Saudi Arabia advances AI education and launches sovereign Arabic chatbot
Two major initiatives highlight Kingdom’s push to lead in artificial intelligence and empower citizens
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi Arabia has unveiled two landmark initiatives in artificial intelligence, underscoring its ambition to become a global hub for AI development while equipping its citizens with the skills to thrive in a technology-driven future.
The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has rolled out new AI-focused educational resources under the SAMAI initiative.
Launched as part of the ministry’s “Back to School” campaign, the program provides interactive materials for students and teachers, designed to introduce AI concepts and integrate them into classrooms across the country.
The initiative aims to empower one million Saudis with AI knowledge and skills.
Working alongside the National Centre for Curriculum, officials have developed specialized modules tailored for various age groups, ensuring that learners at all stages of education can engage with modern technologies.
According to officials, the effort directly supports Vision 2030’s goal of fostering a knowledge-based economy capable of competing on the global stage.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia has launched Humain Chat, the Kingdom’s first Arabic large language model-powered application.
Developed entirely in Saudi Arabia by Humain, a Public Investment Fund-owned company established in May by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the app represents the country’s drive to create sovereign AI solutions rooted in local culture and values.
Powered by the ALLAM 34B model, Humain Chat is designed to understand and generate Arabic across different dialects — from classical forms to region-specific variations.
Built by more than 120 AI experts, including 35 Ph.D.-level researchers, the system was trained on one of the largest Arabic datasets ever assembled and refined through input from 600 domain specialists and 250 evaluators.
The result, officials say, is unmatched fluency in Arabic paired with cultural and religious awareness.
The app, which is also available in English, can be accessed on iOS, Android and web platforms, with plans to expand its rollout to other Arabic-speaking countries.
Humain CEO Tareq Amin described the launch as a “historic milestone,” adding: “We are proving that globally competitive technologies can be rooted in our own language, infrastructure and values — built in Saudi Arabia by Saudi talent.”
Together, the SAMAI education program and the launch of Humain Chat highlight Saudi Arabia’s dual-track approach to AI: investing in human capital through education while simultaneously developing cutting-edge technologies.
Officials emphasized that both efforts are just the beginning of a broader journey to accelerate innovation, strengthen cultural sovereignty in technology, and ensure that AI serves both economic and societal progress in the Kingdom and the wider Arab world.
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