Al-Ghamdi to Asharq Al-Awsat: SDAIA Adopts 3 Pillars for Building AI Capabilities

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Al-Ghamdi to Asharq Al-Awsat: SDAIA Adopts 3 Pillars for Building AI Capabilities

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the GAIN Summit. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, the supervisor of the capacity-building sector at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), said the Authority is building its capabilities on three main pillars: inspiration, development, and sustainability.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the third edition of the Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh on Tuesday, Al-Ghamdi revealed that SDAIA has achieved notable results, reaching nearly 600,000 beneficiaries through its AI awareness and inspiration activities.

He stated that the Authority is focused on developing capabilities that can create AI applications and technologies, having empowered around 7,000 specialists and experts in this field to date.

Al-Ghamdi also announced that SDAIA is forming partnerships with major AI companies to enhance capacity building, particularly at the national level. He explained that the Authority will establish partnerships with Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, and several national organizations, stressing that these efforts will significantly contribute to strengthening AI capacity building.

He added that SDAIA is working to raise AI awareness by promoting its proper use and ethics.

The summit brings AI leaders, thinkers, and inventors to Riyadh to discuss key issues in the field and to develop future visions and solutions for the benefit of humanity, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a leader in technology and artificial intelligence, he remarked.

The presence of these elite leaders from major tech companies, academic institutions, and universities in Riyadh will shape future directions for AI in tackling important and critical issues, he stressed.

Among these issues, he noted AI governance, avoiding bias, ethics, and strengthening capacity building in the field, while ensuring learning opportunities for all.

AI is a revolutionary, transformative technology that will reshape the global landscape, impacting daily life, tasks, and business operations, stressed Al-Ghamdi.



Oil Prices Set to End Week over 3% Lower as Supply Risks Ease

FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo
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Oil Prices Set to End Week over 3% Lower as Supply Risks Ease

FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Friday, heading for a weekly drop of more than 3%, as concerns over supply risks from the Israel-Hezbollah conflict eased, alleviating earlier disruption fears.
Brent crude futures fell 55 cents, or 0.8%, to $72.73 a barrel by 0758 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $69.52, down 20 cents, or 0.3%, compared with Wednesday's closing price.
On a weekly basis, Brent futures were down 3.3% and the U.S. WTI benchmark was trading 3.8% lower.
Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah traded accusations on Thursday over alleged violations of their ceasefire that came into effect the day before. The deal had at first appeared to alleviate the potential for supply disruption from a broader conflict that had led to a risk premium for oil.
Oil supplies from the Middle East, though, have been largely unaffected during Israel's parallel conflicts with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
OPEC+, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, delayed its next policy meeting to Dec. 5 from Dec. 1 to avoid a scheduling conflict. OPEC+ is expected to further extend its production cuts at the meeting.
BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, downgraded its Brent price forecast on Friday to $76/bbl in 2025 from $78/bbl previously, citing a "bearish fundamental outlook, ongoing weakness in oil market sentiment and the downside pressure on prices we expect to accrue under Trump."
"Although we expect the OPEC+ group will opt to roll-over the existing cuts into the new year, this will not be sufficient to fully erase the production glut we forecast for next year," BMI analysts said in a note.
Also on Thursday, Russia struck Ukrainian energy facilities for the second time this month. ANZ analysts said the attack risked retaliation that could affect Russian oil supply.
Iran told a UN nuclear watchdog it would install more than 6,000 additional uranium-enriching centrifuges at its enrichment plants, a confidential report by the watchdog said on Thursday.
Analysts at Goldman Sachs have said Iranian supply could drop by as much as 1 million barrels per day in the first half of next year if Western powers tighten sanctions enforcement on its crude oil output.