RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s technology prowess in artificial intelligence and data management has been recognized as a benchmark for process excellence worldwide, with its nodal agency achieving the highest level of maturity in software development, reported the Saudi Press Agency. Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, represented by the National Information Center, has achieved the most advanced process capability, becoming the first agency in the Gulf Cooperation Council to be awarded the CMMI Level 5 certification. CMMI stands for Capability Maturity Model Integration, a process level improvement training and appraisal program, and Level 5 is the highest level of maturity within the model. According to the SPA report, the CMMI Institute, which specializes in software engineering, evaluated the software development life cycle of the National Information Center and awarded it the highest honor. The CMMI Institute was formally established in 2012 and later acquired in 2016 by the global nonprofit organization ISACA, previously known as Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and software development is a key agenda of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. In 2022, Mishari Al-Mishari, the deputy director of SDAIA, told Arab News that the agency aims to create a leading data and AI-driven economy and make Saudi Arabia one of the top countries in technology. “Data is the new oil, and that’s our perception and belief of how much we could make out of data,” said Al-Mishari. Earlier in May, Google’s vice president for global public affairs and public policy, Karan Bhatia, said that Saudi Arabia could provide the right environment for businesses and economies to maximize the potential of AI. “The Kingdom is well-positioned to leverage AI with its young, educated population and a strong commitment to innovation. It is important to establish the right environment, policies and skills for AI so that people, businesses and communities in Saudi Arabia can benefit from AI,” said Bhatia. In April, a report by Stanford University revealed that the Kingdom ranks second globally for societal awareness of artificial intelligence. The survey covered several areas, the most important being the extent of “society’s knowledge of the benefits and value of AI products and services.”