Media Innovation Camp 2026 kicks off in Riyadh: The Artificial Intelligence Revolution

Under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - the second international edition of the Media Innovation Camp (SAUDI MIB) , as part of the Saudi Media Forum 2026. The event will continue from February 2 to 4, amidst a wide local and international presence that reflects the Kingdom's growing status as a regional and global center for the media and digital content industry.

Context of the event and its strategic importance

The organization of this camp comes at a time when the media sector is undergoing radical transformations driven by the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This event aligns perfectly with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which focuses on digital transformation and building a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. The Saudi Media Forum is a vital platform for exchanging expertise, as its role extends beyond mere presentation to shaping the future by empowering young talent with the tools of the modern age. This strengthens the Kingdom's soft power and reinforces its leadership in guiding the media landscape in the Middle East.

Strong competition and promising projects

The first day of the camp was marked by a highly competitive atmosphere, with participants showcasing 21 projects that had qualified for the final stages. These projects underwent rigorous evaluation by a specialized judging panel comprised of nine experts in the fields of media and technology. Only five outstanding projects were selected to compete for the grand prize, which will be announced on the forum's closing day. This initiative targets young people aged 18 to 40, whether individuals or teams of three to six members, who registered for the program since its launch on October 16, 2025.

Innovation pathways: Integrating artificial intelligence with media

The camp focuses primarily on employing artificial intelligence in three main areas that are reshaping newsrooms and content creation:

• AI-enhanced journalism: This covers how algorithms are used in investigative journalism, big data analysis to uncover complex patterns, and tools for news verification and deepfake detection.
• Smart content creation: This includes developing tools to accelerate the production of video, podcasts, and interactive designs, thereby improving the quality of output and reducing the time and effort spent on traditional editing processes.
• Virtual broadcaster: This is a path that focuses on creating virtual media personalities capable of reading and presenting news bulletins in a highly human-like style, relying on reliable sources.

Strategic partnerships for a digital future

In a move that underscores the integration of national efforts, the camp enjoys the support and strategic partnerships of leading entities, most notably the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). These partnerships aim to provide participants with the necessary technological infrastructure and data to transform their ideas into viable entrepreneurial projects, thus contributing to enriching Arabic content and supporting emerging technology companies in the media sector.