Head of the National Data Management Office of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi, said on Thursday that the Kingdom, through the SDAIA, is dedicated to developing ethical and responsible artificial intelligence (AI) at the national and global levels.
He highlighted the crucial role of SDAIA in advancing global AI governance as the national authority responsible for the regulation, development and use of data and AI in the Kingdom.
Al-Rebdi made the remarks at the World AI Conference 2024 and the 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 sought 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 Saudi Vision 2030,” he continued.
Al-Rebdi highlighted SDAIA’s active engagement with international organizations, governments, and industry leaders to shape global AI governance frameworks. Through partnerships, SDAIA aims to bring 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 effectively participated in the preparation of the initial international scientific report on the safety of advanced AI, which is the result of joint cooperation efforts between 75 AI experts from 30 countries, the European Union and the United Nations, Al-Rebdi stressed.
He highlighted SDAIA’s commitment to fostering the responsible and ethical development and deployment of AI technologies for the benefit of humanity through international collaboration, ethical advocacy, regulatory framework development, knowledge exchange and support for AI initiatives at local and international levels.
Al-Rebdi reiterated the importance of respecting the ethical principles of AI, including fairness, privacy and security, reliability and safety, transparency and explainability, responsibility and accountability, 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 local and global values. SDAIA recognizes the potential of AI to positively impact societies around the world and actively supports initiatives that use AI for social good, including healthcare, education, sustainable development, and public safety.
Additionally, Al-Rebdi called for efforts to shape a future in which 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 World AI Summit, hosted 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 in various fields.
