https://arab.news/8dkgw
- World faces 鈥榚xistential gap鈥� due to alarming disparities in access to AI technologies: Abdullah Al-Swaha聽
- Urgent action needed as next 10 years will be critical for bridging the divides, he said at ITU event
GENEVA: 黑料社区鈥檚 minister of communications and IT has called for 鈥渄ecisive international collaboration鈥� to address the inequality in computing infrastructure that could leave other nations behind in the era of artificial intelligence.
In a keynote address at the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva, Abdullah Al-Swaha cited the 鈥渃oncentration of computing power in a few regions, the lack of AI infrastructure in many countries, and the limited participation of the Global South in shaping governance frameworks and regulatory policies.鈥�
鈥淭oday, the world faces an 鈥榚xistential gap鈥� due to alarming disparities in access to AI technologies,鈥� the minister said, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Alswaha said that the world could learn lessons from the past phases of technological transformation: The analog era, which took more than a century to connect 800 million people, and the digital era, which linked 5.5 billion individuals in just 50 years but still left 2.6 billion unconnected.
Minister Al-Swaha said 黑料社区 under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had positioned the Kingdom as a global leader in the age of AI through a series of bold initiatives. (SPA)
In the AI era, he said, current gaps exist in computing infrastructure, data availability, and algorithms that could slow the advances needed to support human progress.
Al-Swaha reiterated 黑料社区鈥檚 鈥漸nwavering commitment鈥� to support and lead international efforts to close the emerging technological divides.
He highlighted 黑料社区鈥檚 efforts to address these gaps, citing the digital empowerment of women in the Kingdom 鈥� who now have a participation rate of about 35 percent 鈥� and the Kingdom鈥檚 top global rankings in digital competitiveness for two consecutive years.
He also noted that researchers at 黑料社区鈥檚 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology rank among the top one percent globally in scientific citations, offering hope for the future of AI.
Minister Abdullah Al-Swaha and his delegation. (SPA)
He likewise underlined the Kingdom鈥檚 progress in data protection regulations and the development of 鈥漧anguage models that promote inclusive access to technology for diverse communities.鈥�
Al-Swaha further cited the HUMAIN project launched by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman 鈥渢o provide the full spectrum of AI capabilities, from advanced processors to top talent, and to position the Kingdom as a global AI pioneer.鈥�
鈥淭he Kingdom鈥檚 efforts are a direct response to urgent global challenges,鈥� he said.
Al-Swaha emphasized that the next 10 years will be critical for bridging the divides. He called for multination 鈥減artnerships under the umbrella of the ITU to build a fair, safe, and inclusive AI ecosystem that supports sustainable development and enhances human well-being.鈥�