The UAE's AI diplomacy; and other Middle East AI News
Carrington Malin
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Welcome to Middle East AI News!
The UAE’s digital economy diplomacy is in overdrive this week, as high-level teams at the World Economic Forum in Davos talk about the impact of AI and emerging technologies, while the country’s ambassador to the UN warns the security council members of the future threat of extremists launching swarms of attack drones.
We're now used to seeing UAE government officials talk about AI locally, regionally and globally, but effect does it all have? I discuss the UAE's 'AI diplomacy' below.
Meanwhile, it’s also been a busy week for innovation and R&D with several new initiatives being announced in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including a collaboration between IBM and Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to further ‘fundamental AI research’. Lots of links below.
And, after last week's news that electric vehicle company Lucid Motors has access to $3.4 billion in investment and financing to built and operate its future factory in Saudi Arabia, the Minister of Investment informs that there could be two other EV production plants built in the Kingdom!
My interview of the week is CNBC's interview with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih about the Lucid Motors?production plant, where he talks about the prospect of other EV plants.
Scroll down for these stories and much more!
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 – 26-May-22
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The UAE's AI diplomacy campaign
The #UAE was one of the first countries in the world to prioritise artificial intelligence at a national level, was an early mover in developing a national AI strategy and became the first country to appoint a minister for artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, the government's resolve to ensure that the UAE leads in its ability to implement AI and leverage it to the country's economic advantage is plain for anyone to see, by simply browsing the news.
The UAE has also found that AI can be a useful topic to drive engagement with the global community. Rarely does one now see news of a diplomatic engagement with the UAE that fails to mention artificial intelligence. The diplomatic, trade, finance and defence bilateral meetings with foreign powers routinely include AI in the agenda.
This week, we've seen the UAE's Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications H.E. Omar bin Sultan Al Olama call for international cooperation between governments on AI ethics at the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Minister of Economy H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri announced a 'Markets of tomorrow' initiative with WEF,?another WEF agreement was signed to develop Fourth Industrial Revolution applications in the UAE, and, last but not least, UAE ambassador to the United Nations H.E. Lana Nusseibeh warned Security Council members about the potential of extremists launching swarms of attack drones.
The future of AI maybe great for getting headlines in the media, but it's of much greater value because the UAE not only 'talks the talk', but also 'walks the walk'. The relentless focus on AI by the government is showing results globally, regionally and locally.
On a grass roots level, this focus at the top has helped make AI a priority across business, careers, education, and the public sector. True, timescales vary between the AI press releases and the actual delivery, but the path for both public and private sectors is clear. It is now becoming commonplace for AI to be considered, developed, trialed and implemented to gain competitive advantage.?
The country identified early on that it needed to become an innovator in, and producer of AI, rather than simply a consumer. Government initiatives to skill-up the public sector on AI and advanced digital technologies support this, as do the startup programs launched over the past few years to lure new global tech ventures to the Emirates. At this week's World Economic Forum, Omar Al Olama revealed that the UAE government had signed a strategic agreement with the University of Oxford to send government officials to the institution for an eight-month course to learn about AI and AI ethics.
Regionally, the UAE has already become a hub for AI technology, development, education and training and expertise. Its regional influence is going to continue to grow as it continues to show leadership across relevant digital policy, initiatives, incentives and education.
On the world stage, the UAE has managed to move itself into the spotlight as both a proponent of artificial intelligence and a increasingly successful user of it. The growing global perception of the UAE as an AI-focused hub of innovation enabling a new digital economy, no doubt plays a role in positioning the country in the minds of allies, investors, AI talent and developers.
Always an active diplomatic player, the UAE has leveraged AI and its plans to open up new digital markets to bolster its international reputation. Relationships that go back decades are being reinvigorated, giving rise to new areas of cooperation. Institutions in the UAE are not only collaborating more and more with other global insitutions on R&D, innovation and education, but also increasingly on an equal footing.
Find out more about this story:
Saudi Arabia may yet announce two more EV plants
According to last week's CNBC interview with #Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih about Lucid Motors (see 'Interview of the week' below), the Kingdom is already in 'advanced talks' with other electric vehicle (EV) makers about building assembly plants. At yesterday's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Minister clarified further that the Lucid production plant is likely to be one of three EV plants to be built in the country!
In case you missed it, Lucid Group announced an agreement with the Saudi government in April for the sale of up to 100,000 EVs over a ten year period and committed to build an international manufacturing facility in the Kingdom. Last week, the electric vehicle company disclosed that it had secured $3.4 billion in financing and incentives over the next 15 years from Saudi government entities and investors.
No details have been revealed by the government about other possible EV plants. However, if there were any doubts about Saudi Arabia's commitment to electric vehicles, Lucid's $3.4 billion finance package should have put paid to those. Meanwhile, the infrastructure and services necessary to put more EVs on the roads are rolling out fast. Earlier this month, Petromin Corp.'s e-mobility company Electromin announced a national network of EV charging points with 100 new locations across the country and an associated mobile app. According to Electromin, studies show that there could be 1.3 million EVs sold in the Kingdom by 2030.?
So, what do we know about other potential market entrants?
Well, first, we know that there are multiple electronic vehicle manufacturers that have ties to the government, private sector and investors in Saudi Arabia.?
French autonomous mobility systems company NAVYA Group has been active in the Kingdom for the past couple of years and has significantly ramped up local initiatives over the past few months. The driverless shuttle maker has a number of trial projects being run in partnership with Saudi Public Transport Company, SAPTCO, including a long-term trial in NEOM using six Navya Autonom? Shuttle Evos.
In March, Navya signed a wide ranging MoU with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services. Later that month, the company signed a distribution agreement with Electromin, which included the possibility of setting up a joint venture assembly plant.
No other EV manufacturer has publically mentioned the possibility of establishing a production plant in Saudi Arabia, but General Motors admits that it is, at least, one idea on the table.
Dubai's crown prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced last year that General Motors' autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, would make Dubai its first driverless services market outside the U.S. Cruise's deal with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority will put 4,000 robotaxis on the city's roads by 2030.
Japanese multinational investor Softbank was an early investor in Cruise - and Saudi's Public Investment Fund (PIF), of course, is a major investor in Softbank's funds. Whilst there have been no plans revealed to introduce Cruise to Saudi Arabia, GM has said this year that it will be introducing electric vehicles to the kingdom. It's Africa and Middle East president also said that GM would not rule out opening an automotive production plant either.
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Saudi Arabia's government funds and private investors are obviously investing globally in a wide variety of companies, including those in the electric vehicle sector. A key factor in Lucid's plans to open its new factory is that Saudi Arabia currently owns 60% of its shares.
Abdul Latif Jameel, the family group that owns dealerships of Toyota and Lexus, remains the third largest shareholder in EV manufacturer Rivian Automotive Inc. Despite a decline in stock value this year, the investor recently confirmed that it has no plans to reduce its stake. So, Rivian perhaps, could be another potential future local EV producer.
And what else? Tesla?
Founder and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, was reportedly counting on Saudi investment to take the company private. However, both Musk and PIF dismissed the possibility in 2018 and shortly afterwards the sovereign wealth fund agreed to invest $1 billion in Lucid Motors.
So, a Saudi Tesla plant does seem unlikely.
Find out more about this story:
More News!
Here's some more interesting news from the past week:
AI Opinion
Cloud
Davos
Defence?
Education
Healthcare
R&D
Space
Interview of the week
CNBC reporter and anchor Hadley Gamble interviews #Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih on the new agreement to build a Lucid Motors electric vehicle production plant in Saudi Arabia and what this means for the Kingdom. According to the Minister, the country is already in advanced talks with other EV makers about building assembly plants.
Watch the video (4.5 minutes)
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Distributeur indépendant cosmétiques bio
2 年I have my little idea about the other electric vehicle production in Saudi Arabia. I put a coin on navya (MoU...). I follow you and can't wait to have the answer soon ??