Saudi Arabia Says to Invest $20 Billion in AI by 2030

Saudi Arabia Says to Invest $20 Billion in AI by 2030

Saudi Arabia announced Thursday plans to invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence projects by 2030.

The Kingdom launched an artificial intelligence strategy last month to attract investors as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030.

"Saudi Arabia will invest $20 billion from now until 2030," said Abdullah al-Ghamdi, chairman of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, which was established in 2019.

"We aspire to have artificial intelligence as a component of an alternative economy through startups and innovation companies... and view artificial intelligence as a source of savings and additional income," he said during a G20 media briefing.

Ghamdi added that shares will be open to both foreign and local investors, as the country seeks to establish more than 300 start-ups in artificial intelligence by 2030.

The G20 summit in Riyadh on Saturday and Sunday is set to bring together virtually the leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies.