Saudi aims to raise its profile in global AI governance

Saudi Arabia wants clearer rules of the road for AI, Saudi Data & AI Authority Spokesman Saeed bin Mohammed Al-Shahrani said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the pan-Arab news site owned by state-affiliated SRMG.

Big ticket items include: Establishing clear lines of authority that make an individual or company responsible when an AI causes harm and a global focus on translating abstract AI ethics principles into clear engineering guidance.

The comments came in advance of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence happening this week in Riyadh. It’s the first time the four-year-old annual conference is being held in an Arab country.

Why it matters: Al-Shahrani’s push reflects a widespread effort by Gulf nations to help mold the way AI is implemented across the globe rather than simply accepting AI systems designed by the US and China.

UNESCO plans to release a number of data-driven tools during the conference, aimed at helping policymakers develop AI systems that are inclusive, sustainable and support human rights, per a UNESCO news release. The forum will gather about 8,000 participants from roughly 50 countries, UNESCO says.