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SDAIA and Microsoft Collaborate on Arabic AI Innovations
In a significant stride towards enhancing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has teamed up with Microsoft to make the Arabic language model “ALLaM” accessible on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. This initiative, announced during the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh, aims to bolster AI services in Arabic, fostering innovation not only in Saudi Arabia but also globally. Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of SDAIA, emphasized the model’s top-ranking performance in the MMLU standard tests for Arabic language models, highlighting its advanced capabilities in understanding, generating, and processing Arabic content.
According to Dr. Mashari bin Ibrahim Al-Mashari, Deputy Director of the National Information Center at SDAIA, the availability of ALLaM on Azure marks a pivotal achievement in the agency’s AI excellence journey. This collaboration with Microsoft is a landmark step in enabling Saudi government institutions to leverage cutting-edge generative AI developments, thereby improving public services and enhancing quality of life.
Microsoft’s Turki Badarees described this collaboration as a transformative moment in the region’s AI evolution, underscoring the commitment of both SDAIA and Microsoft to empower individuals, startups, NGOs, and companies across various industries to explore AI’s generative potential. This partnership aims to pave the way for a new era of AI progress and collaboration in and beyond Saudi Arabia.
SDAIA Partners with IBM for AI Center of Excellence
During the Global AI Summit, SDAIA also signed a memorandum of understanding with IBM to establish a Center of Excellence for developing generative AI technologies. This collaboration focuses on creating innovative applications that meet the needs of government entities according to global governance standards. The partnership also launched the “ALLaM Challenge,” which aims to develop and improve large language models (LLMs) in Arabic, promoting innovation and talent discovery in AI.
Dr. Yasser bin Mohammed Al-Anizan, CEO of the National Center for AI, and Fahad bin Afat Al-Anzi, General Manager of IBM Saudi Arabia, signed the agreement at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. This initiative is expected to enhance national capabilities and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to build a knowledge-based society and establish the country as a global hub for advanced technologies.
This collaboration is part of broader efforts by SDAIA to position ALLaM as the leading generative Arabic model globally, enabling developers and users to access AI solutions related to the Arabic language across Saudi Arabia and the world. Previously, SDAIA and IBM announced hosting ALLaM on the Watsonx platform and the government cloud “DEEM,” offering unique services that foster regional technological innovation.
SDAIA and NVIDIA: Advancing AI Infrastructure
SDAIA’s collaboration with NVIDIA aims to enhance the capabilities of the ALLaM model by leveraging NVIDIA’s advanced AI technologies. This partnership will benefit from NVIDIA NeMo, a platform for training language models, to provide users with wide-ranging access while ensuring system safety through robust protections.
The collaboration was announced at the Global AI Summit in the presence of prominent SDAIA leaders. It promises to make AI application development more accessible for developers using ALLaM’s capabilities, setting a new standard for AI language models in the region. NVIDIA’s technologies will play a crucial role in expanding AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, with plans to enhance SDAIA’s existing high-performance computing capabilities.
By integrating NVIDIA’s Triton Inference Server and TensorRT programs, SDAIA ensures ongoing development of its AI infrastructure, maintaining a leading edge in global technology trends. This partnership is a testament to Saudi Arabia’s leadership in digital innovation, supported by AI.
SDAIA and Riyadh Municipality: Digital Transformation Initiatives
In a move to accelerate digital transformation, SDAIA has signed an addendum to a memorandum of understanding with the Riyadh Municipality to enhance the “Tawakkalna” system. This collaboration aims to improve municipal operations and elevate user satisfaction by offering automated services through innovative and modern technologies across urban, environmental, sanitation, and digital transformation domains.
The agreement was signed during the Global AI Summit by Eng. Saleh bin Salem Musibah, Assistant Director of the National Information Center for “Tawakkalna,” and Eng. Fahad bin Mishaan Al-Sulaih, Deputy for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities. It seeks to enable the municipality to utilize the diverse services available on the Tawakkalna platform, including advanced notifications and the “My City” application services.
This partnership reflects ongoing synergies between SDAIA, the Riyadh Municipality, and various governmental and non-governmental entities, aimed at achieving digital transformation and data digitization. Such initiatives contribute to Riyadh’s growth and sustainability, aligning with the city’s digital transformation strategy.
The recent collaborations between SDAIA and global tech giants like Microsoft, IBM, and NVIDIA mark a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia’s AI development journey. These partnerships not only enhance the capabilities of the Arabic language model “ALLaM” but also underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to becoming a global leader in AI technology. By integrating cutting-edge AI solutions and fostering innovation, SDAIA is setting the stage for transformative advancements that will benefit both local and international communities. As the world continues to embrace AI, Saudi Arabia’s strategic initiatives position it as a central player in the evolving landscape of digital and AI technologies.
Source: SPA
