How Saudi Arabia Is Looking To Develop & Integrate Artificial Intelligence In Its Economy
Yet another country has gone to release the potential of artificial intelligence to fuel its economic growth plans. One of the largest oil manufacturing nations, Saudi Arabia, has now formulated and launched a nation-wide policy on AI. The project has been signed with approval from King Salman and aims to add the market value of up to 500 billion riyals (US$133 billion) in the country’s GDP by 2030.
The policy formulation had begun last year when the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) was established through a royal decree in August 2019 to lead the charge of the nation’s transformation into a data-driven economy. Besides, the body is working on implementing a cloud platform, intending to build one of the biggest cloud frameworks in the Middle East by connecting 83 data centres controlled by over 40 government bodies.
Under the SDAIA, three units, namely the National Information Center, the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and the National Data Management Office, were created to manage and execute various aspects related to the AI policy. Apart from this, the kingdom also established a national data bank consisting of more than 80 state datasets, which is equal to about 30 per cent of the Saudi government’s digital assets, revealed Abdullah bin Sharaf Al Ghamdi, President of SDAIA.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) launched its brand identity for the AI policy at an event in national capital Riyadh with the theme ‘Data is Oil of the 21st Century’. Speaking at the brand launch Dr Al-Ghamdi, President of SDAIA, said, “Data is the single most significant driver of our growth and reformation in the 21st century. We have a definite vision and roadmap for transforming Saudi Arabia into a leading AI and data-driven market. SDAIA is at the vanguard of this change and is primed for national data and AI agenda definition, implementation and knowledge.”
The event was attended by ministers and the leading government officials and centred on their readiness to make the Kingdom among the world’s leading economies in the adoption of AI. Ever since the introduction of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan in 2016, Saudi Arabia has achieved significant progression in unfastening the value of data as a public asset.
Dr Al-Ghamdi, further stated, “We have seen first-hand, the immediate impact of AI and data-driven actions, and their potential to drive Saudi Arabia’s coming economy, but we are yet in the beginning stages with many untapped opportunities open.
