Gulf States Race to Become AI Superpowers in 2023

In recent years, the Gulf region, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, has made significant strides in artificial intelligence (AI) development. The UAE has been at the forefront, signaling its ambition to become a key player in AI, while Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in the technology as part of its Vision 2030 strategy aimed at diversifying its economy away from oil dependency. AI is projected to contribute significantly to the region's GDP, with Saudi Arabia expecting a 12% contribution by 2030. The region is also focusing on developing Arabic-language AI models to cater to local needs, addressing a gap in existing platforms. Tools like Jais from the UAE and the Arabic chatbot ALLaM from Saudi Arabia are examples of this initiative. These models are being developed to compete with English-speaking markets, which have a head start in large language models. The hosting of ALLaM on major cloud platforms like Azure and IBM's watsonx highlights the commitment to advancing AI capabilities in the region. However, the rapid growth of AI raises concerns about governance and ethical use. During the Global AI Summit in Riyadh, various policies were introduced to address these issues, including guidelines for the responsible use of deep fakes and the Riyadh Charter for AI in the Islamic World. These frameworks aim to ensure that AI development aligns with ethical standards and cultural values. Overall, the Gulf states are positioning themselves as emerging leaders in AI, leveraging their energy resources and innovative spirit to harness the technology's potential while addressing the challenges that come with it.