DUBAI: Majid Al-Shehry, Strategic Advisor at the 萝莉视频 Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), has reinforced the Kingdom鈥檚 鈥渁mbitious plans鈥� during an AI session at the GITEX Technology Week on Sunday.

萝莉视频 has been undergoing huge economic change since it announced its Vision 2030 goals in April 2016, the main thrust of which was a plan to help diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on the hydrocarbon sector.

Al-Shehry said the Kingdom was eager to become a world leader in the area of technology and he said the majority of the Vision 2030 strategic initiatives were 鈥渄irectly or indirectly linked to AI.鈥�

To achieve its mandate, Al-Shehry said one of the most important steps was to localize AI and incorporate the Arabic language into the technology.

SDAIA has recently launched a national strategy to meet its AI goals, including investing in local Saudi talent.

鈥淲e are ready to lead a knowledge-based economy. I hope that Riyadh will be a hub for AI,鈥� SDAIA president Abdullah Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, said during the inaugural Saudi-led Global Artificial Intelligence Summit held last October.

Al-Shehry said the race to develop AI was proving to be a competitive one with many players scrambling to get ahead.

鈥淓veryone is competing because it鈥檚 the key to the future. It鈥檚 very critical to everyone. There are very global competitors in the market 鈥� the US, China, and other countries who have been in the market of technology for a while,鈥� he told Arab News.

The Saudi official highlighted how AI could impact crucial industries in the Kingdom, including the massive industrial ecosystem.

The GITEX Technology Week is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from Dec. 6 to Dec. 10.