SDAIA: Saudi Arabia Committed to Ensuring Ethical and Responsible AI Development

Chief of the National Data Management Office in the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi speaks at the at the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. (SPA)
Chief of the National Data Management Office in the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi speaks at the at the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. (SPA)
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SDAIA: Saudi Arabia Committed to Ensuring Ethical and Responsible AI Development

Chief of the National Data Management Office in the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi speaks at the at the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. (SPA)
Chief of the National Data Management Office in the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi speaks at the at the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. (SPA)

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.



US May Target Samsung, Hynix, TSMC Operations in China

A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
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US May Target Samsung, Hynix, TSMC Operations in China

A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
A man walks past the logo of Samsung Electronics displayed outside the company's Seocho building in Seoul on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

The US Department of Commerce is considering revoking authorizations granted in recent years to global chipmakers Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC, making it more difficult for them to receive US goods and technology at their plants in China, according to people familiar with the matter.

The chances of the United States withdrawing the authorizations are unclear. But with such a move, it would be harder for foreign chipmakers to operate in China, where they produce semiconductors used in a wide range of industries, Reuters said.

A White House official said the United States was "just laying the groundwork" in case the truce reached between the two countries fell apart. But the official expressed confidence that the trade agreement would go forward and that rare earths would flow from China, as agreed.

"There is currently no intention of deploying this tactic," the official said. "It's another tool we want in our toolbox in case either this agreement falls through or any other catalyst throws a wrench in bilateral relations."

Shares of US chip equipment makers that supply plants in China fell when the Wall Street Journal first reported the news earlier on Friday. KLA Corp dropped 2.4%, Lam Research fell 1.9% and Applied Materials sank 2%. Shares of Micron, a major competitor to Samsung and SK Hynix in the memory chip sector, rose 1.5%.

A TSMC spokesman declined comment. Samsung and Hynix did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lam Research, KLA and Applied Materials did not immediately respond, either.

In October 2022, after the United States placed sweeping restrictions on US chipmaking equipment to China, it gave foreign manufacturers like Samsung and Hynix letters authorizing them to receive goods.

In 2023 and 2024, the companies received what is known as Validated End User status in order to continue the trade.

A company with VEU status is able to receive designated goods from a US company without the supplier obtaining multiple export licenses to ship to them. VEU status enables entities to receive US-controlled products and technologies "more easily, quickly and reliably," as the Commerce Department website puts it.

The VEU authorizations come with conditions, a person familiar with the matter said, including prohibitions on certain equipment and reporting requirements.

“Chipmakers will still be able to operate in China," a Commerce Department spokesperson said in a statement when asked about the possible revocations. "The new enforcement mechanisms on chips mirror licensing requirements that apply to other semiconductor companies that export to China and ensure the United States has an equal and reciprocal process.”

Industry sources said that if it became more difficult for US semiconductor equipment companies to ship to foreign multinationals, it would only help domestic Chinese competitors.

"It’s a gift," one said.