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03-05-23

Saudi Arabia Launches Global Training Program on AI to Reduce Gender Gap

(MENAFN) Saudi Arabia has launched the first phase of the Elevate Program, a global training program on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning aimed at reducing the gender gap. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has partnered with Google Cloud to offer free sessions to 1,000 women across 28 countries on these technologies. The program seeks to empower more than 25,000 women globally in the next five years, according to Rehab Alarfaj, strategic adviser of SDAIA.

The program was first announced during the second edition of the Global AI Summit held in Riyadh in September 2020. It will run until Aug. 30, 2023. The first phase is offered through two tracks, one for technical specialists and the other for non-specialists who wish to develop their skills. It aims to equip participants with the skills and experience needed to work with cloud, data, and machine learning, and to close the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly in emerging markets.

The SDAIA Academy is advancing the Kingdom's position as a global leader in AI by providing knowledge and skills required through specialized programs in line with the most recent international best practices. The AI market in the Middle East and North Africa region is expected to grow from USD500 million in 2020 to USD8.4 billion by 2026, according to a Research and Markets report. The study revealed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading from the front, and the market for advanced technology in the region will witness a compound annual growth rate of 47.8 percent.

The Kingdom ranked second globally for societal awareness of AI, according to the 2020 AI Index Report by Stanford University. At the G20 Summit in Osaka in 2019, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the importance of using new technologies, such as AI and the internet of things, optimally to avoid harms and bring huge benefits.

The Elevate Program is a significant step towards promoting gender diversity in the AI sector and empowering women globally. The partnership between SDAIA and Google Cloud is expected to make a substantial impact in closing the gender gap in emerging markets and advancing the Kingdom's position as a global leader in AI.
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