DEWA's new robotics patent; Saudi's new digital transformation company
Middle East AI News weekly news digest...
Good morning!
Here’s your weekly roundup of Middle East AI News!
Scroll down for this week's stories, including: DEWA's new robotics patent application; the new Saudi company that aims to digitally transform the Kingdom's real estate sector; U.S. Navy USVs become a target in the waters of the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea; and drones could be used to rehabilitate injured falcons!
Also, many more speakers have be confirmed for the Global AI Summit, which begins in Riyadh next Tuesday September 13th. Check them out here.
Have a great day!
/Carrington
R&D
DEWA’s R&D Centre registers a new patent for a solar PV robotic carrier
#UAE #robotics - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s Research and Development (R&D) Centre has registered its 6th patent for a user-friendly robotic carrier to transport solar photovoltaic panels easily and gently and lifting them smoothly from any surface. (Dubai Media Office)
Healthcare
Aster Hospitals adopts AI-powered speech recognition solution across its UAE facilities
#UAE #hospitals - Aster Hospitals in a strategic collaboration with 3M has successfully adopted 3M M*Modal Fluency Direct, the latest speech and AI-powered technology from 3M. The technology went live across Aster’s facilities in the UAE last month. (Gulf Business)
Virtual Assets
Saudi Arabia appoints new crypto chief to boost digital ambitions
#Saudi #crytocurrency - Saudi Arabia’s central bank recently appointed Mohsen AlZahrani to lead its virtual assets and central bank digital currency program in a sign of the Gulf state’s potential crypto ambitions, Bloomberg reported. (Arabian Business)
Construction
KPS uses robotic demolition processes in the heart of old Dubai
#UAE #robotics - Construction firm KPS recently used Husqvarna Construction remote controlled robots to demolish 21 ground floor retail outlets in Dubai. The demolition time was slashed in half and the manpower requirements reduced by over 90%. (Construction Week)
Environment
Drone-based falcon conservation research presented at Saudi event
#Saudi #falcons - Two Italian researchers have presented new scientific research on the conservation of falcons during the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, which involves the use of drones to rehabilitate injured birds. (Arab News)
Digital Transformation
PIF launches company to accelerate digital transformation of Saudi real estate sector
#Saudi #realestate - Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has launched the National Real Estate Registration Services Co. to digitize and develop the local real estate sector through a comprehensive digital platform. (Arab News)
Meeting discusses government’s digital transformation programme
#Oman #digitaltransformation - The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology on Wednesday held a meeting with governors to discuss the government’s digital transformation programme. The meeting falls within the framework of achieving the goals of the National Programme for Digital Economy. (Times of Oman)
Smart Cities
XZero City is Kuwait's contribution to the smart city movement
#Kuwait #smartcities - Billed as a “new paradigm in green urban living,” the car-free XZero City will spread out over a 16-square-kilometer (6-square-mile) swath in Kuwait's southern desert and will eventually grow to become a city accommodating up to 100,000 people. (Archinect)
AI Diplomacy
Saudi signs MoC with Singapore in digital economy and emerging technologies
#Saudi #Singapore - The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in digital economy, emerging technologies, and digital government, with the Ministry of Communications and Information of Singapore. (Zawya)
Media
Stars Of Science brings Arab perspective to AI
#Qatar #StarsofScience - Hundreds of aspiring young Arab innovators converged in Doha this week to audition to be a part of the top seven on Qatar Foundation's Stars of Science Season 14. AI featured prominently throughout. (The Peninsula)
Events
Saudi Arabia’s 2nd Global Artificial Intelligence Summit focuses on humanity’s challenges
#Saudi #GlobalAISummit - The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) has announced its speaker roster for the 2nd Global AI Summit, set to take place from Sept. 13 to 15 in Riyadh, under the theme of “AI for the Good of Humanity.” (Arab News)
Defence
Iran’s drone piracy shows how naval warfare is changing
#Bahrain #USVs - Over the past two weeks, a pair of dangerous maritime events unfolded in the still-steamy, late-summer waters of the Middle East. Iran twice intercepted and captured American unmanned sea drones, held them until challenged by the US Navy, and ultimately returned them. (Washington Post)
U.S. Navy statement on Saildrone incident with Iranian warship in Red Sea
#RedSea #USVs - The U.S. Navy intercepted an Iranian warship that seized and detained two U.S. Saildrones operated by U.S. 5th Fleet in the Red Sea, Sept. 1, two days after Iran was unsuccessful in seizing a similar vessel in the Arabian Gulf. (U.S. Navy)
US planning military testing site in Saudia Arabia
#Saudi #USA #UAVs - U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is reportedly planning a potential new military testing facility in Saudi Arabia focusing on drones and other new technologies, and would involve cooperation from allied nations. (Fox News)
First published via Revue.