Saudi Arabia is making headway in artificial intelligence development, led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA). The National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI), approved in 2020, aims to position Saudi Arabia among the top 15 nations in AI by 2030. This strategy focuses on skills development, policies and regulations, investment, and innovation, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification and modernisation.
Saudi Arabia is actively engaging in global AI initiatives. The kingdom has hosted the Global AI Summit in 2020 and 2022, endorsed the Bletchley Declaration at the 2023 AI Safety Summit, and joined the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), endorsing the Riyadh AI Call for Action Declaration. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is collaborating with UNESCO on AI policy development and ethics, demonstrating its commitment to shaping the global AI landscape.
In response to growing concerns about data protection, Saudi Arabia has taken significant steps. The kingdom enacted the Personal Data Protection Law in 2021, modelled after GDPR, and established a Data Protection Office in 2022. National campaigns on data protection and internet safety have been launched to raise awareness. However, concerns remain about government surveillance and the use of biometric data, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing technological advancement with privacy rights.
While Saudi Arabia has made progress in some areas of AI development, significant human rights challenges persist. The kingdom is rated as "Not Free" by Freedom House, with low scores on civil liberties and political rights. Concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and political dissent continue to shadow its technological ambitions. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia has endorsed UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and launched a public consultation on AI Ethics Principles, signalling some recognition of the importance of ethical AI development.
Saudi Arabia is pursuing ambitious smart city projects as part of its AI-driven future. The NEOM project aims to create a futuristic, AI-driven city, while plans are underway to build 200 smart cities across the kingdom. These initiatives have contributed to Saudi Arabia being ranked third globally in digital government transformation by the World Bank, underscoring the kingdom's commitment to technological innovation.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/