SDAIA, EU Experts Discuss Future of AI Technologies in Visual Arts

The meeting was held at the headquarters of SDAIA - SPA
The meeting was held at the headquarters of SDAIA - SPA
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SDAIA, EU Experts Discuss Future of AI Technologies in Visual Arts

The meeting was held at the headquarters of SDAIA - SPA
The meeting was held at the headquarters of SDAIA - SPA

Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority "SDAIA" hosted a meeting between a number of artificial intelligence specialists in SDAIA and art experts at the National Institutes of Culture of the European Union.

During the meeting, they discussed the project of the future of visual arts in light of the renewed uses of AI technologies, in addition to reviewing the global “AI Artathon” initiative presented by SDAIA for creative artists in various fields of art from around the world, SPA reported.

 

The meeting, held at the headquarters of SDAIA, discussed the relationship between AI technologies and visual and audio arts in addition to aesthetic arts, and how these technologies can be utilized to serve and contribute to the creation of new forms of art that are no less creative than those produced by human senses in forming artistic images.

They also discussed the mechanism and the future of the AI Artathon initiative.

The European participants expressed their admiration for the AI Artathon initiative, which provided creators from various countries around the world with the opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities and create works of art using artificial intelligence and Artathon technologies.

This initiative is one of the cognitive initiatives of SDAIA that aligns with the Kingdom's cultural character.

It has been integrated with the artistic aspect to reflect artistic concepts that draw inspiration from various Saudi cultural fields, particularly in natural heritage, heritage and archaeological sites, social heritage, and visual arts.

The delegation of National Culture Institutes of the European Union included French experts who closely examined the rich experience of SDAIA in the AI Artathon.

The first edition of the AI Artathon was launched in 2021 with the participation of 60 countries and 300 experts in data science, AI, and artists who competed to create the best visual art using AI technologies.



EU Countries Take 1st Step to Weaken Protected Status of Wolves

A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
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EU Countries Take 1st Step to Weaken Protected Status of Wolves

A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa
A young wolf stands in the enclosure of the Falkenstein National Park Center. Armin Weigel/dpa

Safeguards to protect wolves in the European Union could be weakened in future after member states agreed on Wednesday on the first steps towards easing these measures.

Weakening the protection of wolves aims to facilitate the culling of those deemed a threat to livestock.

Until now, wolves have been highly protected in Europe. In some regions, however, people question whether the status quo is still justified as the number of wolves is growing, dpa reported.

The wolf's protection in the EU is tied to the 1979 Bern Convention, the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.

EU ambassadors in Brussels agreed to propose a change to the body in charge of the wildlife protection treaty, EU diplomats told dpa.

Amending the Bern Convention is a first step which could pave the way for the European Commission to propose EU legislation to change the protected status of the wolf at a later stage.

The wolf's comeback in Europe is highly controversial.

Currently, wolves receive strict protection status under EU law with provisions allowing for local authorities to take action, including shooting wolves in case of conflicts with rural communities and farmers.

While some EU countries, including Germany and France, are in favor of easier culling, nature conservation groups campaign for different approaches, like better herd surveillance, night confinement and more guard dogs.

Having been extinct in large parts of Europe until the 1960s, there are currently around 19,000 wolves in the EU, according to conservationists.