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Islamic Affairs Minister Launches Several E-Apps

Islamic Affairs Minister Launches Several E-Apps
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Islamic Affairs Minister Launches Several E-Apps

Islamic Affairs Minister Launches Several E-Apps

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh inaugurated at the ministry in Riyadh several e-applications that contribute to improving the ministry work, in and out of the Kingdom, but especially pilgrims and Umrah performers.

Among the applications, one seeks to improve pilgrims knowledge of Sharia issues by enabling video calls between pilgrims or Umrah performs and preachers; another, the ministry’s official application called Rushd, promotes verified e-books, SPA reported.

Al Al-Sheikh stressed that by launching these applications, the ministry works toward carrying out the digital transformation in a way that ensures better performance and higher quality of information exchange, automates administrative work, helps achieve continuous development, guarantees access to a digital working environment, and utilizes modern technologies to serve pilgrims, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.

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SDAIA President: Saudi Arabia Is Building an Integrated National AI Ecosystem in Line with Vision 2030 

SDAIA President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi delivers his remarks at Thursday's meeting. (SPA)
SDAIA President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi delivers his remarks at Thursday's meeting. (SPA)
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SDAIA President: Saudi Arabia Is Building an Integrated National AI Ecosystem in Line with Vision 2030 

SDAIA President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi delivers his remarks at Thursday's meeting. (SPA)
SDAIA President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi delivers his remarks at Thursday's meeting. (SPA)

President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Abdullah Al-Ghamdi stressed on Thursday that Saudi Arabia, guided by the objectives of its Vision 2030, is moving steadily to establish artificial intelligence (AI) as a trusted national capability.

The goal is to use AI to help develop government services, enhance competitiveness, build human capacity, and improve the quality of life through a comprehensive strategy based on three main pillars that unlock the full potential of this technology and achieve sustainable developmental impact, he told a high-level ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

“The first pillar focuses on building human capacity and enhancing readiness to engage with AI technologies,” he said.

He added that the second is building an integrated national AI ecosystem that drives expansion and innovation by developing advanced digital infrastructure that enables various sectors to adopt AI applications efficiently, consistently, and with effective governance.

The third pillar is governance, which ensures responsible and measurable AI through a national framework aligned with international standards, he explained.

Al-Ghamdi was heading the Kingdom’s delegation at the summit, and the meeting saw broad participation from heads of state, decision-makers, and technology leaders from around the world.

Technology

OpenAI's Altman Says World 'Urgently' Needs AI Regulation

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman speaks at the AI Summit in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo)
OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman speaks at the AI Summit in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo)
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OpenAI's Altman Says World 'Urgently' Needs AI Regulation

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman speaks at the AI Summit in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo)
OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman speaks at the AI Summit in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo)

Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, told a global artificial intelligence conference on Thursday that the world "urgently" needs to regulate the fast-evolving technology.

An organization could be set up to coordinate these efforts, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), AFP quoted him as saying.

Altman is one of the hosts of top tech CEOs in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit, the fourth annual global meeting on how to handle advanced computing power.

Frenzied demand for generative AI has turbocharged profits for many companies while fueling anxiety about the risks to individuals and the planet.

"Democratization of AI is the best way to ensure humanity flourishes," Altman said, adding that "centralization of this technology in one company or country could lead to ruin".

"This is not to suggest that we won't need any regulation or safeguards," he said. "We obviously do, urgently, like we have for other powerful technologies."

Many researchers and campaigners say stronger action is needed to combat emerging issues, ranging from job disruption to sexualized deepfakes and AI-enabled online scams.

"We expect the world may need something like the IAEA for international coordination of AI," with the ability to "rapidly respond to changing circumstances", Altman said.

"The next few years will test global society as this technology continues to improve at a rapid pace. We can choose to either empower people or concentrate power," he added.

"Technology always disrupts jobs; we always find new and better things to do."

Generative AI chatbot ChatGPT has 100 million weekly users in India, more than a third of whom are students, he said.

Earlier on Thursday, OpenAI announced with Indian IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) a plan to build data center infrastructure in the South Asian country.

Technology

Saudi Arabia Showcases Responsible Use of AI at AI Impact Summit in India

Saudi Arabia took part in a high-level session on harnessing artificial intelligence on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by India.
Saudi Arabia took part in a high-level session on harnessing artificial intelligence on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by India.
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Saudi Arabia Showcases Responsible Use of AI at AI Impact Summit in India

Saudi Arabia took part in a high-level session on harnessing artificial intelligence on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by India.
Saudi Arabia took part in a high-level session on harnessing artificial intelligence on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by India.

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), took part in a high-level session on harnessing artificial intelligence for people, planet, and progress on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 hosted by India, the Saudi Press agency reported on Wednesday.

The event drew participation from more than 70 countries and 25 international organizations, as well as senior decision-makers and technology experts.

The Saudi delegation, led by SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi, included Saudi Ambassador to India Haitham Al-Maliki and officials from relevant government entities.

The session aimed to launch a global network of specialized AI scientific institutions, accelerate discovery through advanced technologies, strengthen international cooperation among states and research bodies, and support the deployment of artificial intelligence to address global challenges and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

Deputy Chief Strategy Officer at SDAIA Dr. Abdulrahman Habib emphasized the need to unify international efforts to promote the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence, ensuring a sustainable, positive impact on societies and economies worldwide and supporting the 2030 SDGs.

He also reviewed Saudi Arabia’s data and AI initiatives, highlighting efforts to develop regulatory frameworks and national policies that balance innovation with the governance of emerging technologies, as well as applied models that have enhanced quality of life, improved government service efficiency, and advanced environmental sustainability.

SDAIA's participation in the summit underscores Saudi Arabia’s role in shaping the global future of AI and in strengthening its presence in international forums focused on advanced technologies, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes digital transformation and innovation.