SDAIA Concludes GAIN Summit in Riyadh with Local, Int’l Agreements

The summit included panel discussions and workshops featuring experts from various sectors and global companies specialized in AI applications. SPA
The summit included panel discussions and workshops featuring experts from various sectors and global companies specialized in AI applications. SPA
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SDAIA Concludes GAIN Summit in Riyadh with Local, Int’l Agreements

The summit included panel discussions and workshops featuring experts from various sectors and global companies specialized in AI applications. SPA
The summit included panel discussions and workshops featuring experts from various sectors and global companies specialized in AI applications. SPA

The third edition of the Global AI Summit (GAIN Summit), organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) from September 10 to 12 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh brought together hundreds of specialists and enthusiasts in artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies and applications worldwide under the theme "Artificial Intelligence for the Good of Humanity."

AT the summit, SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi highlighted the Saudi leadership's commitment, under the guidance of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Chairman of the SDAIA Board of Directors, to position Saudi Arabia as a leader in the field of AI.

The summit included panel discussions and workshops featuring experts from various sectors and global companies specialized in AI applications. The sessions unveiled the latest developments in the field, emphasizing that innovations in AI have far-reaching impacts not just technologically but also on geopolitical, political, and legislative domains. Furthermore, it was stressed that developments in AI should align with sustainable development and equality in education.

Several AI initiatives, programs, and products were unveiled during the summit, and agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed to bolster its applications and development within the Kingdom.

The third edition of the GAIN Summit concluded with a speech by National Information Center Director Dr. Esam bin Abdullah Al-Wagait, who highlighted the participation of 465 speakers and participants from over 100 countries and how the summit explored the latest developments shaping the future of AI.

Moreover, he underscored the global significance of announcements made during the summit, such as the work of the United Nations (UN) High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, the partnership of the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the Kingdom to develop a global framework for AI readiness, and the announcement of the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World issued by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on the Observatory on Artificial Intelligence.

Al-Wagait also highlighted important AI projects that emerged during the summit, including the Arabic Large Language Model (ALLaM), aimed at developing the best large Arabic language model in the world, and the cooperation with NVIDIA to expand the scope of AI infrastructure using 5,000 graphics processing units. Additionally, educational integration initiatives were announced, such as cooperation with the Ministry of Education to integrate the ALLaM Model into the Kingdom's education system, providing support tools for teachers and leveraging AI technology for self-learning.



Saudi Arabia, Canada Discuss Smart Industrial Cities

The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Canada Discuss Smart Industrial Cities

The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA
The meetings held by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries. SPA

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has discussed with Canadian government ministers ways to bolster industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries, opportunities for developing industrial innovation, and building an effective partnership to establish smart industrial cities in the Kingdom by leveraging Canadian expertise.

During his meeting with Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne, and accompanied by National Industrial Development Center Chief Executive Saleh AlSulami, Alkhorayef underscored the Kingdom's commitment to benefiting from the applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, to develop the industrial sector and create added value, while improving production efficiency in industrial facilities.

Meeting participants discussed enhancing cooperation in the field of industrial digitization, utilizing AI technologies to improve industrial processes, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in building smart industrial cities in the Kingdom, benefiting from Canadian advancements in digital infrastructure.

The two sides also discussed collaboration between the Kingdom and Canada in the field of innovation, including the partnership between the Saudi Ministry of Education and Metax, a Canadian research organization funded by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry with a focus on providing joint research opportunities for graduate and doctoral students in both countries.

During a meeting with Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen, Alkhorayef discussed ways to enhance economic relations and non-oil trade between the two countries, given the fact that the Kingdom is the largest trading partner for Canada in the Middle East and North Africa. The ministers reviewed the role of industrial development globally in advancing communities, increasing their well-being, and improving individuals' living standards.

Alkhorayef and Canada's Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MIHR) executive director Ryan Montpellier discussed opportunities to benefit from council's expertise in workforce human capabilities development strategies in the mining sector.

The meetings held by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources with Canadian ministers are part of his visit to Canada, aimed at strengthening industrial and mining cooperation between the two countries, exploring mutual opportunities in both sectors, and attracting foreign investments to the Kingdom.