At the LEAP Saudi Arabia 2026 conference, industry and government leaders emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to ensure that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) promotes digital inclusion rather than exacerbating existing disparities. The panel, titled “Bridging Global Gaps in Digital Inclusion: Government and Cross-Nation Strategies,” brought together experts from the technology sector and social organizations to discuss strategies for expanding accessible AI infrastructure, developing relevant skills, and establishing cross-border policies.

Moderated by media personality Solange El Rassi, the discussion included insights from Samar Al-Shorfa, founding CEO of She is Arab; Priscia Bossi, vice president of technology for SSEA, CIS, and MEA at Philip Morris International; Wojciech Bajda, vice president and head of MENAR at Iron Mountain; and Lana Khalaf, public sector lead for MEA at Microsoft.

Al-Shorfa underscored the significance of public-private partnerships combined with collaboration with social-sector organizations that maintain close ties to underserved communities. She stressed that digital inclusion efforts must be tailored to specific local contexts rather than applying uniform approaches across different countries. “We should focus on leveraging the public-private partnerships and partnerships with the social sector because, again, they are the ones that can reach the most communities,” she said.

Bajda highlighted that nations in the midst of rapid digital transformation have the advantage of learning from the challenges faced by countries with long-standing but fragmented digital infrastructures. He contrasted these newer adopters with those that have accumulated “a huge amount of different platforms, solutions and standards,” creating a form of “technical debt.” Bajda advocated for adopting technologies that align with local cultural, regulatory, and economic conditions, citing Saudi Arabia’s investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and skills development as key drivers of the Kingdom’s ongoing digital transformation.

Priscia Bossi emphasized the importance of incorporating accessibility into the earliest stages of technology development rather than as an afterthought. She argued that accessibility should become a fundamental component of platform design, akin to privacy and cybersecurity considerations. “When we define a platform or new technology, it needs to be accessible to everybody,” Bossi stated, advocating for a proactive approach to inclusive design.

The panel’s collective message pointed to a need for coordinated policies and strategic partnerships across sectors and nations to ensure inclusive technology deployment. The speakers called for continued innovation in AI and digital infrastructure with a focus on bridging divides to avoid leaving marginalized populations behind in the ongoing digital revolution.