«سدايا» تدعم الدور المحوري للمملكة في تعزيز التعاون الدولي والإقليمي

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), has adopted the promotion of ethical artificial intelligence principles globally, which early on supported UNESCO's recommendations on AI ethics, endorsed by 193 countries in November 2021. It was at the forefront of countries that established the necessary principles and frameworks for AI ethics governing the behavior of artificial intelligence in terms of human values. As a result of these efforts, several international achievements emerged, including the announcement of the Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World, the establishment of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, and UNESCO's recognition of it as an international category two center.

SDAIA has supported the Kingdom's international efforts in shaping the future of artificial intelligence committed to ethical standards and human values that ensure benefits for all humanity, after the world devoted its efforts to explaining various use cases of artificial intelligence and the challenges arising from them, without paying much attention to the social and human dimensions. SDAIA has dispelled concerns raised in discussions among specialists in these advanced technologies regarding the ethical impact of these technologies, contributing to the development of policies that regulate AI ethics globally, which have been approved by international organizations, including UNESCO and ICESCO.

Between September 2024 and March 2025, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and SDAIA, in collaboration with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, announced the Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World. A total of 53 Islamic countries from the organization's member states unanimously agreed to the charter, which international observers described as a milestone in establishing a common ethical and strategic framework for artificial intelligence in the Islamic world.

ICESCO highlighted the "Riyadh Charter" for what it represents as a significant achievement embodying the commitment of member states to harness artificial intelligence for the benefit of societies, in line with international governance frameworks and ethical principles. It affirmed that the charter serves as a guiding framework for member states to keep pace with rapid developments in artificial intelligence according to a unified strategic vision, forming a fundamental pillar for enabling member states to utilize artificial intelligence, protect ethical principles, and secure a sustainable digital future for member states.

The approval by the Council of Ministers to establish the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, along with UNESCO's recognition of it as an international category two center, is an important national achievement that enhances the Kingdom's international efforts to support the United Nations' sustainable development goals, including raising awareness of AI ethics and providing advisory support in AI policies, in line with the values and principles of UNESCO's recommendations, building capacities, and supporting international cooperation efforts through coordinating research and development activities in the field of artificial intelligence, enhancing awareness of its ethics, and providing advice on AI policies.

SDAIA has issued principles of AI ethics aimed at guiding organizations in the responsible use of these technologies, outlining the fundamental standards for the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies. These principles include: integrity and fairness, privacy and security, reliability and safety, transparency and interpretability, accountability and responsibility, humanity, and social and environmental benefits.

Given the various advantages of generative artificial intelligence technologies that can be employed in different businesses, whether at the institutional or individual level, SDAIA has sought to enhance the positive roles of generative AI applications while mitigating the associated risks. In this regard, it launched a document of guiding principles for the use of generative AI tools (Generative AI Principles) for the public sector, non-profit sector, and individuals, calling for the application of these principles and the adoption of preventive measures to avoid issues such as data leaks, misinformation, deepfakes, bias, or violations of intellectual property rights and copyright.

SDAIA has presented the document as general guidelines related to the use and processing of data in generative AI tools, with examples based on common scenarios that entities may encounter. It highlights the challenges and considerations associated with the use of these technologies, and the document aligns with the current regulations and policies in the Kingdom, supporting compliance with them, including AI ethics and regulations related to data governance, privacy, security, intellectual property, and human rights.

The document emphasizes the importance of adhering to AI ethics principles when dealing with generative AI tools at all stages of the lifecycle of these tools to harness their benefits and mitigate potential risks, necessitating the establishment of policies related to specific tools, ethical standards, and professional responsibilities.

These efforts by SDAIA come to support the pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in enhancing international and regional cooperation in AI policies, ethics, and research within the framework of its main tasks as the national reference for data and artificial intelligence, organizing, developing, and engaging to raise awareness of the potentials of data and AI technologies, and clarifying their importance in our time to serve both sectors and individuals alike, within a methodology that ensures their optimal utilization for maximum benefit.