NEOM, a next-level smart city using cognitive technology to shape future urban living, is being built in north-west Saudi Arabia. NEOM’s CEO Nazmi Al-Nasr told the summit that AI was the “beating heart” of the project and will play a critical role in The Line, a revolutionary transportation system that will run wholly on renewable energy, eliminating the need for roads. The summit hosted the NEOM AI Challenge to encourage creators and innovators in the field. The Summit also staged the AI Artathon, the first competition to create awareness of AI through art. Competitors at the AI Artathon were challenged to create art using AI to highlight the potential of artificial intelligence in stimulating creativity.

Saudi Arabia enhanced its global reputation for excellence in AI by striking a host of partnerships with global companies. SDAIA has partnered with IBM to use AI to accelerate Saudi’s circular carbon economy. An SDAIA memorandum of understanding with Halliburton will develop use of AI in the oil and gas industries. The Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence announced a joint venture with Hong Kong-based SenseTime to build an AI lab to train Saudis working in healthcare, education and other fields. The Saudi Electricity Company signed MoUs with Microsoft, Udacity and DataRobot to enhance AI skills in its sector.

Google is a major partner. SDAIA is combining with Google Cloud, the Climate Engine Foundation and Saudi’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to use AI to tackle climate change by addressing such issues as pollution control, sustainable agriculture and water security.

In a separate initiative that aims to empower women pursuing careers in AI, SDAIA and Google Cloud agreed to collaborate in training 25,000 women on a four-month AI education program. The agreement was celebrated at the Global AI Summit by HH Princess Haifa Al Mogrin, Saudi Arabia’s permanent delegate to UNESCO. “It is truly a brilliant achievement to empower women to pursue careers in AI and to increase their participation to create a gender-inclusive world for generations to come,” she said.

AI has a new global hub in Saudi Arabia and everyone can benefit.

AI for the Good of Humanity