Prime Highlights
- Saudi Arabia launches a leading top-down AI Readiness Index for facilitating government AI maturity.
- AI is expected to contribute $235 billion, or 12.4% of GDP, by 2030.
Key Fact
- Over 180 government bodies participated in the inaugural round of testing of the index.
- The architecture consists of 3 pillars, 7 axes, and 23 sub-fields for gauging AI.
Key Background
Saudi Arabia’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has launched the National Artificial Intelligence Index, a strategic initiative to measure the degree of readiness of government agencies in adopting artificial intelligence. The index was created with an aim to provide public institutions with a clear roadmap for enhancing their AI strengths and get in tandem with Vision 2030 goals.
The first index cycle involved over 180 government agencies. Each agency was provided specific recommendations on how to enhance its AI development plan. The index is based on a robust framework with three pillars, seven axes, and 23 sub-domains that reflect the broad areas of data management, technical infrastructure, human capital, and deployment of AI-based solutions.
The project is one of the projects that are part of Saudi Arabia’s general vision to be a global leader in Artificial Intelligence. The country has been very ambitious in its aspiration to be among the top 15 nations according to AI readiness, among the top 10 in open data initiatives, and among the top 20 in research productivity output in AI. Since it highlights the strengths and weaknesses, the index encourages further development and stimulates a collective action in applying AI technologies to the public sector. In an economic sense, the scale of AI is gigantic.
Research indicates that the application of AI would add a projected $235 billion to the economy of Saudi, equivalent to approximately 12.4% of the country’s GDP by 2030. In addition to economic benefits, the launch of the AI Readiness Index indicates that SDAIA values global best practice based on global appreciation of its governance and standards of assessment. The initiative also aims for openness and citizen engagement, and SDAIA has established platforms requesting the opinion of the citizens and engaging them in the process of formulating future regulations for AI. The index is a milestone in driving Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation and making the nation a hub of technological innovation.
