Tourism in Davos: Saudi Arabia is a global partner in artificial intelligence
The Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has solidified its position as a trusted global partner and a key player in building and developing the artificial intelligence ecosystem, amidst the rapid global shift towards the digital age. He explained that the Kingdom's leadership is based on integrated strategic pillars that combine abundant energy resources, strong capital, advanced digital infrastructure, and a qualified national workforce, creating a fertile environment for innovators and investors to accelerate innovation and achieve added economic value.
Al-Swaha's remarks came during his active participation in a strategic dialogue session titled "Artificial Intelligence for Global Prosperity: Aligning Innovation, Inclusion, and Trust," held at the "Saudi House" pavilion during the World Economic Forum in Davos. This forum is a vital international platform that brings together world leaders and decision-makers to discuss economic and technological challenges, highlighting Saudi Arabia's influential role in shaping the future of technology and the global economy.
The age of computing and the shift from traditional energy
In his analysis of the global landscape, His Excellency highlighted the radical transformation the world is undergoing as it enters the "age of intelligence." He drew a profound historical comparison, explaining that the 20th century was shaped by the ability to produce and manage energy, while the 21st century is being shaped by advanced computing capabilities and the development of artificial intelligence. He pointed to a crucial equation: the gap that previously existed in the energy sector has now become a gap in computing capabilities, necessitating concerted efforts to bridge this gap and ensure equitable and inclusive growth.
The Kingdom: From an energy giant to a technology hub
Engineer Al-Swaha pointed out that the Kingdom, as the world's largest provider of reliable energy, is now playing a pivotal new role in expanding access to artificial intelligence technologies. The Kingdom is working to promote inclusivity in utilizing these technologies by investing heavily in advanced computing and addressing the complex technical challenges related to chip architecture and memory capacity. This directly contributes to building a sustainable and scalable AI ecosystem to serve humanity.
Leadership vision and support for innovation
The Minister emphasized that the Kingdom's successive achievements in the artificial intelligence and cloud computing sectors are a direct result of Vision 2030 and an extension of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with the direct and continuous support of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect them both. These directives aim to solidify the Kingdom's position as a global logistics and technology hub, build an innovation-driven digital economy, empower people, and protect the planet.
His Excellency concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the pioneering experiences led by the Kingdom in vital areas such as digital health, energy efficiency, and advanced chemistry are not merely local projects, but rather global practical models of how artificial intelligence can be employed on a large scale to serve humanity, promote global prosperity, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
