Page 65 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Saudi Arabia Unveils International Center for AI Research and Ethics

The stage is set for the opening of a new The proposal for the International Center to Saudi Arabia where AI is expected to
artificial intelligence center in Riyadh, for AI Research and Ethics was initially contribute over $135.2 billion in 2030 to the
dedicated to promoting ethics in advanced submitted to UNESCO in March 2022, economy, equivalent to 12.4 percent of the
technologies and contributing to the garnering support from Kuwait and Oman. gross domestic product,” said PwC in its
development of sector policies in the Gulf As per the Saudi Press Agency, the center report. In June, Saudi Arabia established
region. Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr will operate with legal personality and the Global Cybersecurity Forum Institute
Bin Farhan announced the establishment financial and administrative independence, in Riyadh, aiming to harness the potential
of the International Center for Artificial working toward fostering the growth of of cyberspace and support global efforts
Intelligence Research and Ethics during advanced technologies like AI within to enhance cybersecurity. According to a
the 42nd session of UNESCO’s General the Kingdom. Earlier this year, the global report published by the SPA, the institute
Conference in Paris on November 11. consultancy firm PwC projected that AI will host an annual global security forum,
The initiative, approved by Saudi Arabia’s would contribute $135 billion to the Saudi bringing together experts and decision-
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman economy by 2030, positioning the Kingdom makers from around the world to discuss
in June, aims to advance competencies as the primary beneficiary of technology ways to protect the most vulnerable in
and legislative frameworks in the field in the Middle East. “In absolute terms, cyberspace while maximizing its benefits
of AI and other advanced technologies. the largest gains are expected to accrue for everyone. As Saudi Arabia continues
its embrace of advanced technologies,
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella
told in a recent interview with Arab News
that the country’s push toward artificial
intelligence has significantly increased
productivity. “Especially with the age of
AI coming, this is a fantastic time for us
to bring world-class technology to Saudi
Arabia so that it can create world-class
technology for the world,” he said. Nadella
added that small businesses in Saudi
Arabia could become more productive if
they leverage the advantages of AI.

NTA to Implement MDMS from 6 November

The Nepal Telecommunications Authority
(NTA) states that it is implementing the
Mobile Device Management System
(MDMS) from 6th November. With the
implementation, NTA may block phones
that are not registered in MDMS. The
telecommunications regulatory body of
Nepal issued a notice on October 21,
2023, urging users to register unregistered
mobile phones in the system within 15
days. The notice stated that phones not
registered in MDMS within the specified
15-day period will not operate in Nepal.
According to the authority, as reported by
Kantipur TV, for the first phase, the system aims to reduce the import of ‘grey phones,’ the implementation; however, it failed to
will be implemented on high-end phones which are phones brought into the country implement the system effectively. The
worth more than 100,000 rupees. Upon through unofficial channels. However, recent MDMS implementation seems
the implementation of MDMS, illegally Given Nepal’s past experiences with MDMS confident. The system is also sending
imported mobile phones will no longer implementations, doubts persist regarding warning SMS to unregistered devices. Let’s
be able to use carrier services from any the system’s potential success. In the see if today’s MDMS implementation will
service provider in Nepal. This measure past, NTA issued many notices regarding be successful.

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