Chief of the National Data Management Office in the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi said on Thursday that the Kingdom, through SDAIA, is dedicated to developing ethical and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) on both a national and global level.
He emphasized SDAIA's crucial role in advancing global AI governance as the national authority responsible for data and AI regulation, development, and usage in the Kingdom.
Al-Rebdi made his remarks at the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, themed "Governing AI for Good and for All," held from July 4 to 6 in Shanghai, China.
He said:
"The Kingdom has invested heavily in AI research and development, established specialized centers, and has been keen to strengthen cooperation with leading global technology companies,” he added.
“It seeks to achieve global leadership in this field and benefit from its transformative power in various sectors to achieve the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030,” he went on to say.
Al-Rebdi underscored SDAIA's active engagement with international organizations, governments, and industry leaders to shape global AI governance frameworks. Through partnerships, SDAIA aims to contribute its expertise and perspectives to shape AI policies and standards that foster innovation and uphold ethical principles.
SDAIA is an active member of the international AI community, having participated effectively in the preparation of the initial international scientific report on the safety of advanced AI, which is the result of joint cooperative efforts between 75 AI experts from 30 countries, the European Union, and the United Nations, Al-Rebdi stressed.
He underlined SDAIA's commitment to driving the responsible and ethical development and deployment of AI technologies to benefit humanity through international collaboration, ethical advocacy, regulatory framework development, knowledge exchange and support for AI initiatives on local and international levels.
Al-Rebdi reiterated the importance of upholding ethical principles in AI, including fairness, privacy and security, reliability and safety, transparency and explainability, accountability and responsibility, humanity, and social and environmental benefits.
SDAIA's goal is to ensure that AI technologies are developed with a focus on human needs and to promote both local and global values. SDAIA recognizes AI's potential to impact societies worldwide positively and actively supports initiatives that utilize AI for social good, including healthcare, education, sustainable development, and public safety.
Moreover, Al-Rebdi called for efforts to shape a future where AI serves as a force for positive change, addressing global challenges, promoting sustainable development, and fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
He invited representatives of participating countries to attend the third edition of the Global AI Summit, organized by the Kingdom and represented by SDAIA in Riyadh in September 2024. The summit will bring together global thought leaders to explore the potential impact of AI across various fields.
