Technology waits for no one and whether you’re a college student, a fresh grad, or looking to enter a new industry, Artificial Intelligence (AI) could have a very real impact on your profession in the near future.
Artificial intelligence is a computer science that builds smart machines to become capable of performing human tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence. While AI cannot replace all human tasks, particularly those that require critical thinking, leaps in technology prove the possibility for AI to feature in many key sectors, and Saudi is leading the way.
Recent reports found the biggest opportunity for AI in the MENA region to be in the financial sector. However public services, and education, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors will also benefit from these opportunities. AI removes the need for certain tedious roles, meaning all professionals could benefit from the range of upskilling courses available in KSA.
Artificial Intelligence will expose you to Machine Learning tools and real world problem solving through a range of engaging practical exercises.
The Global AI Summit took place in Saudi in October 2020. It was a unique opportunity to welcome people from all over the world to open a dialogue on AI and explore how the potential of AI can be best used to create a better future for all. Featuring representatives from the public sector, academia, and private sector, including technology companies, investors, entrepreneurs, and startups, the summit also looked at policy and what the future looks like for the employment sector.
As Saudi invests heavily in AI to replace humans, how will employees be affected?
A key takeaway for general employment is the essential need for reskilling. As AI expels some traditional jobs, reskilling is a must and Saudi is heavily prioritizing further education opportunities for individuals. The CEO of Saudi Telecom Groups, Nasser Sulaiman Al-Nasser announced that AI could displace 73 million jobs globally by 2022. However, AI could also create 130 million new jobs. “Our government is prioritizing and investing in education,” says Nasser at the Global AI summit.
AI will support a reduction in tedious and labor-intensive jobs such as roles in the retail and health sectors as simple processes become automated. Furthermore, it has the capability to support product enhancements, with improved personalization, product quality, and time savings for consumers. In this instance, the health, automotive and financial services are expected to benefit from AI upgrades. But growth is not limited to these industries and as advancements in machine learning continue, other sectors will benefit.
AI will be a game-changer for the Saudi economy. With a potential to earn US$135.2 billion for the economy by 2030, equivalent to 12.4% of GDP, Saudi is set to earn more than any surrounding country. Dubbed the ‘fourth revolution’ by some and as ‘more profound than fire or electricity’ by Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, Middle East governments are shifting away from oil and eagerly shifting towards AI economies, with Saudi and the UAE leading the way.
“The impact could be larger if governments continue to push the boundaries of AI innovation and implementation across businesses sectors”. Both Saudi and the UAE are shaping the future of AI in the region and the world, with both countries ranking among the top 50 countries in the Global Innovation Index 2017, according to a report by INSEAD.
NEOM, which means, ‘new future’ is ‘a vision for what the future could be’. The cross-border city in the Tabuk Province will be a hybrid of stunning technology and a tourist destination.
It will be an eco-city, with zero cars and zero oil. A $500 billion project built on smart technology, powered on 100% clean energy, and ‘enabled by the latest tech’.
Furthermore, at the beginning of this year, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced a new zero carbon project at NEOM dubbed, “The Line,” a massive city within a city that will not have streets or cars.
In NEOM, there won’t be a reliance on oil, with the city diversifying to 16 sectors earmarked as ‘key economic sectors for the future’ including energy, water, mobility and biotechnology. AI is expected to be an economic driving force behind the technology in these areas.
NEOM is the ultimate example of how AI will change the way we work. With countless jobs on offer in various sectors in AI fields, NEOM is a testament to the new future Saudi is steering us toward.
Equipping yourself with job-ready skills improves your employability and competitiveness in the job market. AI will be relevant to an increasing number of sectors in the coming years, and with a wide availability of upskilling programs available in the KSA market, Saudis have a brilliant opportunity to take an early advantage. You can take part in emerging skills courses that focus on employment-linked training to prepare yourself for the ‘new future to come’.
