Good morning!
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.
So much going on this week! I’ve done my best to cover as much as possible, but had to cut quite a few stories. Key headlines this week are the new TelecomGPT built by Abu Dhabi’s TII and the 6G Centre of Khalifa University, an Algerian project to crowdsource data for a new local language LLM, a new Smart and Autonomous Systems Council in Abu Dhabi, and SDAIA reveals SR 5 billion in savings as a result of the DEEM government cloud programme!
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/Carrington
LLMs
Abu Dhabi researchers create first-of-its-kind telecom LLM
#UAE #telecom - A joint research project from the 6G Centre of Khalifa University (KU) and Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has developed a first-of-its-kind TelecomGPT large language model (LLM). The model is the first comprehensive model built and trained on a specialised data set for the telecom domain, which could provide telecom operators, telecom vendors, standardisation bodies and telecom researchers with a valuable LLM. (Middle East AI News)
Algerian AI researchers crowdsource local language data
#Algeria #LLMs - Hadretna, a research project formed by Algerian-French startup Fentech, is developing a large language model, trained on crowdsourced data for the Algerian Arabic dialect Daridja and the Berber language Tamazight (or Amazigh). The project has launched a crowdsourcing initiative, as part of its effort to acquire more data that can be used to train a bigger model. (Middle East AI News)
Government Cloud
DEEM government cloud brings SR5 billion in savings
#Saudi #governmentcloud - The DEEM government cloud programme of the Saudi Arabian government has saved government entities more than SAR 5 billion ($1.33b) up until 2023, according to new figures from Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the Expenditure and Project Efficiency Authority (EXPRO). DEEM is the largest government cloud in the region, hosting data from 237 government entities and integrating 175 government data centres. (SPA)
Funding
Wa'ed Ventures backs aiXplain's $6.5m pre-Series A raise
#Saudi #funding - Saudi Aramco's venture capital fund Wa'ed Ventures is leading a $6.5 million pre-Series A funding round for Californian AI no-code/low-code platform startup aiXplain. The company’s subsidiary in Saudi Arabia will become its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) headquarters. (Middle East AI News)
Web3 startup Sentient Labs secures $85m in Seed round
#UAE #funding - Web3 startup Sentient Labs has closed an $85 million Seed round, co-led by Pantera Capital, and Framework Ventures, joined by Arrington Capital, Canonical, Dao5, among other investors. Sentient Labs is a UAE-based blockchain-based AI startup that aims to democratise AI development. (Wamda)
Smart mobility
Abu Dhabi to form Smart and Autonomous Systems Council
#UAE #smartmobility - Abu Dhabi will form a new Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) to oversee policy, strategy and operations of smart and autonomous systems in the emirate. The emirate announced its intention to become a hub for smart mobility last year. (Middle East AI News)
Evocargo and Dubai South run cargo AV trials
#UAE #AVs - Evocargo has carried out its first UAE autonomous cargo vehicle trials in the Dubai South Logistics District. Dubai South and Evocargo have conducted AV trials on a set route, in a closed area of the Logistics District to validate hardware, software, and reliability. (Dubai Media Office)
AI Apps
Core42 and OnDemand partner to bring compute to developers
#UAE #apps - G42 cloud, AI infrastructure and services company Core42 bas partnered with AIREV to launch the OnDemand AI app development and integration platform. Now open to all developers, the platform will provide developers with access to Core42’s powerful Condor Galaxy supercomputer network. OnDemand has closed its beta trial and is now live for customers, including a free trial. (Zawya)
Data transformation
Dubai launches data quality initiative
#UAE #data - Digital Dubai, Dubai's digital government authority, has launched an initiative to enhance data quality, accessibility and governance. The initiative will establish a knowledge-sharing platform to help government entities learn about and implement data best practices. (Zawya)
Education
Egypt drives digital transformation in education
#Egypt #education - Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is driving a EGP 10 billion ($210m) digital transformation programme to integrate AI with the higher education ecosystem. The programme has six main areas of focus, aiming to enhance infrastructure and curricula. (Daily News Egypt)
MBZUAI runs first summer school
#UAE #summerschool - Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has run a five-day pilot programme for a MBZUAI Summer School. Thirty-eight grade 11 students from across the UAE took part in the university's first dedicated summer school, organised in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Department of Education And Knowledge (ADEK). (Zawya)
AI Sentiment
25% of Middle East employees regular GenAI users
#GenAI #research - More than 25% of Middle East office workers use Generative AI regularly at work, compared with only 12% globally, according to PwC's new workforce report. 81% employees surveyed in the region, have used GenAI at work in the past 12 months, while 64% of those surveyed, recognised the risks associated with Gen AI. Download report. (Zawya)
Startups
Builder AI brings platform to Startup Grind Qatar
#Qatar #development - Startup Grind Qatar has partnered with the United Kingdom's Builder AI, an AI-powered composable software platform. Qatar-based startups will gain access to Builder AI's platform and expertise, enabling them to accelerate time-to-market. (Wamda)
ISO
SAIA certified for new ISO 42001 AI standard
#Saudi #ISO - Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has received certification for the ISO 42001 Artificial Intelligence Management Systems standard, becoming the first 'global entity' to get certified. ISO 42001 is a first-of-its-kind AI international standard for AI management systems. (Middle East AI News)
Saudi PDPL
SDAIA launches data protection awareness campaign
#Saudi #PDPL - Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has launched a personal data protection campaign, to raise public awareness for the Kingdom's personal data protection law (PDPL) and individuals' rights. The country's personal data protection law comes into full effect on September 14th. (LinkedIn)
R&D
KAUST builds AI seed-counter
#Saudi #agriculture - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has developed an AI-based tool called SeedQuant, for counting small flower and plant seeds. The new tool can automatically counts small seeds from microscopic images using computer vision. (SPA)
Environment
Morocco uses AI to predict forest fires
#Morocco #climate - Morocco's National Agency for Water and Forests, is turning to AI, drones, and satellite imagery to predict fire risks, monitor hotspots, and facilitate rapid response. The country is now in its sixth year of drought, heightening the risk of forest fires this summer. (Hespress)
Esports
Saudi Arabia to host first Olympics Esports Games in 2025
#Saudi #esports - Saudi Arabia will host the first Olympics Esports Games in 2025, following the signing of a 12-year agreement with the International Olympic Committee. The announcement was during the two-month Esports World Cup being held in Riyadh. (The Guardian)