MBZUAI releases GPT models; and more Middle East AI News

Welcome to Middle East AI News!

Good morning! This week I'm sharing my full news digest, which goes out via Substack every Thursday morning. If you'd like to receive this new digest in your email inbox earlier than this, you can?subscribe here. If you're happy receiving the Linkedin version later in the morning, then that's wonderful too!

Another very busy week in AI! Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence released its first library of large-language models (LLMs) this week - named the ‘Oryx Library’. You’ll find links to more content, including the link for the GitHub repository in the main article or in my Linkedin post here.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund joins $250 funding round of UK-based Builder.ai; Saudia airline signs a big deal with Accenture to create 260 digital services, many of them to enhance the customer journey; PIF and DigitalBridge plan to build data centres across the GCC; and Abu Dhabi’s EDGE Group acquires a majority stake in Jordanian UAV firm MARS Robotics.

Scroll down to find more Middle East AI News!

Lastly, I'm pleased to share that Charles Reed Anderson 's popular TechBurst Talks Podcast podcast will be doing a deep dive in to emerging technology trends in the Middle East during the next few weeks! You can find all the details and the link to the first Middle East special episode in Charles' Linked post here.

Have a question or want to share your own perspective? Please do leave a comment or send me a message. I'd love to hear from you!

/Carrington

Middle East AI News – 25-May-23

LLMS

MBZUAI releases first LLM library

#UAE #LLMs?-?Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)?has publicly released its first library of large-language models (LLMs) named the?Oryx Library, to advance domain-specific applications. The three models are ClimateGPT, Video-ChatGPT and XrayGPT.?(Middle East AI News)

Funding

Builder.ai nets $250 million in Series D funding

#Qatar #funding -?Builder.ai?has announced a $250 million Series D funding round led by the?Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). With more than $450 million raised in total, the company aims to employ human conversation for app building on its platform.?(TechCrunch)

Aramco Ventures joins ANYbotics $50 million Series B round

#Saudi #Switzerland #funding - Aramco Ventures has invested in Swiss robotics pioneer ANYbotics, in a $50 million Series B funding round of led by international deep tech investors Walden Catalyst and NGP Capital. Other investors include participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Swisscom Ventures, Swisscanto Private Equity, Equity Pitcher Ventures, Verve Ventures, and other existing investors.?(ANYbotics)

Aviation

Saudia and Accenture partner to develop 260+ digital services

#Saudi #digitaltransformation?-?Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, collaborates with?Accenture?to build over 260 new digital services, aiming to improve customer experience throughout the travel cycle. This is part of an aggressive digital transformation strategy.?(Gulf Business)

Transport

RTA debuts enterprise platform for AI solutions

#UAE #transport- Dubai’s?Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)?has unveiled an enterprise platform for developing new AI solutions, benefiting a variety of operations including traffic data analysis, predictive maintenance, and more. The platform has already created over 100 use case solutions.?(Dubai Media Office)

R&D

UIR and IAI launch centre for aeronautics, AI

#Morocco #aeronautics?- The?International University of Rabat (UIR)?and?Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)?are collaborating to establish a centre of excellence in aeronautics and artificial intelligence at UIR, with an emphasis on promoting advanced research and innovation.?(Morocco World News)

Deloitte launches AI institute in Saudi Arabia

#Saudi #innovation?-?Deloitte?has opened an AI institute in Saudi Arabia to promote AI adoption and support the country's digital transformation. The institute aims to develop tailored solutions with a focus on generative AI and machine learning.?(The National)

Data Centres

PIF and DigitalBridge to build data centres across GCC

#Saudi #datadentres?- Saudi Arabia's?Public Investment Fund (PIF)?is teaming up with global asset manager?DigitalBridge. The collaboration will focus on investments in data centres and other areas of digital infrastructure, driving the advancement of the Kingdom's digital economy.?(Arab News)

Robotics

Boston Dynamics appoints CNTXT as Saudi partner

#Saudi #robotics - Mobile robotics leader Boston Dynamics has appointed Saudi digital transformation company CNTXT, as its first reseller in the region and a preferred solutions provider. CNTXT will integrate Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot with Cognite Data Fusion and Google Cloud to ingest, contextualize, and analyze raw data gathered during autonomous inspections.?(Arab News)

Finance

AI in finance to boost UAE's GDP by AED 103 billion by 2035

#UAE #finance?- AI in the financial sector could pump AED 103 billion into the UAE's economy by 2035. This increase is part of the nation's goal to raise the contribution of AI to 14% of its GDP by the end of the decade.?(Khaleej Times)

Virtuzone launches AI-powered corporate tax assistant

#UAE #tax?- UAE-based?Virtuzone?has unveiled TaxGPT, the world's first AI-powered corporate tax assistant. Built on?OpenAI's advanced language model GPT-4, TaxGPT aims to help businesses navigate the upcoming corporate tax law changes due to take effect on June 1, 2023.?(Arabian Business)

AI Policy

UAE advocates for global AI coalition

#UAE #AIregulation?- The UAE has called for a global coalition to regulate AI development and use worldwide, likening the necessary oversight to nuclear arms proliferation. H.E.?Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for AI, emphasizes the urgent need for global collaboration to police AI.?See featured video below?(The National)

Parliament pushes for AI ethics and controls in Egypt

#Egypt #ethics?- The Education Committee of the?Egyptian Senate?has approved the issue of a document evaluating the ethics and control of AI in Egypt, aiming to regulate AI applications and reduce the risks associated with its use.?(Egypt Independent)

Qatar 'is developing laws to regulate Artificial Intelligence'

#Qatar #regulation - Qatar is currently developing laws regulating AI, with ongoing collaboration between the public and private sectors along with Qatari legislators, the President of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CSGDB) Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa confirmed this week. The government aims to create a legislative framework for AI that supports Qatar National Vision 2030 and smart e-governance. (Gulf Times)

Fashion

AI revives ancient Egyptian styles in fashion

#Egypt #fashion?-?Tutera,?a design community, is using AI to create designs inspired by ancient Egypt, resulting in time and resource savings, as well as a wide variety of unique designs. They've also used AI for a virtual fashion show in the ‘metaverse’.?(Reuters)

Defence

EDGE takes majority stake in MARS Robotics

#UAE #Robotics?- Abu Dhabi's?EDGE?has acquired an 80% majority stake in Jordan-based?MARS Robotics, a leader in autonomous robotics solutions. The acquisition aims to enhance EDGE's autonomous capabilities and foster collaboration on unmanned systems projects.?(EDGE Group)

AI Opinion

US-UAE relations grow through AI

#UAE #USA #diplomacy- The UAE's rapid investment and adoption of AI are significantly affecting the U.S.-UAE bilateral relationship, according to Middle East Institute researchers Vincent Carchidi and Mohammed Soliman. These advancements present opportunities for the U.S. to deepen and expand relations in the technical space.?(Middle East Institute)

70% of UAE residents are worried about AI replacing jobs

#UAE #jobs - According to a recent YouGov survey of 18 international markets, three in five consumers globally (57%) are worried that AI may replace jobs. In the UAE, this rises to seven out of ten consumers (70%). (YouGov)

Featured Video

UAE minister of AI calls for global oversight of AI

H.E. Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Digital Economy, AI and Remote Working System calls for global coalition to regulate artificial intelligence, whilst speaking at?The National's Connectivity Forum in Abu Dhabi this week.

Watch the video?(1 minute)

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