publishing news in Saudi Arabia, the Arab region, and globally

Abstract

This article addresses recent developments in publishing at the Saudi, Arab, and global levels, with a particular focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing the publishing and journalism sectors. In Saudi Arabia, the article reviews recent academic studies highlighting the potential of AI technologies, such as Google Lens, for optical recognition of Arabic printed and handwritten texts, and their impact on supporting digital libraries and research in historical newspapers and periodicals. It also examines the use of AI by Saudi journalists, revealing moderate adoption of these technologies, with translation, fact-checking, and image processing emerging as the most prominent applications, alongside legal, technical, and human challenges affecting their implementation.

Regarding the Saudi publishing industry, the article outlines the significant transformation under Vision 2030, including the expansion of publishing houses, support for translation, organization of the Riyadh International Book Fair, and the development of digital platforms. These initiatives have contributed to increased reading rates and enriched knowledge content, positioning Saudi Arabia as a promising regional model in cultural publishing. The article also highlights the recognition of “Manga Arabia” with a Publishing Excellence Award, underscoring its role in promoting Arab creative content.

At the global level, the article discusses AI and copyright issues, particularly the Bartz vs. Anthropic case, which marked a pivotal moment in holding AI companies accountable for using pirated content, reflecting a worldwide shift toward protecting authors’ and publishers’ rights in the era of artificial intelligence.