Saudi Arabia is taking decisive steps toward integrating agentic artificial intelligence (AI) into its national development framework, positioning itself at the forefront of this rapidly advancing technology. A new report highlights the transformative potential of Agentic AI—systems capable of autonomous planning, decision-making, and execution—and outlines a comprehensive roadmap for its responsible deployment across public and private sectors.
Agentic AI represents a significant evolution beyond traditional generative AI. Rather than merely responding to prompts or generating content, these systems act with autonomy—interpreting data, adapting to changing environments, and collaborating with other agents to achieve specified goals without continuous human input. This capability marks a shift from digital assistants to self-executing digital agents, capable of revolutionizing how services are delivered, particularly in complex and dynamic settings.
The report emphasizes that Saudi Arabia views Agentic AI as a critical enabler of Vision 2030. Initiatives already underway include the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority’s (SDAIA) launch of the Arabic large language model “ALLaM,” designed to anchor national AI solutions, and the establishment of PIF-backed firms like HUMAIN to localize and commercialize advanced AI capabilities.
In healthcare, the report envisions agentic systems delivering personalized treatment plans, managing follow-up appointments, and engaging directly with patients. In education, such AI could customize learning experiences to individual students’ abilities and provide real-time feedback to teachers. In energy, agents could act as intelligent grid managers, optimizing load distribution and autonomously responding to emergencies.
Global investment in agentic AI is accelerating, with funding soaring from $1.3 billion in 2023 to $3.8 billion in 2024. Technology giants including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and OpenAI have launched commercial agentic AI tools, signaling the market’s maturation. A recent survey noted that 51% of major organizations have already begun implementing agentic AI systems, with many expecting returns exceeding 100%.
Despite its promise, the report cautions that Agentic AI faces key challenges, such as limitations in causal reasoning, transparency, and inter-agent coordination. Risks include system failure, cybersecurity threats, and ethical concerns surrounding autonomy, fairness, and accountability. To address these, the study proposes a governance framework integrating data stewardship, ethical oversight, and early-stage human supervision.
Forecasts suggest that the global Agentic AI market will grow from $5 billion in 2024 to over $50 billion by 2030, with Saudi Arabia’s domestic market expected to expand tenfold from $36.7 million to $386.4 million in the same period.
The study lays out a four-phase roadmap for adoption: strategic visioning, pilot implementation, integration and scale-up, and continuous innovation. It recommends prioritizing high-impact national projects, developing Arabic-language AI tools, strengthening local data and cloud infrastructure, and investing in workforce reskilling.
Saudi Arabia’s methodical and forward-looking approach could serve as a model for emerging economies aiming to harness the power of AI while safeguarding cultural values, national sovereignty, and ethical standards
.
Need Help?
If you have questions or concerns about any global guidelines, regulations and laws, don’t hesitate to reach out to BABL AI. Their Audit Experts can offer valuable insight on ai, and ensure you’re informed and compliant.
