Saudi Arabia Earns Top Marks in Global AI Index for National Strategy 

Established in 2019, SDAIA serves as the national authority for all matters related to data (including big data) and AI, providing a centralized hub for its organization, development, and implementation. 
Established in 2019, SDAIA serves as the national authority for all matters related to data (including big data) and AI, providing a centralized hub for its organization, development, and implementation. 
TT

Saudi Arabia Earns Top Marks in Global AI Index for National Strategy 

Established in 2019, SDAIA serves as the national authority for all matters related to data (including big data) and AI, providing a centralized hub for its organization, development, and implementation. 
Established in 2019, SDAIA serves as the national authority for all matters related to data (including big data) and AI, providing a centralized hub for its organization, development, and implementation. 

The Stanford University International AI Index for 2024 ranked Saudi Arabia among the leading nations globally for developing a national strategy on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This comprehensive resource, valuable for policymakers, researchers, and industry specialists, provides insights into the current state and future trajectory of AI, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

This recognition reflects the Kingdom's commitment to leveraging data and AI technologies. Under the guidance and support of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) board of directors, the Kingdom is harnessing these powerful and transformative technologies for the betterment of humanity, while promoting a global framework for international cooperation in the field of AI.

Saudi Arabia's strong positioning in the AI and data domain underscores the success of Vision 2030, a national transformation plan where AI plays a pivotal role. Approximately 70% of the goals of Vision 2030 are directly or indirectly tied to AI, propelling the Kingdom toward a leading position in global AI rankings.

Established in 2019, SDAIA serves as the national authority for all matters related to data (including big data) and AI, providing a centralized hub for its organization, development, and implementation.

The latest accomplishment builds on Saudi Arabia's previous achievements in the AI realm. In 2023, the Kingdom secured the top spot in the Government Strategy Index for Artificial Intelligence, in the global AI classification issued by Tortoise Intelligence, which evaluates over 60 countries. Stanford University International AI Index 2023 ranked Saudi Arabia second globally in public awareness about AI.

These global accolades align with SDAIA's tireless efforts to solidify Saudi Arabia's position as a global leader in data and AI. Its multifaceted approach includes capacity building, policy development, fostering investment and innovation, strengthening technical infrastructure, and promoting the adoption of AI solutions in priority areas aligned with national objectives.

SDAIA is dedicated to achieving a set of strategic goals, including continuous modernization of the national data and AI agenda, and ensuring its successful implementation at the national level. Its steadfast commitment paves the way for Saudi Arabia to become a frontrunner in the information, data, and AI-driven economies of the future.



TikTok Calls Report of Possible Sale to Musk's X 'Pure Fiction'

The TikTok logo is displayed outside the offices of the social media app's company offices in Culver City, California, on March 16, 2023. (AFP)
The TikTok logo is displayed outside the offices of the social media app's company offices in Culver City, California, on March 16, 2023. (AFP)
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TikTok Calls Report of Possible Sale to Musk's X 'Pure Fiction'

The TikTok logo is displayed outside the offices of the social media app's company offices in Culver City, California, on March 16, 2023. (AFP)
The TikTok logo is displayed outside the offices of the social media app's company offices in Culver City, California, on March 16, 2023. (AFP)

TikTok on Tuesday labeled as "pure fiction" a report that China is exploring a potential sale of the video-sharing platform's US operations to billionaire Elon Musk as the firm faces an American law requiring imminent Chinese divestment.

Citing anonymous people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News had earlier reported that Chinese officials were considering selling the company's US operations to Musk's social media platform X.

The report outlined one scenario being discussed in Beijing where X would purchase TikTok from Chinese owner ByteDance and combine it with the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"We cannot be expected to comment on pure fiction," a TikTok spokesperson told AFP.

The report estimated the value of TikTok's US operations at between $40 billion and $50 billion.

Although Musk is currently ranked as the world's wealthiest person, Bloomberg said it was not clear how Musk could execute the transaction, or if he would need to sell other assets.

The US Congress passed a law last year that requires ByteDance to either sell its wildly popular platform or shut it down. It goes into effect on Sunday -- a day before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The US government alleges TikTok allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users and is a conduit to spread propaganda. China and ByteDance strongly deny the claims.

TikTok has challenged the law, taking an appeal all the way to the US Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on Friday.

At the hearing, a majority of the conservative and liberal justices on the nine-member bench appeared skeptical of arguments by a lawyer for TikTok that forcing a sale was a violation of First Amendment free speech rights.

Bloomberg characterized Beijing's consideration of a possible Musk transaction as "still preliminary," noting that Chinese officials have yet to reach a consensus on how to proceed.

Musk is a close ally of Trump and is expected to play an influential role in Washington in the coming four years.

He also runs electric car company Tesla, which has a major factory in China and counts the country as one of the automaker's biggest markets.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to enact new tariffs on Chinese goods, which would expand a trade war begun in his first term and which was largely upheld, and in some cases supplemented, by outgoing President Joe Biden.