Over 300 world leaders to attend AI summit in Saudi Arabia September 10

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) says over 300 world leaders will attend its global AI summit on September 10.

In a statement on Tuesday, organisers said the world leaders expected at the event will discuss the future of artificial intelligence (AI) for the good of humanity.

The discussions will focus on ‘Now, the next, and the never for AI’, which is the theme of the summit that will be held in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

The SDAIA said the summit aligns with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision to diversify the economy and promote cooperation.

The Saudi authority said innovators, academics, executives, regulators, and decision-makers worldwide will be at the summit.

Majed Al-Shehri, SDAIA’s spokesperson, said the summit will enable deliberations on the immediate impacts and future innovations of AI technologies.

“The Global AI Summit will be a landmark event in shaping the future of AI. The theme ‘Now, Next, Never’ is especially pertinent as it challenges us to consider the immediate implications, future innovations, and the ethical responsibilities that come with the rapid advancement of AI technologies,” Al-Shehri said.

“This is a technology that is hugely promising, but as we innovate, we also cannot afford to get it wrong. It is essential that AI integration is sustainable and for the betterment of society.

“The strong presence of global leaders, especially from the consulting industry, highlights AI’s pivotal role in business transformation and global innovation and their commitment to collaboration as we seek to resolve the many questions that this technology raises.”

Some of the speakers expected at the summit include Nick Studer, president & chief executive officer, Oliver Wyman Group; Marcelo Claure, founder & CEO, Claure Group; and Julie Sweet, chair and chief executive officer, Accenture.

Others are Antony Cook, deputy general counsel, Microsoft; Marc Raibert, founder and former CEO of Boston Dynamics and executive director, The AI Institute; Cristiano Amon, president & CEO, Qualcomm Incorporated; Alex Smola, CEO, Boson AI; and Kathleen Kennedy, executive director, MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, among others.