Dr Abdalla Kablan talks AI at LEAP DeepFest

It is now more than 6 years since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the first details of the Saudi Vision 2030 strategic framework. With its main goal of “creating a more diverse and sustainable economy”, the program’s roadmap radically changed the country’s approach to international trade and strengthened its reputation as a leader in the region.

While the framework has seen great success in areas such as energy, tourism, healthcare, housing, genetics and manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI) has certainly been one of the biggest winners. Starting with the granting of citizenship to Hanson Robotics’ Sophia for the creation of the Saudi Arabia National AI Strategy, the Saudi Arabian government has made clear its intention to become a world leader in the development of AI.

With this goal in mind, the government has established policies such as the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which seeks to attract more than $20 billion in foreign and domestic investment by 2030. Through the program, the country established important partnerships that allowed it to become a major player in research and development, as well as in the organization of international events.

On 30 November 2022, it was announced that SAFCSP and Informa would establish a new joint venture called “Tahaluf” with the aim of supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. The establishment of the joint venture was only natural after the successful launch of events such as LEAP and Black Hat MEA.

Now Tahaluf is gearing up for what promises to be one of the biggest tech events of the year and a testament to the success of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Not only will LEAP return to Riyadh on February 7, but it will also be co-curated with DeepFest, a conference designed specifically around artificial intelligence.

“It is not easy to accurately predict the future, but as experts we must have the strategic foresight to identify patterns and spot seismic shifts as they happen, and in my personal opinion, what is happening in Saudi Arabia is real remarkable and deserves recognition,” says AI expert and entrepreneur Dr. Abdalla Kablan, who will speak at the event.

“With an ambitious and intelligent leadership, a young and bright population, and the sincere will to become a world’s top destination for innovation, Saudi Arabia is very well positioned to be at the forefront of the global digital shift that is becoming,” he added.

“With the advancements in AI, Machine Learning, Blockchain technology and the advent of the Metaverse, new economies will emerge, and they will quadruple the world economy just as the Internet has doubled the size of the world’s economies in recent decades. With Saudi Arabia’s strong vision for 2030 citing the thriving economy as one of its main pillars, I believe that the Kingdom is in an incredibly exciting situation to stand out globally as a leader in the technology sector and at the center of these new digital economies. Events like LEAP serve as a great platform to amplify such a message and ambition.”

In addition to founding and investing in several AI-related startups, Dr. Kablan is one of the most prominent academics in the fields of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and financial engineering. He has also advised governments around the world when it comes to establishing policies and programs.

While Dr. Kablan himself believes there is still a lot of work to be done until AI reaches “true wisdom,” expressing his excitement over recent developments. At a time when AI is in the spotlight, DeepFest and Leap have become much more important, with their impact sure to play a major role in the future of humanity itself.

“Personally, I want to rediscover my Arab roots by investing heavily in the promotion and implementation of many of my ideas and technology-driven initiatives in the Arab Gulf, a region that is close to my heart, and which I think today is very potential to witness a renaissance of Arab ingenuity,” says dr. Kablan.

He added: “From AI and process engineering to neuromorphic and quantum computing, there is an opportunity for these technologies to flourish in this region. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s great efforts and impeccable vision are paving the way for all to make a true positive impact.” want to create for the whole world right from the heart of Arabia.”