Saudi Arabia ranked second globally for societal awareness of artificial intelligence, according to the 2023 Artificial Intelligence Index Report by Stanford University.
The report is a comprehensive resource for policymakers, researchers, and industry professionals to understand better the current situation regarding artificial intelligence and possible future trends.
The report indicated that the Kingdom ranked second in the world, after China, regarding feeling positive about AI products and services during the current and future phases.
The survey included several criteria, notably the societal knowledge of the benefits and value of artificial intelligence products and services.
Saudi Arabia came in second place in the world, ahead of South Korea and Brazil, when talking about whether AI products and services will make the lives of the participants in the survey easier.
The Kingdom was also ahead of India, France, and Russia when participants were asked about their knowledge of the benefits and value of artificial intelligence products and services.
The Saudi leadership's interest in AI is prominent, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman indicated in his speech during the G20 Summit 2019 in Osaka.
"We live in a time of scientific innovations, unprecedented technologies, and unlimited growth prospects. If used optimally, new technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things can avoid many harms and bring the world many huge benefits," said the Crown Prince.
The government established the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in 2019 to officially manage the sector in the Kingdom.
The Authority is the national reference in everything related to organization, development, and dealing with AI, driving the national agenda for Data and AI to elevate the Kingdom as a global leader in the elite league of data-driven economies.
With this support, the Kingdom ranked first in the Arab world in 2020 and 22nd globally in the Global Index of Artificial Intelligence, compared to 29th in 2019.
Furthermore, the Kingdom established the AI Ethics Principles for public consultation as a practical guide to incorporating AI ethics throughout the AI system development life cycle.
After analyzing global and domestic standards and guidelines for AI use, AI Ethics principles recognize the importance of developing artificial intelligence and technological innovation in the Kingdom's services for its citizens and visitors.
Last year, the Kingdom joined the World Bank Group's Digital Development Partnership, a public-private collaboration to help developing countries use digital innovations to solve some of their most challenging issues.
SDAIA intensified the awareness aspect of this sector and its uses, including its organization of the two global AI summits in 2020 and 2022.
The Authority complied with the most extensive glossary of data and artificial intelligence, collecting the most important technical terms related to data and artificial intelligence with short, accessible definitions in Arabic and English.
The Kingdom presented the world with the best image of AI applications through "The Line" city and its adaptation to AI solutions to build sustainable societies.
Saudi Aramco has the largest industrial use of AI data, using "methane sensors" and the "Internet of Things" to provide the world with the cleanest activities in the refining, chemicals, and marketing sector.
Academically, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) collaborated with SDAIA to establish the Center of Excellence in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
The center enhances AI research, development, and innovation by funding applied data science and AI projects in areas of interest to SDAIA and its in-kingdom partners.
It also aims to develop a practical training program in data science and AI tools and methods and deliver that program to as broad an audience as possible throughout the Kingdom.
