It seeks to diversify its economy amid slumping crude priceSaudi Arabia announced on Thursday it will invest $20 billion in artificial intelligence projects by 2030, as the oil-rich country seeks to diversify its economy amid slumping crude prices. “Saudi Arabia will invest $20 billion from now until 2030,” said Abdullah al-Ghamdi, head of the 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. 300 startupsMr. al-Ghamdi added that shares will be open to both foreign and local investors, as the country seeks to establish more than 300 startups in artificial intelligence sector by 2030. Like most countries in the energy-rich Gulf, Saudi Arabia has been trying to diversify its economy which has been hit by the double whammy of low oil prices and the pandemic.

Source: The Hindu November 19, 2020 21:00 UTC