Microsoft CEO Highlights Importance of AI to Boost Economic Development in Saudi Arabia

Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella has highlighted the importance of artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies to support economic development in Saudi Arabia. SPA
Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella has highlighted the importance of artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies to support economic development in Saudi Arabia. SPA
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Microsoft CEO Highlights Importance of AI to Boost Economic Development in Saudi Arabia

Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella has highlighted the importance of artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies to support economic development in Saudi Arabia. SPA
Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella has highlighted the importance of artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies to support economic development in Saudi Arabia. SPA

Microsoft CEO and Chairman Satya Nadella has highlighted the importance of artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies to support economic development in Saudi Arabia in a speech at the Riyadh event “Artificial Intelligence, A New Era.”

At the event, Nadella met on Wednesday with pioneering local business leaders, government officials, and a leading group of technical developers, reiterating the significant role played by AI in providing new opportunities to enhance the digital economy in the Kingdom, ensuring the improvement of citizens' quality of life in alignment with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Nadella said in a statement that the new AI generation will radically transform the level of individuals’ productivity and boost innovation in institutions and business sectors at the global and local levels, including the Kingdom.

Nadella praised Saudi institutions' efforts on the levels of the government and private sector in devoting these technologies to motivate innovation and provide multiple opportunities to strengthen economic development.

During the event, a discussion was held between the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, and the Microsoft CEO about strategies of employing the latest AI innovations. The discussion aimed to fast-track the Kingdom’s vision for its transformation into a digital society that involves a digital government and a prosperous digital economy and support an innovative future that embraces the interest of everyone without exception.



OpenAI Launches Free AI Training Course for Teachers

A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed OpenAI logo in this illustration taken February 21, 2023. (Reuters)
A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed OpenAI logo in this illustration taken February 21, 2023. (Reuters)
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OpenAI Launches Free AI Training Course for Teachers

A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed OpenAI logo in this illustration taken February 21, 2023. (Reuters)
A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed OpenAI logo in this illustration taken February 21, 2023. (Reuters)

OpenAI and non-profit partner Common Sense Media have launched a free training course for teachers aimed at demystifying artificial intelligence and prompt engineering, the organizations said on Wednesday.

The move comes as OpenAI is stepping up efforts to highlight the positive role in education of its ChatGPT chatbot whose launch in November 2022 kicked off a generative AI craze and made it one of the world's fastest-growing applications.

Trained on reams of data, generative AI can create brand-new humanlike content, helping users spin up term papers, complete science homework and even write entire novels.

ChatGPT's launch - in the middle of the school year - caught teachers off-guard when they realized it could be used as a cheating and plagiarism tool, which then sparked a backlash and school bans.

OpenAI, backed by Microsoft and other investors and valued at $157 billion in its last funding round, has formed a dedicated team to support what it says is the responsible use of AI in education and learning, led by former Coursera executive Leah Belsky.

"My goal in this role is to put AI into the hands of every student and every teacher... and also give them the skills to learn how to do it responsibly and effectively," Belsky told Reuters. Belsky said that student adoption of ChatGPT is "very, very high," and parents are generally supportive, viewing AI skills as essential for future careers.

The training course, targeted at kindergarten through 12th grade teachers, shows them how to use the ChatGPT chatbot product for various education use cases, such as to create lesson content or streamline department meetings. Available on Common Sense Media's website, it is the first offering in OpenAI's partnership with Common Sense Media.