September 22, 2024

It extends from 2024 until the end of 2026 and includes a number of projects and initiatives that keep pace with global changes. Oman Launches the “National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies”

His Excellency Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, announced that the “National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies” comes within the framework of Oman Vision 2040. This vision aims to position information and communication technology as one of the key sectors driving the national economy. The program serves as an upgrade to the Executive Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies, which was launched in 2022.

His Excellency added that at the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, we are working to establish the foundational pillars for the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced digital technologies in the Sultanate of Oman. This is with the aim of building a digital economy capable of achieving sustainable development, in line with the royal speech of His Majesty the Sultan delivered at the opening of the eighth session of the Council of Oman on 14th November 2023. In this speech, His Majesty emphasized the need to prepare a national program to implement and localize AI technologies, alongside accelerating the preparation of legislation that would enable these technologies as key drivers for various sectors.

Program Objectives

The “National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies” aims to adopt AI in economic and developmental sectors, localize advanced digital technologies, and achieve effective governance of AI applications with a human-centered vision. Additionally, the program seeks to advance global indices, with Oman aspiring to be among the top 50 countries in the Government AI Readiness Index, published by Oxford Insights.

Program Pillars

The program includes three main pillars:

            1.         Enhancing and Adopting AI in Economic and Developmental Sectors: This pillar focuses on supporting the use of AI technologies across various sectors to improve service quality and achieve operational efficiency.

            2.         Localizing AI Technologies: This pillar aims to build local capacities and talents by encouraging public-private partnerships, developing technical infrastructure, and promoting research and development in AI.

            3.         AI Applications Governance with a Human-Centered Vision: The third pillar focuses on establishing the necessary legislative and regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI technologies, protecting data privacy, and fostering trust in advanced digital technologies.

Program Initiatives

The program will extend from 2024 until the end of 2026 and will encompass several initiatives and projects that align with global changes in the field of AI. Notable among these are:

            •          Establishing the National Open Data Platform to provide open data for entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers.

            •          Creating a National Center for AI Research and Development to support researchers and academics.

            •          Establishing an AI Studio to serve as a meeting point for AI specialists and companies seeking technical solutions using AI.

            •          Developing an Omani language model “Oman GPT,” trained on Omani cultural, historical, artistic, and scientific content through generative AI.

            •          Establishing a Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and in partnership with the World Economic Forum.

            •          Implementing quantum computing initiatives to raise awareness, enhance research and development, and promote the adoption of quantum computing applications.

Economic and Social Impact

The National Program reflects Oman’s commitment to adopting the latest digital technologies to enhance its national economy and achieve its future vision for 2040. These initiatives, such as supporting AI-focused tech startups, encouraging investments to establish new AI data centers, and supporting factories with modern technologies, are expected to increase the contribution of the digital economy to Oman’s GDP to 10% by 2040, compared to 2% in 2021.

Furthermore, the program will enhance the contribution of economic diversification sectors through the implementation of AI economies initiatives and supporting experimental AI projects in various economic sectors, which will aid in digitizing key sectors such as transportation, logistics, tourism, food security, and manufacturing. This will enhance efficiency, reduce operational costs, and increase productivity, ultimately boosting these sectors’ contributions to economic growth and accelerating income source diversification in alignment with Oman Vision 2040.

The program also aims to promote digital innovation. Through initiatives such as the establishment of the AI Studio, the National AI and Advanced Digital Technologies Research Center, the AI Makers initiative, and specialized competitions and events, innovation and AI-focused tech startups will increase. These efforts will enhance Oman’s position as a hub for AI innovation, encouraging universities and research centers to produce more innovations and establish more tech startups that can drive economic growth.

Additionally, the program aims to boost productivity and strengthen national identity. The use of the Omani large language model will increase employee productivity by providing tools capable of automating various tasks such as analysis, strategy development, knowledge generation, document summarization, and translation, while relying on a documented reference for information and data. This will preserve Omani cultural, literary, religious, artistic, and political heritage in AI applications, thus enhancing national content in AI technologies, fostering national belonging, and strengthening national identity.

The program also seeks to enhance the digital competitiveness of Omani youth through specialized initiatives and programs aimed at training graduates in data analysis and AI, as well as educating school students and teachers, and incorporating new AI curricula. This will enhance the competitiveness of Omani talent in both local and global digital markets, preparing a new generation of innovators and creators with digital skills, and cementing Oman’s position as a leader in developing outstanding national talent.

It is worth noting that the National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies is a strategic step toward strengthening Oman’s position as one of the leading countries in digital technologies. This will enable the country to keep pace with rapid global digital transformations and achieve sustainable economic development.

Source : Mtcit