SDAIA President at AI Action Summit: Saudi Leads in AI Governance

Photo : SPA

Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, the head of Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), spoke at a big meeting in Paris on February 10–11, 2025. He said that Saudi Arabia is showing the world how to make good and fair rules for smart technology. He explained that smart technology is not only about computers but also affects jobs, businesses, safety, and everyday life. Because of this, strong rules are needed to make sure smart technology is used in a good and fair way. Many important people attended the meeting, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with experts and leaders from different countries.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel  

Saudi Arabia has made 65 rules about smart technology and is ranked third in the world, after the United States and the United Kingdom. To help people understand these rules, Saudi Arabia has started a special center for smart technology laws in the Middle East. This center will help make better laws and ensure that smart technology is used safely. Dr. Alghamdi also talked about how Saudi Arabia has been working on smart technology for a long time. In 2020, the country held a big world event about smart technology in Riyadh. In 2024, Saudi Arabia hosted an even bigger meeting, where experts from over 100 countries came to talk about how smart technology can help people.

Saudi Arabia also wants smart technology to follow Islamic values and be used in the right way. In 2023, the country held a meeting with 53 Islamic nations. This meeting led to the Riyadh Charter for AI Ethics, which helps guide people on using smart technology in a fair and good way.

To help with research, Saudi Arabia has built a new center called the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh. This center is recognized by UNESCO and will help make new rules, train people, and ensure smart technology is used correctly. ICAIRE has already worked with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to bring together more than 100 experts from 28 countries to discuss smart technology laws.

Dr. Alghamdi said that Saudi Arabia is ready to play an important role in the future of smart technology. The country will also join the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) meeting in Slovakia in 2025. He asked all countries to work together to make sure smart technology is safe, fair, and helpful for everyone.