Gen AI addressing ‘pressing challenges’ in Saudi healthcare

Generative AI can be used as a tool to tackle healthcare challenges, according to Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha, who was speaking at the Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development by the World Economic Forum, held in Riyadh.

The Minister said, “Dr. Ali Hussein Al Hasan is a clear example of how this general purpose technology can make a difference for the most pressing challenges. He used generative AI to look at the correlation of protein and enzymes to reduce the time for direct formulation for sickle cell disease from 10 years to 2 years. He’s pivoting already to three other genetic diseases, around vision, around respiratory systems, and cholesterol level systems.”

He highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to ethical AI. “The OECD principles on trustworthy AI, his Royal Highness led the consensus among the G20 in 2020. This was the toughest year, and it was three years ago, way ahead of the generative AI era. Those principles today have not stifled innovation in the Kingdom. We have learned that on a use-case basis, you have to do a risk-based assessment, out of which you still have to conform to clinical trials regulations.”