Alibaba, stc set up $238m cloud venture; UAE warns of AI ethics challenges
Good morning!
Here’s your weekly roundup of 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.
Meanwhile, it's 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'.
Then, of course, there is more news from stc and Alibaba Cloud on the new joint venture first announced in 2020, which will be formed with $238m capital, 55% of which will be stc-owned.
Scroll down to read more.
Stay safe and have a great day!
/Carrington
Cloud
stc to set up $238m Alibaba Cloud venture — www.arabnews.com
#Saudi #cloud - Saudi telecom firm stc has signed an agreement to form a new SR894 million ($238 million) joint venture cloud computing company being set-up with Alibaba Cloud Singapore, holding 55% of the shares. (Arab News)
AI Ethics
Protect role of ethics in AI future, UAE minister tells Davos — www.arabnews.com
#UAE #Davos - The future of the AI sector could be threatened by ignorance in decision-making processes, the UAE minister for AI, digital economy and remote work applications Omar Sultan Al-Olama warned yesterday, speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland. (Arab News)
Digital Economy
UAE launches ‘Markets of Tomorrow’ initiative — english.aawsat.com
#UAE #Davos - The UAE government has launched the "Markets of Tomorrow" initiative, in partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF). The initiative aims to develop new business accelerators that will prepare the UAE's national economy to embrace new business activities. (Asharq Al Awsat)
R&D
IBM and MBZUAI join forces to advance AI research with new center of excellence — mea.newsroom.ibm.com
#UAE #R&D - Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and IBM have announced a new collaboration which aims to advance fundamental AI research, and establish a joint AI centre of excellence. (IBM)
Saudi-US cooperation to establish joint centers in emerging technologies — www.zawya.com
#Saudi #KACST - King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has signed several cooperation agreements with American research organisations including robotics firm Boston Dynamics, to establish centres of excellence in emerging technologies and implement strategic projects. (Zawya)
Dubai now has a patent for charging drones continuously — gulfnews.com
#UAE #drones - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA)’s Research and Development Centre has registered a new patent for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) charging system that enables continuous charging for UAVs, allowing longer flying hours. (Gulf News)
IPA Qatar, Iberdrola to set up innovation centre — menafn.com
#Qatar #utilities - The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) and Iberdrola Group, has announced a new partnership to establish a world-leading innovation centre. The partnership will expand the Spanish group's R&D activities through Doha-based Iberdrola Innovation Middle East. (The Peninsula)
Healthcare
AI from Saudi Arabia helps diagnose post-Covid lung problems — www.thenationalnews.com
#Saudi #healthcare - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has developed a new computer-aided diagnostic tool could help to overcome some of the challenges of monitoring lung health after viral infection. (The National)
Education
Huawei opens AI Lab at Qatar University — news.writecaliber.com
#Qatar #Huawei - Qatar University (QU) has partnered with Huawei to open an AI Lab on campus as part of the Huawei ICT Academy. The lab will train students using Huawei equipment to acquire certifications in a real environment. (Writecaliber)
Space
Wyld and DEWA to launch new satellite IoT network and service for utilities sector — smartwatermagazine.com
#UAE #IoT - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s Research & Development (R&D) Centre, in collaboration with Infra X, the IT and telecommunications arm of Digital DEWA, and their British technical partner Wyld, has developed satellite Internet of Things (IoT) terminals for DEWA’s 3U nano satellite, DEWA-SAT1. (Smart Water Magazine)
AI Opinion
AI to be UAE's top sector over next decade — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #engineering - Engineering professionals and their employers in the UAE believe that AI will be the most important industry in the next decade. This was one of the findings of a survey, commissioned by the UK-based Institution of Engineering and Technology, or IET. (The National)
Defence
UAE warns of swarming drone assassins in ‘dystopian future’ war — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #securitycouncil - UAE ambassador to the United Nations Lana Nusseibeh warned Security Council members about the potential of swarms of assassin drones being sent out in cross-border raids by extremists. (The National)
Fifth Fleet Commander explains the role of unmanned, AI in Middle East — www.cusnc.navy.mil
#Bahrain #US #navy - Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces explained the role of unmanned systems and AI in naval operations at an international security conference in the UK, this week. (US Navy)
Explosive-laden drone strikes Baghdad's airport — english.alarabiya.net
#Iraq #drones - An explosive-laden drone struck near a military base by Baghdad International Airport on Tuesday morning, The base includes international forces, including Americans, as well as Iraqi personnel. (Al Arabiya)
Saudi Arabia in talks to buy Bayraktar drones: Report — newsaboutturkey.com
#Saudi #Turkey #UAS - Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) is preparing for talks to buy Bayraktar drones from Turkish manufacturer Baykar, according to Lebanon-based Tactical Report. (News About Turkey)
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