SDAIA President, China Ambassador Visit UNESCO’s Riyadh-Based AI Ethics Center

The President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi, along with China’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chang Hua, paid a visit to the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), a UNESCO-affiliated institution located in Riyadh. During the visit, Dr. Alghamdi reviewed the center’s ongoing projects and its global initiatives aimed at advancing AI ethics and promoting women’s empowerment.

Acting Managing Director of ICAIRE, Abdulrahman Habib, provided an overview of the center’s major initiatives, including the Elevate Initiative, designed to empower 25,000 women worldwide in the field of artificial intelligence. This program focuses on enhancing women’s understanding of cutting-edge AI technologies and equipping them for careers in the tech industry, serving as a powerful example of women’s empowerment and fostering greater inclusivity in technology.

Habib emphasized ICAIRE’s international efforts to encourage the responsible development and use of AI technologies. He explained that the center’s mission is to assist nations in establishing ethical AI frameworks that benefit humanity. ICAIRE’s work is driven by four key pillars: supporting research and innovation, raising awareness around AI ethics, strengthening capabilities, and shaping policies and recommendations.

Additionally, Habib highlighted the center’s role in organizing the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (IAIO) and launching its inaugural global research initiative. This initiative brings together researchers from around the world to produce influential studies, published in leading scientific journals. He also noted ICAIRE’s various collaborative events with Arab and regional organizations, its support for Saudi Arabia in implementing UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology, and its ongoing cooperation with the UN High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.