Post Views: 17 Related Stories
Saudi Gazette
10-06-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Certificates of appreciation awarded to 420,000 Hajj Mission participants
Saudi Gazette Report MAKKAH — The Supreme Hajj Committee has extended its gratitude to more than 420,000 men and women, who contributed to serving pilgrims during the 1446 AH Hajj season by issuing digital certificates of appreciation through the Tawakkalna app. Secretary General of the Supreme Hajj Committee Khalid Al-Saykhan said that a total of 420,070 participants in the Hajj mission were recognized through the Tasreeh platform, developed by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and supervised by the committee's secretariat. Al-Saykhan emphasized that the initiative reflects the success of the integrated system overseen by the Supreme Hajj Committee and highlights the importance of institutional cooperation during the Hajj season. He noted that this is the first initiative of its kind, using digital tools to acknowledge the dedication of Hajj workers. The electronic certificates serve as a symbolic gesture, reinforcing a sense of pride and appreciation among those who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety, comfort, and spiritual fulfillment of the pilgrims.
Leaders
14-05-2025
- Business
- Leaders
SDAIA, NVIDIA Explore Partnership Opportunities in Data, AI
The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and NVIDIA have explored ways to strengthen cooperation and develop their strategic partnership across various tech projects, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). On Wednesday, the President of SDAIA, Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, met with the founder and CEO of NVIDIA, Jensen Huang, and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh. During their meeting, both sides discussed ways to bolster cooperation between SDAIA and NVIDIA. They also explored opportunities for boosting their strategic partnership in existing tech projects, involving capacity building and expertise exchange in the field of data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the light of the accelerating progress in its technologies. معالي رئيس #سدايا يلتقي بالرياض الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة NVIDIA، ويبحثان سبل تعزيز التعاون المشترك في مجال البيانات والذكاء الاصطناعي. — SDAIA (@SDAIA_SA) May 14, 2025 The meeting aligns with SDAIA's relentless efforts to expand its international partnerships with leading tech companies across the world. It also underscores SDAIA's commitment to increase investments in enhancing Saudi Arabia's AI ecosystem, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 which aims to build an advanced digital economy based on knowledge and innovation and position the Kingdom among the best data and AI-based economies. The meeting came on the sidelines of a landmark visit by the US President, Donald Trump, to Saudi Arabia on May 13-14, 2025. Trump was accompanied by a high-level delegation including CEOs of leading American companies and investors who attended the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh. The Forum saw the signing of $300 billion deals between Saudi Arabia and the US. Short link : Post Views: 14
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-04-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
AlUla Joins Five Saudi Cities in IMD Smart City Index 2025
AlUla has been included in the Smart City Index 2025, issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), alongside five other Saudi cities: Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar. This milestone highlights the progress of Saudi Vision 2030 in advancing smart city transformation, driven by pioneering initiatives led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in collaboration with various government entities, according to SPA. These efforts aim to develop cities that uphold the highest quality of life standards. AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time this year underscores Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to transform the city into a premier heritage, cultural, and tourism destination. This is achieved by leveraging AI-powered technologies to preserve archaeological sites while enhancing the visitor experience through innovative digital solutions. These include smart mobility services, crowd management systems, and interactive applications that provide an immersive and efficient way to explore the city.
Arab News
20-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
An AI strategy for workforce empowerment
Most companies today are streamlining workflows and strengthening their competitive edge with artificial intelligence. They know preparation is critical to staying ahead in the rapidly growing AI-powered digital economy, both locally and globally. Around the world, corporate investments in AI have skyrocketed from $14.57 billion in 2013 to $189 billion in 2023 — a 13-fold increase, according to WisdomTree, a global asset manager specializing in exchange-traded funds. In Saudi Arabia, the AI market was valued at $1.52 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $9.33 billion by 2030, BlueWeave Consulting reports. Yet, many businesses aiming to become 'AI-enabled' overlook a key lesson from Saudi Arabia's national AI strategy: successful transformation requires more than just technology. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has prioritized the industry through its National Strategy for Data and AI, fostering investments, favorable policies, and workforce development to create a thriving ecosystem. At LEAP 2025, the Kingdom's flagship tech conference, AI-related projects worth $14.9 billion were signed on the first day alone. These included international partnerships to bring cutting-edge capabilities to Saudi Arabia. This while showcasing its innovations such as the Saudi Data and AI Authority's ALLaM, a series of large-language models in Arabic. The government has also launched initiatives including the Generative AI Academy, offering training programs in collaboration with NVIDIA to equip the workforce with essential skills. Recognizing that technology alone is insufficient, Saudi Arabia emphasizes empowering people to fully harness AI's potential. The government recognizes that AI leadership requires more than just adopting or developing technology. To be effective, the workforce must be equipped with the right mindset and skills to harness its full value. This lesson resonates with businesses today. When the internet became widely available in 1999, its potential was undeniable — yet many Saudi businesses hesitated. By 2001, more than 1 million Saudis were online, but fax machines remained common in offices, according to the Communications, Space & Technology Commission. Organizations were slow to trust and adopt the internet as a core business tool. Today, AI represents a pivotal moment of transformation. While businesses have access to AI tools, many struggle to move beyond the planning or pilot phase. This highlights a key truth: even with immense potential, technology's value can only be unlocked with the buy-in and drive of people. If Saudi Arabia's current and future workforce is not aware of AI's potential or comfortable using it collaboratively, the Kingdom risks falling behind. Over the years, business owners have often asked me, along the following lines: 'Why won't my team use the new AI tool we've invested in?' Employees must view AI as a tool that enhances their work — not one that replaces them. Without this foundation, AI initiatives risk resistance and underutilization. Hatem S. Al-Mandeel My response is always: 'Do your people know what the tool does and how they're allowed to use it?' The answer is often hesitant: 'I assume so, but I'll need to check internally.' If the answer is not an immediate yes, there is a problem. AI can feel disruptive or unwelcoming to employees — just as the internet once did. In many cases I have encountered, employees are not even aware AI is being discussed at work. This brings me to my first piece of advice: build a clear AI mission statement and communicate it often. Clarity and repetition are crucial for gaining internal support. Employees need to understand not just what AI adoption means for the business but why it matters and how it impacts their roles. However, a mission statement alone is not enough. The next step is building awareness and foundational skills. Employees must view AI as a tool that enhances their work — not one that replaces them. Without this foundation, AI initiatives risk resistance and underutilization. My final advice: identify AI advocates within your workforce. These individuals exist in every organization and thrive when their curiosity and skills are recognized. They can play a vital role in driving AI education and adoption from within. One business owner I spoke with recently discovered his team members were not using an AI tool simply because they did not know it could help with daily tasks. After bringing in for awareness training, usage increased significantly. The path forward for Saudi Arabia businesses is clear: the rise of the AI-powered digital economy presents an opportunity for the Kingdom to become a global leader. To achieve this, businesses must learn from national initiatives — AI transformation is not just about adopting technology; it is about empowering people to extract its full value. If you are defining your AI strategy or concerned about its impact, start by enabling your workforce with awareness and skills. • Hatem S. Al-Mandeel is the managing director and co-founder of
