The president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, met with UNESCO Director General Khaled El-Enany in Geneva to discuss strategic cooperation in artificial intelligence. The meeting took place during the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, held on the sidelines of the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.
Strategic Cooperation and Ethical AI Policies
The two officials reviewed the ongoing collaboration between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UNESCO in the field of AI. They explored ways to strengthen international partnerships focused on developing ethical policies for AI technology. Al-Ghamdi praised UNESCO's global efforts in AI and emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals through responsible AI deployment.
International Center for AI Research and Ethics in Riyadh
Al-Ghamdi highlighted Saudi Arabia's initiative to establish the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh. The center, approved by UNESCO's General Conference as a Category 2 center under its auspices, serves as a global hub for AI research and development. It aims to promote awareness of AI ethics and build international capacity in the field.
Practical Initiatives and National AI Index
Al-Ghamdi also outlined the Kingdom's efforts to translate international AI principles into practical initiatives led by SDAIA. These include the launch of the AI Ethics Principles, the awarding of AI ethics labels to more than 60 companies across Saudi Arabia, and the introduction of the National AI Index. The index measures AI adoption across government entities and supports responsible, human-centered innovation.
The meeting underscores Saudi Arabia's growing role in global AI governance and its commitment to ethical AI development in partnership with international organizations like UNESCO.
