SDAIA’s President Remarks on AI Ethics Centre

His Excellency the President of the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, confirmed that the Council of Ministers’ decision to establish the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, along with UNESCO’s approval of it as an international Category 2 Center, is a significant achievement within SDAIA’s vision. The vision includes positioning the Kingdom as a leader in ethical AI globally by providing support for research and development in the field of AI, increasing awareness of the ethics of AI, providing advisory support in AI policies, and supporting capacity-building in AI.

“The Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility in addressing the complexities of AI,”

Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi,

This was part of a speech delivered by H.E. today during his participation in a ministerial session titled “A Regional Approach to Promoting Ethical Governance of Artificial Intelligence” at the Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The event, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, took place in the city of Kranj, Slovenia, under the theme “Changing the Landscape of AI Governance” from February 5 to 6, 2024. It saw the participation of several ministers of technology and AI from various countries worldwide.

H.E. stated: The Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility in addressing the complexities of AI. It emphasizes the necessity of cooperation in shaping the future of AI. He also highlighted the International Center for AI Research and Ethics in the Kingdom for its advanced steps in regional cooperation and capacity building.

In the past two weeks, the center hosted two AI governance sessions on UNESCO’s methodology for ethical readiness in AI in collaboration with UNESCO, the League of Arab States, and the Secretariat General of Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. The aim was to harmonize regional ethical practices for AI, collaborate on awareness and deployment, and unleash the value of AI while ensuring adherence to necessary controls.