SDAIA Director Highlights $120 Billion Global Investment in AI Technologies in 2023.

Riyadh: The Director of the National Information Center at the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), Dr. Esam bin Abdullah Al-Wagait, has emphasized that the world is witnessing a significant acceleration toward AI technologies and innovations that focus on achieving operational excellence and ensuring the quality of products and services. According to Saudi Press Agency, the International Data Corporation (IDC) report on global spending on AI for 2023 reveals that global spending on AI to improve operational efficiency has exceeded $120 billion. Al-Wagait discussed these insights during his speech at the main session on the "Role of Advanced Technologies in Ensuring the Quality of Services and Products" at the 9th National Quality Conference, which took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. He further highlighted that over 72% of organizations apply AI to achieve operational excellence in at least one area of their business. This data, sourced from the latest McKinsey Global Survey on AI and based on i nformation from over 1,300 global organizations, shows that the number of industrial robots used in manufacturing operations reached over four million in 2023, according to the International Federation of Robotics. These statistics underscore AI's substantial potential in ensuring the quality of products and services, indicating a growing trend of organizations across various sectors increasing their investments in this field. "Effective leadership in organizations is one of the pillars of operational excellence. AI is now a trusted partner for organizational leaders, providing them with accurate analytics and predictions that help them make impactful decisions," Al-Wagait stated. He added, "This is what is now referred to as AI-augmented leadership." According to a study discussed during the 2024 Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, it was noted that 97% of CEOs believe that using AI has improved their performance, reduced their administrative burdens, and enhanced their ability to lead their organizations.