Sat Sep 14 14:16:00 UTC 2024: ## Saudi Arabia’s Global AI Summit Draws 30,000 Delegates and Ushers in New Era of Ethical AI
**Riyadh, Saudi Arabia** – The Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh concluded on a high note after attracting over 30,000 delegates from around the world over three days. The event, hosted by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), saw a live stream reach 3.7 million viewers.
GAIN 2024 featured over 450 speakers from 100 countries, engaged in 150 sessions. The summit witnessed over 25 launches and announcements, including the signing of over 80 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
A key takeaway from the summit was the need for governments and policymakers to take global action to ensure AI technology evolves for the benefit of humanity. This includes promoting ethical frameworks and robust governance.
To advance AI ethics and governance, SDAIA, in collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), announced the Riyadh Charter of Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World. This charter promotes ethical AI grounded in Islamic values and principles, fostering sustainable development through international cooperation.
The summit saw SDAIA forging key collaborations to strengthen local and regional AI solutions, including MoUs with Microsoft Arabia to develop Arabic language models, IBM for a Center of Excellence in Generative AI technologies, and NVIDIA to scale AI infrastructure across the Kingdom.
Several major milestones were marked during the summit, including the unveiling of ALLaM, the world’s most advanced Arabic Language Model, the launch of the Global AI Community and the THAKAI Platform, and the release of guidelines for addressing deepfake technology.
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) launched the Generative AI Center of Excellence, and an agreement was reached to open an International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) as a UNESCO Category 2 Center, further highlighting the impact of GAIN 2024.
The summit provided a platform for companies from across the globe to showcase the latest AI technologies and innovations, including AI-generated avatars, AI-generated artwork, and robotic bar staff serving beverages.
The Director of Saudi Arabia’s National Information Center, His Excellency Dr. Esam Alwagait, concluded the summit with an inspirational speech, thanking participants for their contributions and emphasizing the collaborative action needed to make AI work for everyone.
The success of GAIN 2024 significantly strengthens the Kingdom’s AI infrastructure and cements Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in AI.
First Piper 