In the wake of the AI for Good Global Summit 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister and Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has approved the establishment of the ‘International Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics‘. This centre aims to harness artificial intelligence’s (AI) potential to expedite progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in AI governance.
With financial and administrative independence, the Saudi AI centre is poised to spearhead AI initiatives and collaborations between various entities, including the Saudi Authority of Intellectual Property (SAIP), Communications, Space, Technology Commission (CST), and the Saudi Data Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).
While leading the “government strategy” sector in the Global AI Index, Saudi Arabia has a potential to set a high standard for other nations to follow. As the demand for AI grows, this initiative holds the promise of making a significant contribution to the Saudi economy and fortifying the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI), ensuring its commitment to ethical and responsible AI implementation in the pursuit of national digital transformation goals.
The Six Potential Pillars of the Saudi AI Centre:
As we envision the future and potential work areas of the International Centre for AI Research and Ethics in Saudi Arabia, it is essential to clarify that the specific mandate of the centre is yet to be defined. Nevertheless, we foresee the following six potential pillars encapsulating the centre’s potential role, each contributing to the responsible and inclusive advancement of AI.
- Standardised Incident Reporting Database: The Saudi AI centre can create a centralised, standardised incident reporting database to record critical interactions of AI systems. This database will help identify potential issues related to the adoption of AI (e.g., ethical and safety concerns, privacy risk, cross-border data transfer) and enable cross-border coordination to mitigate miscommunication in the rapidly evolving field of AI.
- Registry of Crucial AI Systems: The centre could assemble a registry of AI applications with significant social and economic impacts, providing insights into the consequences of their use. Transparent rules regarding the access to these AI models will facilitate scrutiny and encourage responsible AI development worldwide.
- Shared Data and Analysis: To foster transparency of AI systems, the centre can collate and analyse key AI-related data, including investments, geographic distribution, key industries, uses of AI, and applications. This shared body of knowledge will fill existing gaps and enable informed decision-making.
- Knowledge Sharing: Working groups could gather data, conduct analyses, and forecast the impacts of AI in critical areas such as labour markets, education, media, and healthcare. By assessing both positive and negative effects, this initiative will ensure AI’s responsible application.
- Regulation and Policy Options: The centre can provide guidance for AI policy and regulation drawing on international practices. By promoting responsible AI governance, this effort will ensure inclusivity, safety, and innovation.
- Orchestrating Global Debate: An annual report on the state of AI that analyses key issues and trends will stimulate global debate. This effort will focus on technologies expected to launch, building on existing AI Index initiatives and guiding decision-makers worldwide.
Taking the abovementioned points into consideration, we see Saudi Arabia’s ‘International Centre for AI Research and Ethics’ potentially serving as a beacon of AI governance on the global stage. By fostering collaboration between public and private entities, Saudi Arabia could unlock AI’s full potential, making it a global model for the world to emulate in harnessing the benefits of AI for sustainable progress and economic growth.
AI Policy Lab
While the ‘International Centre for AI Research and Ethics’ holds immense potential, challenges in AI policy and regulation remain. To ensure inclusive, responsible, and innovative use of AI, Access Partnership’s AI Policy Lab collaborates with governments and the private sector to shape global AI policies. This lab plays a crucial role in keeping abreast of AI policy developments and fostering a safe and beneficial environment for AI advancement.
If you are interested in learning more about our AI Policy Lab or require support with keeping on top of AI policy and regulatory developments, please contact Rati Kvantaliani at [email protected].
