Arabic Language Aims for Enhanced Digital Presence in AI Era

Riyadh: Although Arabic is spoken by more than 400 million people and holds deep significance for nearly two billion Muslims as the language of the Holy Quran, its online presence remains disproportionately small. Arabic-language websites account for no more than 0.6% of global web pages, limiting the language's opportunities in artificial intelligence applications and natural language processing.According to Sudan News Agency, interest is growing in enriching Arabic content and developing its linguistic resources as a foundation for ensuring the language keeps pace with technological shifts, amidst global competition to build national language models and strengthen digital sovereignty. Dr. Abdullah Al-Faifi, Head of the Linguistic Computing Sector at the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL), emphasized the need to produce reliable Arabic content, develop digital linguistic resources, and build partnerships among linguists, educators, and AI specialists.Arabic serves not just as a mediu m of communication but also as a repository of heritage and knowledge exchange. Dr. Abdulhamid Madkour, Secretary-General of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo, stressed the importance of empowering Arabic through education, culture, and media. Experts, including Dr. Othman Fikri and Dr. Mohammed Hamed Egila, highlighted the role of AI in enhancing content quality and protecting heritage, with Saudi Arabia leading initiatives to support digital Arabic content.Challenges include Arabic's digital footprint and data quality for AI training. Dr. Mohammed Jumeh estimated Arabic online content at 1% to 3% of global content. Dr. Ibrahim Badran called for empowering Arabic through education and media, while Dr. Bassam Hammo emphasized building comprehensive Arabic databases for AI applications.Arab efforts in advancing Arabic in the digital age focus on building a specialized scientific workforce. Dr. Majdouline Nahibi noted Moroccan universities offering programs in linguistics and AI. However, specialists war n against overreliance on automated tools. Dr. Yahya Al-Hashemi and Lebanese academic Munir Al-Hafi stressed the importance of human oversight in AI applications.Experts agree on transforming Arabic into a language that actively produces digital knowledge. Dr. Saleh Belaid noted that digital sovereignty begins with the mother tongue, calling for a unified language policy and investment in education and research. Dr. Abdulhamid Madkour and Dr. Mohammed Hamed Egila advocated for regional initiatives to elevate Arabic in digital platforms.The digital revolution offers a historic opportunity for Arabic to evolve from a passive recipient into an active producer. With a rich cultural heritage and a vast vocabulary, Arabic holds the potential to drive innovation and knowledge production globally. Joint Arab investment is essential to build an integrated digital system that empowers Arabic to shape modern technology while preserving its cultural identity.