ICT

AI RESHAPES SAUDI’S DIGITAL ECONOMY

Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in artificial intelligence to accelerate its expertise and know-how of the nascent sector. 

Late last year the kingdom’s National Strategy for Data & AI (NSDAI) announced that it was looking to become among the world’s leading AI countries in 2030.

The government aims to leverage its role as one of the most populous countries in the region, with an affluent and skilled workforce and the financial wherewithal to bring the world’s cutting edge technologies to the kingdom. More than 60% of the population are under 30 years old and are deeply entwined with the digital economy.

One of NSDAI’s three objectives are to position the kingdom as a global and regional hub, where the best of data and AI technologies can thrive. The second objective is to create a skilled, tech-savvy workforce.

“Most sectors will have to adapt in order to maximise the benefits this transformation is bringing,” the NSDAI said in a presentation. “The faster we are in integrating data and AI into our education system, professional trainings and into general public knowledge, the greater advantage we will gain in terms of employment, productivity and innovation.”

Finally, the kingdom aims to create a robust regulatory framework that will allow international and regional AI firms and investors to enter the domestic economy.

“As part of providing an attractive regulatory framework for data and AI investments and businesses, we aim at having a strong framework to promote and support ethical development of data and AI research and solutions,” according to the presentation.

The kingdom already has a head start in AI as its sovereign wealth fund is one of the premier global investors in innovation and technology companies.

The Public InvestmentFund (PIF) is a major stakeholder in Softbank Vision’s Fund, which is investing in some of the world’s most innovative companies. These include Brain Corp., which is developing an AI platform that transforms everyday machines into robotic solutions; Nvidia Corp., a technology company igniting modern AI to power the next era of computing; and Petuum, a software infrastructure and ecosystem provider aiming to industrialise AI technology and transform enterprises across all industries. 

In addition, AI is being embedded into the ecosystems of new Saudi cities, which are under construction.

Last year, NEOM City, a smart, sustainable metropolis rising up in the kingdom’s west coast, awarded a contract to US-based Bechtel for executive project management work on the development of the primary, base infrastructure for NEOM, as the giga-project advances work to create the world’s leading destination to attract talent and investment. 

“NEOM, a beacon for the future of urban living, selected Bechtel to oversee and create resource-efficient utilities and a highly advanced transport system to connect NEOM’s cognitive cities. Integrating sustainable land use, intelligent urban design and multi-modal mobility, NEOM will deliver a community of exceptional liveability,” the company said. “Work will include simultaneous construction in multiple locations requiring extraordinary engineering solutions in challenging terrain.” 

The Line, NEOM’s latest project, promises to be a 170-kilometre belt of hyper-connected future communities, without cars and roads and built around nature.

“The Line’s communities will be cognitive, powered by AI, continuously learning predictive ways to make life easier, creating time for both residents and businesses,” the company said. “An estimated 90% of available data will be harnessed to enhance infrastructure capabilities far beyond the 1% typically utilised in existing smart cities.”

The Saudi government has also signed deals with some of the world’s leading technology companies to boost its capabilities. The National Center for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) signed a deal with China’s Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Under the MoU, Huawei will support the NCAI to train Saudi AI engineers and students, and to address Arabic language AI-related capabilities. NCAI and Huawei will also explore the creation of an AI Capability Platform to localise technology solutions.

“This initiative will play an important role in supporting the kingdom in achieving its Vision 2030 goals, of which around 70% are directly impacted by the data and AI agenda; and in supporting the national ambition to make Saudi Arabia a world leader in the field of AI,” said Dr Majid Altuwaijri, CEO of the NCAI.

In February, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and Philips N.V. also signed an MoU to deploy AI technologies in the kingdom’s health care system.

SDAIA and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised agency of the United Nations, also agreed to collaborate on initiatives aimed at supporting and strengthening efforts to optimise the benefits of AI technologies and applications for sustainable development.

“The ITU will share best practices in the field of AI with the kingdom,” said Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, president of SDAIA. “This will help in shedding light on how to sponsor and support emerging companies and new incubators in the national space, especially as there is no official framework that currently exists to support the AI readiness of countries and international co-operation.