Riyadh to Host Global AI Show 2026 as Minds and Machines Meet
Riyadh will host the Global AI Show (GAIS) on June 29-30, 2026. Organized by VAP Group and powered by the Times of AI, the event brings together decision-makers, researchers, and operators building real AI systems across sectors.
For PR and communications teams, GAIS is a dense two-day window to secure executive visibility, place thought leadership, and shape narratives around practical AI adoption, safety, and policy. Expect a full program of keynotes, ethics panels, and hands-on workshops designed to turn strategy into action.
Program at a glance
- Keynotes from AI pioneers and operators building at scale.
- Panels on responsible and ethical AI, including governance and risk.
- Workshops on measurable applications across finance, healthcare, education, and logistics.
- Sessions exploring progress toward AGI, human-machine collaboration, and the technical frameworks enabling it.
Speakers and voices to watch
- Hon. Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation, Government of Alberta, Canada.
- Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, Head of BAPS Hindu Mandir UAE.
- Professor Shafi Ahmed, surgeon, futurist, humanitarian, and CEO of Medical Realities.
- John Nosta, innovation theorist in technology, AI, and medicine; founder of NOSTALAB.
- Janet Adams, COO and Board Director at SingularityNET/ASI.
- Jeanie Fang, Director of Data & AI at Crunchbase.
Expect additional leaders from technology, healthcare, cybersecurity, and policy to contribute perspectives on scale, safety, and measurable outcomes.
Why this matters for PR and communications
- Saudi Arabia's AI build-out is accelerating, with strong public-private momentum. Context from SDAIA can help frame regional relevance in your pitches.
- Ethics and governance will be top-of-mind. Align messaging to widely recognized standards such as the OECD AI Principles.
- Healthcare tracks will showcase diagnostics, decision support, and AI-assisted surgeries-ideal for evidence-led stories on patient impact and safety-by-design.
- Workshops provide concrete demos and pilots you can convert into case studies and earned media angles.
Story angles and talking points
- From pilots to production: how enterprises move AI from labs to line-of-business outcomes.
- Risk with ROI: model governance, data quality, and measurable performance standards.
- AI for public good: healthcare access, education quality, and workforce enablement.
- Human-AI teamwork: augmenting experts instead of replacing them; training and change management.
- Market signals: procurement criteria, vendor consolidation, and interoperability rising as buying triggers.
Healthcare spotlight
Sessions will cover predictive medicine, clinical decision support, and operating-room assistance. Look for live or recorded demos showing accuracy benchmarks, workflow fit, and safety guardrails-prime material for credible media coverage.
Responsible AI, risk, and policy
Panels will explore how governments and companies reduce bias, improve transparency, and manage deployment risk. Prepare succinct positions on data governance, model evaluation, and oversight so spokespeople can answer tough questions with clarity.
PR playbook for GAIS 2026
- Define your one-line message: what outcome your AI work delivers, for whom, and how it's measured.
- Package proof: 2-3 KPIs, one short customer quote, and a 90-second demo or product walk-through.
- Prep spokespeople: one narrative for business media, one for technical press, one for policy audiences.
- Offer useful assets: embargoed press note, media kit, data sheet, and a simple risk/ethics FAQ.
- Schedule onsite interviews early; anchor around keynotes or workshop demos to increase pickup.
- Track outcomes: target publications, message pull-through, share of voice, and high-intent backlinks.
Workshop-to-coverage checklist
- Confirm which workshops dovetail with your product or policy stance.
- Secure seats for product leads to capture metrics and visuals.
- Draft a same-day summary with one chart and one quote for rapid outreach.
- Follow up with a short case-note (what changed, by how much, in what timeframe).
Useful resource for PR teams
For playbooks on media strategy, measurement, and AI-driven workflows, see AI for PR & Communications.
Event details and contact
- Event: Global AI Show (GAIS) 2026
- Dates: June 29-30, 2026
- Location: Riyadh
- Organizer: VAP Group; powered by the Times of AI
Media inquiries: Media@globalaishow.com
Bottom line
GAIS 2026 will connect executives, builders, and policymakers working on real deployments. Expect actionable sessions, credible case studies, and the right room for stories that link AI to results-responsibly and at scale.
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