Saudi Arabia Commits to Enhancing Human Capabilities in AI Age

Saudi Education Minister and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Human Capability Development Program, Yusuf al-Benyan, affirmed on Wednesday that international estimates suggest that 40% of job skills will undergo revolutionary changes in the coming years due to artificial intelligence, and progress will be responsible for shaping 70% of global business practices. He emphasized the necessity of working intensively to enhance human capabilities and their outputs.

This came during his opening speech at the “Human Capacities Initiative” conference in Riyadh, under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, and the head of the Human Capacities Development Program committee, one of the programs that aim to achieve Vision 2030.

Al-Bunyan added that progress in sectors such as technology, healthcare, and artificial intelligence depends on a future-ready workforce with a suitable skill set, emphasizing the importance of upgrading and updating resources and human capabilities. He also revealed that the conference would witness, during its two days of sessions, over 40 announcements reflecting the kingdom’s interest and commitment to working collaboratively with all partners.

It is worth mentioning that the conference discusses the main challenges facing human capabilities in light of global changes, and the skills required for the future of the global labor market.

The conference, under the theme “Preparing for the Future,” aims to stimulate discussions on innovative solutions to proactively address these challenges, equip individuals with essential skills for success, and enhance the flexibility and adaptability of human capabilities facing a constantly changing work environment.

The conference hosts over 200 international speakers, with more than 13,000 participants from policymakers, international organizations, company executives, investors, entrepreneurs, academic and social institutions leaders, non-profit sector leaders, research and think tanks.