RIYADH, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The key challenge in artificial intelligence (AI) governance is to translate principles into practice, Majid Ali AlShehry, acting director-general of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics in Saudi Arabia, said on Wednesday, noting that China can set a global example and help promote international cooperation in balancing AI innovation and regulation.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, AlShehry said there is already a degree of international consensus on the basic principles of AI governance, while some countries have developed their own AI ethics frameworks, regulatory frameworks and guiding principles.
"The challenge now is that we want to move from policies into practice," he said. "We need to move from understanding what the problem is to embedding that compliance into the value chain of building solutions and tools."
AlShehry said China has a vast AI ecosystem spanning infrastructure, data centers, technologies and companies with full-stack capabilities, and therefore can play a significant role in shaping the global AI governance landscape.
China, as a leading nation in AI, could "become an influencer toward the goal of balancing between innovation and regulation," he said, adding that such efforts could help ensure that AI technologies do not go beyond appropriate boundaries while allowing humanity to continue advancing and benefiting from the best technologies.
"I expect China and other countries to work in that direction, and we hope to see some role models coming to this balance from the great nations in AI," he said.
Established in 2023 under the auspices of UNESCO, the Riyadh-based International Center for AI Research and Ethics seeks to build partnerships with universities, research institutions and companies using AI around the world, AlShehry said, adding that it is actively working to establish partnerships with Chinese institutions.
The center is looking to invite Chinese universities to join its newly announced initiative to develop master's degree programs in AI ethics, he said.
Under the initiative, the center will define the key messages and core components of an AI ethics master's degree program, while participating universities will develop their curricula in accordance with their own regulations and educational systems.
"We are building this blueprint in collaboration with international researchers and professors from all over the world," AlShehry said. "Definitely joining this consortium by Chinese universities would add great value to our work."
Commenting on the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance held in Shanghai in July, AlShehry said efforts to bring countries together for "truthful discussions" on the future of AI were positive and could help build global consensus on AI governance.
"We are looking to be part of these initiatives in any way possible," he said.
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