Saudi Ministry of Communications, DCO, and AMD Launch OpenAI Ecosystem

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) on Monday launched a joint initiative to create an open AI ecosystem aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence innovation by equipping developers, startups and software engineers with open-source tools, training and community engagement. The partnership unveiled its first workshop at LEAP 2026, introducing participants to AMD’s AI Developer Program, the company’s integrated AI computing portfolio and the open-source ROCm software stack, alongside the DCO’s course materials on AI ethics and governance.

"By strengthening developer skills and expanding startup participation, the collaboration aims to build local AI capabilities and help turn Saudi Arabia’s AI investments into new applications and services," the organisers said, framing the initiative’s dual focus on technical capacity and responsible adoption.

The workshop served as the initiative’s public debut at the Riyadh technology event, connecting technical resources from AMD with governance and ethics training from the DCO. AMD presented its AI Developer Program and highlighted ROCm, its open-source software ecosystem for AI application development. The DCO showcased a training course and tools focused on AI ethics and responsible governance, signalling that capability-building in the kingdom will be paired with policy and stewardship resources.

Program components and immediate goals

• Technology access: AMD’s AI Developer Program and ROCm are being positioned as primary technical enablers for developers and startups in Saudi Arabia.
• Governance and ethics: The DCO is contributing a training course and tools on AI ethics and responsible governance to guide adoption.
• Skills and startup support: The initiative intends to broaden participation among developers and startups, with an emphasis on converting public and private AI investments into deployable applications and services.

The move aligns with broader activity at LEAP 2026, where multiple Saudi ministries and international partners have been announcing AI-related capacity-building initiatives. The MCIT-led effort aims to create an open innovation environment that links digital talent to technical expertise and learning opportunities from AMD, while integrating the DCO’s governance frameworks to support responsible AI deployment.

Commenting on another LEAP 2026 program focused on security and services, Assistant Minister of Interior for Technology Affairs Thamer Alharbi stressed the role of modern technologies and AI in public service delivery: "the ministry's core mission remains protecting people, fostering trust, and empowering service providers through robust digital capabilities." His remarks underscore a parallel government emphasis on applying AI across public-sector systems while attending to governance and trust.

Outlook: The initiative will be judged on its ability to translate training and open-source tooling into concrete startups and applications. Organisers say the immediate next steps are to scale workshops, deepen developer engagement with ROCm and AMD’s AI stack, and integrate DCO governance modules into developer curricula. If successful, the program could fast-track local AI capability-building and produce a pipeline of AI-driven services that leverage both AMD’s technical ecosystem and the DCO’s ethical frameworks.