Riyadh witnessed a global technological event a few days ago, the Global AI Show Riyadh 2026, which brought together experts and innovators from around the world, and the most prominent thing it discussed was a new and promising technology: “Artificial Intelligence Agent” or AI Agents. This technology is not just chatbots or regular assistants, no, it is a qualitative shift in the world of artificial intelligence.
What is Artificial Intelligence Agent?
Artificial Intelligence Agent (Agentic AI) is an intelligent system that can act independently. It means instead of asking it a question and it answering you, you give it a big task and it plans and executes it itself. For example, if you tell it “book me a trip to Riyadh, a car, and a hotel”, it searches for options, compares prices, and books on your behalf.
The fundamental difference is that the AI Agent does not wait for step-by-step instructions, it has the ability to plan, make decisions, and execute complex tasks that require several steps. This technology represents a completely new generation of artificial intelligence.
Why is it important for Saudi Arabia now?
Saudi Arabia announced 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, and this is not just a slogan. The Kingdom is investing more than $9 billion in the infrastructure of artificial intelligence. The company HUMAIN (affiliated with the Public Investment Fund) is responsible for developing and operating advanced artificial intelligence technologies in the Kingdom. Its partnerships with technology giants such as NVIDIA, Google, and Aramco aim to accelerate the adoption of these technologies.
Artificial Intelligence Agent can serve Vision 2030 in several areas:
• Government Services: Imagine intelligent agents completing your transactions from home without you having to lift a finger.
• Health: Intelligent assistants helping doctors in diagnosis and treatment suggestions.
• Education: Customized educational agents for each student according to their level.
• Business: Agents that manage inventory, analyze the market, and communicate with customers automatically.
How does it differ from ChatGPT that we know?
Regular ChatGPT responds to your questions and needs constant guidance from you. On the other hand, the AI Agent can be told “I want to open a company in Saudi Arabia, what are the procedures?” and it will gather information from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Investment, and the General Authority for Zakat and Tax, and write a comprehensive plan with steps and links.
This technology integrates multiple capabilities:
• Long-term memory: It remembers your previous conversations.
• Tool usage: It can browse the internet, send emails, and edit files.
• Multi-step planning: It breaks down large tasks into small steps and executes them.
• Learning from mistakes:
Important points
- Saudi Arabia is first globally in the government readiness index for artificial intelligence from Harvard.
- The Global AI Show 2026 was held in Riyadh and participated by more than 100 speakers from 30 countries.
- The Public Investment Fund has allocated a large budget for HUMAIN to develop the infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
- Saudi leadership in artificial intelligence governance has resulted in participation in United Nations meetings in Geneva.
- International partnerships: HUMAIN with Canadian Cohere, Google, and NVIDIA to accelerate innovation.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Who needs AI Agent intelligence?
Any person or entity dealing with repetitive or complex tasks. Companies need it to automate processes, employees to speed up task completion, and government agencies to improve services. Even individuals can benefit from it in planning trips, managing budgets, and self-learning.
Where is AI Agents technology used?
In Saudi Arabia, its uses include the Absent platform for providing smart government services, the banking sector for customer service around the clock, the health sector in hospitals such as King Fahad Medical City, and the education sector in Saudi universities. Globally, it is used by companies such as Microsoft (Copilot Agents) and Google (Vertex AI Agent Builder).
What is the cost of using this technology?
The cost varies. Some free AI Agents tools are available (such as Google AI Studio for individuals). For companies, subscriptions start from $20 per month (approximately 75 riyals) for simple tasks and reach thousands of riyals for integrated solutions. The Saudi investment in HUMAIN exceeds $40 billion to develop the infrastructure and make the technology accessible to all.
How long does it take to learn to use AI Agents?
Using ready-made agents (such as ChatGPT Tasks or Microsoft Copilot) is very easy and anyone can use it immediately. Developing custom agents for companies takes from two weeks to two months, depending on the complexity of the task. There are free courses on the Sadaya platform and the Dorob educational platform that explain the basics.
How do I start with AI Agent intelligence?
Easy! Start with these steps:
1. Try ChatGPT Tasks (available with Plus subscription).
2. Use Microsoft Copilot in the Edge browser.
3. Download the Perplexity app which can search and plan.
4. Follow the accounts of SDAIA to know the latest developments in Saudi Arabia.
5. Register for the free workshops provided by the Digital Government Authority.
In summary: Artificial Intelligence Agent (AI Agents) is the future of technology that will change the way we work and live. And Saudi Arabia, thanks to Vision 2030 and its massive investments, is in a pioneering position to lead this revolution. Don’t wait, start today and explore this technology that is changing everything!
