Ooredoo plans GPU-as-a-service; and more Middle East AI News

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Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News, brought to you by OnDemand, an innovative AI platform which enables you to fast-track AI product development and seamlessly integrate AI and IoT apps into your?environment.

Probably the biggest announcement in the past week is the news that Ooredoo plans to buy thousands of Nvidia GPUs to build out AI cloud infrastructure across its operations in the Middle East and North Africa. However, there’s plenty more, including a new CNN interview with UAE AI minister, and the news that SparkLabs Group will lead the AIM-X startup accelerator for the AI.M initiative, originally announced by the NTDP at LEAP24!

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Middle East AI News – 27-Jun-24

Compute

Ooredoo to buy thousands of Nvidia GPUs

#Qatar #AIchips - Qatari telecom group Ooredoo, and global chipmaker Nvidia, have signed a deal paving the way for Ooredoo to buy and deploy thousands of Nvidia Tensor Core GPUs. Ooredoo will build out its AI cloud services platform, offering GPU-as-a-Service to customers in Qatar, Algeria, Kuwait, Tunisia, the Maldives and Oman. (Middle East AI News)

Startups

SparkLabs Group to lead NTDPs AI.M accelerator

#Saudi #startups - Early-stage venture capital firm SparkLabs Group has announced that it will lead the Artificial Intelligence Mission (AI.M) startup accelerator. Created by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's National Technology Development Program (NTDP), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), the AI.M initiative was first announced at LEAP 2024 in March. (Middle East AI News)

AI Infrastructure

UAE could be key player in AI infrastructure

#UAE #AIchips - The UAE's Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, says that there's an opportunity for the UAE to be a key player in the manufacturer of AI infrastructure and that it can be a good partner of the USA. The minister made the comments during an interview with CNN on the Marketplace Middle East programme. (CNN, +video)

Urban Mobility

SingAuto shares plans for EV district in Abu Dhabi

#UAE #Singapore #EVs - Singapore-based SingAuto, a commercial electric vehicle maker, plans to build the world's largest commercial electric vehicle industrial district in Abu Dhabi, according to comments made by SingAuto CEO to UAE newspaper, The National. The company also revealed the world’s first one-step new energy intelligent refrigerated vehicle at an event in Abu Dhabi. (The National, Khaleej Times)

DIEZ, Aramex launch autonomous delivery robot

#UAE #lastmiledelivery - The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Dubai-based logistics group Aramex have begun pilot testing of Aramex’s autonomous robot delivery system at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the special economic zone for knowledge and innovation and a member of DIEZ. Aramex already has bot delivery services running in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. (Emirates News Agency)

Dubai RTA begins Phase 2 of ITS project

#UAE #traffic - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has begun Phase 2 of ITS Improvement and Expansion Project. The Dubai ITS Centre is a hub for managing traffic, leveraging AI, big data, and the Internet of Things. The project has so far reduced response times by 30 percent, increased traffic management efficiency, and reduced journey times by 20 percent. (Emirates News Agency)

Supply Chain

Dubai Airports improves inventory forecasting by 30%

#UAE #supplychain - Dubai Airports, the operator of Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, has developed an AI-powered Material Requirement Planning (or MRP) tool. By predicting future spare parts needs, the tool has improved inventory forecast accuracy by 30%, reducing excess stock by 12%, and improved supply management efficiency by 400%. (Emirates News Agency)

Education

Coursera sees 1,000+ percent rise in AI course enrollments from UAE

#UAE #AIskills - The UAE has seen a 1,102 per cent year-on-year increase in Coursera GenAI training enrollments in the UAE, surpassing the 861% average across the MENA region, according to the 2024 Global Skills Report from Coursera. The 2024 report also shows a notable 27% increase in learners from the UAE focused on digital skills and enhancing their career prospects. (Zawya)

Alat-KAUST AI training programme ready for launch

#Saudi #training - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) will soon launch the Alat-KAUST Artificial Intelligence Training Programme. The new programme will train science and engineering senior students and graduates in Saudi universities on AI concepts and tools. (SPA)

Innovation

Next phase of Dubai Future Solutions begins

#UAE #innovation - Dubai's Crown Prince of Dubai has approved the launch of the next phase of the 'Dubai Future Solutions’ initiative. The initiative aims to foster the development and implementation of innovative prototypes and pilot models, delivering transformative solutions from Dubai to the world. (Emirates News Agency)

Telecom

RDIA announces Open RAN Challenge

#Saudi #OpenRAN - Saudi Arabia's Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA) is inviting researchers and innovators to participate in the Open RAN Challenge. The challenge aims to find solutions in Security Protocol Analysis, Open RAN Deployments, Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication, Advanced Antenna Technologies, and Edge Computing Integration. (SPA)

AI Diplomacy

US, Morocco announced UN AI meeting group

#Morocco #US #sustainability - The U.S. and Moroccan Ambassadors to the United Nations, on Friday announced the Group of Friends on Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development. The group also held its first meeting at the ambassadorial level at the headquarters of the U.S. Permanent Mission in New York. (MSN)

Sentiment

UAE, Saudi firms well positioned for AI

#Saudi #UAE #readiness - About 90% of organisations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, say they are well positioned competitively for AI and have a solid strategy, according to new research from Dell Technologies. 60% or more of respondents from UAE and Saudi Arabia cite Gen AI’s transformative or significant potential to deliver value in improving IT security, productivity and customer experience. (Zawya)

Video of the Week

Watch: CNN's Marketplace Middle East on the UAE's AI plans!

The UAE's ambition to become a global AI superpower is the focus of this week's CNN ?????????????????????? ???????????? ????????! CNN's Becky Anderson talked to HE Omar Sultan AlOlama, the UAE's Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, about AI investment, AI chips and US-UAE relations on AI.

Watch video (9 mins)

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