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The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) established the National Center for Artificial Intelligence in 2019 to advance AI research and innovation. In 2020, the authority released the National Data and AI Strategy, outlining several priorities:
Key Priorities:
Establishing a Robust Data and AI Ecosystem: Promoting collaboration among government, private sector, and academic institutions.
Enhancing Saudi Arabia's Contribution to Global and Local AI Initiatives and Activities.
Investing in Research and Development (R&D): Driving AI innovation.
Promoting a Culture of AI Literacy and Skills Development: Achieved through training and education programs.
Ensuring a Supportive Legal and Regulatory Environment for AI Development.
Encouraging Local and Foreign Investment in AI.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government launched the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy in 2017, aiming to achieve global AI leadership by 2031.
Subsequently, the government appointed a Minister of State for AI as part of the new cabinet, aiming to position the UAE as a leader in global AI and advanced technologies.
The Ministry of State for AI is responsible for overseeing the implementation of AI projects through various initiatives, including Smart Dubai, which integrates AI into urban life to improve public services.
These initiatives not only enhance urban efficiency but also improve the quality of life for residents, positioning the UAE prominently in the global AI landscape.
Regulatory Framework:
The UAE's regulatory framework is based on the following three broad areas:
Cross-Sector Integration: Integrating AI into key areas such as transportation, healthcare, space exploration, smart consumption, water resources, technology, education, and agriculture. The goal is to leverage AI solutions to enhance efficiency and innovation across these key sectors, promoting overall national development.
Enhancing Workforce Collaboration: Supporting employees in both public and private sectors. The strategy envisions a collaborative relationship between humans and machines, aimed at developing AI technologies that enhance workforce capabilities. The goal is to achieve synergistic cooperation between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, forming a complementary partnership.
Ensuring Responsible Use of AI: Recognizing the importance of ethical AI use, the strategy emphasizes the need for a robust legal framework. This includes addressing human-machine interaction issues, establishing guidelines for responsible AI deployment, and creating regulations that balance innovation with ethical considerations.
The emphasis is on fostering an environment that encourages the ethical and safe integration of AI technologies across all aspects of society. The integration and development in these areas aim to ensure that the UAE maintains a leadership position in the application of global AI technologies while promoting sustainable societal development.
Key Participants
In the academic realm, Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUI) collaborates with institutions such as the Abu Dhabi Health Services Authority and IBM to conduct AI research. The Mohammed bin Rashid Artificial Intelligence Center focuses on R&D and capability building in AI.
In 2018, Abu Dhabi's ADQ established the prominent AI company G42 and collaborated with OpenAI to facilitate the deployment of AI models across various industries. In 2023, G42 partnered with MBZUI and Cerebras Systems to launch Jais, a bilingual Arabic-English large language model.
Additionally, G42 launched a $10 billion G42 Expansion Fund in 2022 to support technology investments in emerging markets. These initiatives demonstrate the UAE's active efforts to promote AI research and technological development.
The UAE government is actively fostering a culture of AI startups, currently hosting over 90 investment funds and 12 business incubators in the digital sector, with a total valuation of startups reaching $408 million. The Dubai Future District Fund has 1 billion AED aimed at attracting startups utilizing AI and blockchain technologies.
The UAE is committed to integrating AI in key sectors and fostering innovation that supports national development. The strategy emphasizes human-machine collaboration, aiming to ensure the ethical use of AI through a solid legal framework. This ecosystem features key participants such as MBZUI, G42, and various innovative startups, with the UAE focusing on technological, ethical, collaborative, and inclusive progress. These efforts collectively drive the country’s leadership in global AI development.
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