海角直播

AI as the engine of 海角直播鈥檚 Vision 2030

AI as the engine of 海角直播鈥檚 Vision 2030

AI as the engine of 海角直播鈥檚 Vision 2030
Waed Ventures, Saudi Aramco鈥檚 venture capital arm, has allocated $100 million to invest in AI startups. (Aramco photo)
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Artificial intelligence has emerged as a cornerstone of innovation and economic transformation globally, and in 海角直播, its impact is both profound and far-reaching.

As the Kingdom embarks on a journey to realize the goals of Vision 2030, AI is playing a pivotal role in driving progress, fostering economic diversification, and empowering organizations to embrace the future of technology.

At the heart of Vision 2030 lies a commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as AI to build a knowledge-based economy and establish 海角直播 as a leading global hub of innovation.

The recently announced Riyadh Declaration underscores the importance of AI as a transformative force. It emphasizes the need for AI technologies to enable digital access, enhance digital knowledge, and tackle global challenges while creating economic value.

This vision aligns seamlessly with 海角直播鈥檚 plans to invest $100 billion in establishing a world-class AI technology hub under the banner of 鈥淧roject Transcendence.鈥

This initiative promises to bring together expertise, infrastructure, and innovation to position the Kingdom at the forefront of AI advancements.

Adding to this momentum is GAIA, 海角直播鈥檚 generative AI startup accelerator program. Launched in Riyadh in May 2023, GAIA represents a bold step toward nurturing a vibrant AI ecosystem by empowering startups and innovators to develop groundbreaking solutions. 

Similarly, Waed Ventures, Saudi Aramco鈥檚 venture capital arm, has allocated $100 million to invest in AI startups, further solidifying the Kingdom鈥檚 commitment to building a thriving technological landscape.

Notably, Aramco鈥檚 METABRAIN 鈥 a 250 billion parameter large language model 鈥 stands as a testament to 海角直播鈥檚 ambition to lead in AI innovation, showcasing the potential to revolutionize industries and create unparalleled value.

The potential impact of AI on 海角直播鈥檚 economy is substantial. A PwC report estimates that AI could contribute $135 billion to the Kingdom鈥檚 gross domestic product by 2030, a significant portion of the nation鈥檚 economic growth.

This transformative potential is already becoming a reality as organizations of all sizes and across all sectors embrace AI to optimize operations, drive growth, and accelerate progress toward Vision 2030.

In manufacturing, for instance, Obeikan Investment Group leveraged Azure OpenAI and IoT technologies to develop and implement a smart factory platform across 22 of the company鈥檚 factories.

As a result, the organization achieved a 30 percent increase in overall equipment effectiveness, a 30 percent reduction in costs, as well as significant reductions in waste and energy consumption.

Similarly, the 海角直播n Mining Co. (Ma鈥檃den), the largest mining company in the Middle East, adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot to help employees spend less time on administrative tasks and instead focus on more strategic tasks out in the field.

Over a period of six months, employees were able to significantly enhance their productivity, saving around 27 minutes per day that were previously spent on unnecessary meetings, 14 minutes on searching for and summarizing documents, and 18 minutes on creating high-quality content.

In education, Gameit, an innovative Saudi startup, leveraged Azure OpenAI to develop AI-powered games that enhance cognitive skills such as attention, memory, logical reasoning, auditory and visual perception, and social skills in children.

With our investments in a new cloud datacenter region, we are providing the foundation for Saudi organizations to innovate and lead in the era of AI.

Turki Badhris

The games are scientifically designed to help all school students, including those facing learning challenges.

Meanwhile, Diriyah, the historic birthplace of the first Saudi state and home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif, utilized the advanced capabilities of Copilot Studio to develop and deploy the 鈥淐XQA AI Agent,鈥 which is empowering its teams to enhance customer experiences, analyze data to uncover key trends, develop tailored solutions, and efficiently manage complex on-site operations.

Such use cases highlight the transformative potential of AI in addressing complex challenges, fostering innovation, and delivering tangible benefits to society.

As a longstanding partner in 海角直播鈥檚 digital transformation journey, Microsoft is deeply committed to empowering organizations to leverage the latest advancements in AI and other transformative technologies to achieve their goals.

Our investments in the Kingdom reflect this commitment, specifically the construction of a new cloud datacenter region that will empower businesses with access to scalable, highly secure, and resilient cloud services.

Recently, we completed construction of three Azure Availability Zones, which will serve as the necessary foundation for AI innovation, enabling organizations to access the latest AI technologies and services with enhanced security and reliability.

Our collaborations with leading Saudi organizations further underscore our dedication to fostering a vibrant technological ecosystem.

By partnering with government entities, enterprises, and startups, we aim to create solutions that drive innovation, attract global investments, and position 海角直播 as a global hub for technology and talent.

As 海角直播 continues its journey toward realizing Vision 2030, AI stands as a powerful catalyst for change. The Kingdom鈥檚 bold investments in AI infrastructure, startups, and innovation are not just setting the stage for the future 鈥 they are defining it.

We have seen how organizations like Obeikan, Ma鈥檃den, Gameit, and Diriyah are already reaping the tangible benefits of AI, from increased efficiency and cost savings to enhanced customer experiences and educational advancements.

This is not a distant vision; it is the reality unfolding now.

With such undeniable momentum, the time to embrace AI at scale is not tomorrow, but today. The opportunities for transformation are vast, and the potential to contribute to 海角直播鈥檚 goals is immense. Don鈥檛 just observe the AI revolution; be a part of it. 

Microsoft stands ready to support everyone on this journey, empowering organizations to navigate the complexities of the digital age, accelerate their AI transformation, and unlock new opportunities for growth and prosperity.

With our investments in a new cloud datacenter region, we are providing the foundation for Saudi organizations to innovate and lead in the era of AI.

We look forward to the road ahead as we help accelerate progress toward Vision 2030 and build a more prosperous and sustainable future for the Kingdom.

Turki Badhris is president of Microsoft Arabia

 

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

UK police arrest two after 鈥榤ultiple people鈥 stabbed on train

UK police arrest two after 鈥榤ultiple people鈥 stabbed on train
Updated 02 November 2025

UK police arrest two after 鈥榤ultiple people鈥 stabbed on train

UK police arrest two after 鈥榤ultiple people鈥 stabbed on train
  • No details about how many people have been stabbed have been released, or the status of those attacked

LONDON: UK police said they had arrested two suspects Saturday after 鈥渕ultiple people鈥 were stabbed on a train in Cambridgeshire, eastern England.

鈥淲e are currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed,鈥 British Transport Police said on X, adding that 鈥渢wo people have been arrested.鈥

More than 30 officers, including armed officers, attended the scene and two men were arrested following emergency calls, the BBC reported.

No details about how many people have been stabbed have been released, or the status of those attacked.

鈥淭wo men have been arrested by police this evening after more than 30 officers were called to Huntingdon Train Station,鈥 a Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said.

鈥淲e were called at 7.39pm with reports that multiple people had been stabbed on a train. The incident remains ongoing and the A1307 has been closed as you approach the town center.鈥

All lines are currently closed while the incident is dealt with, and operator LNER said in a statement: 鈥淭rains running between these stations may be delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Major disruption is expected until the end of the day.鈥

* With AFP


Explosion at Harvard Medical School appears to have been intentional, authorities say. No one hurt

Explosion at Harvard Medical School appears to have been intentional, authorities say. No one hurt
Updated 02 November 2025

Explosion at Harvard Medical School appears to have been intentional, authorities say. No one hurt

Explosion at Harvard Medical School appears to have been intentional, authorities say. No one hurt
  • The Boston Fire Department determined that the explosion was intentional

BOSTON: There was an explosion early Saturday at Harvard Medical School that appears to have been intentional, but no one was injured, authorities said.


A university police officer who responded to a fire alarm tried to stop two unidentified people who ran from the Goldenson Building before going to where the alert was triggered, university police said in a statement.
The Boston Fire Department determined that the explosion was intentional and officers did not find additional devices in a sweep of the building, police said.


US envoy calls Lebanon a 鈥榝ailed state鈥 as Syria expected to join anti-IS coalition

US envoy calls Lebanon a 鈥榝ailed state鈥 as Syria expected to join anti-IS coalition
Updated 01 November 2025

US envoy calls Lebanon a 鈥榝ailed state鈥 as Syria expected to join anti-IS coalition

US envoy calls Lebanon a 鈥榝ailed state鈥 as Syria expected to join anti-IS coalition
  • Barrack pointedly said Lebanon was the only state in the region 鈥渘ot jumping in line鈥 with the new Middle East realignments

BEIRUT: The US鈥檚 special envoy for Syria on Saturday called Lebanon 鈥渁 failed state鈥 in remarks underscoring Washington鈥檚 frustration with Beirut鈥檚 鈥減aralyzed government,鈥 even as Syria inches toward closer ties with the US

Speaking at the Manama Dialogue summit in Bahrain during a panel on 鈥淯S Policy in the Levant,鈥 Thomas Barrack hailed developments in Syria following the downfall of Bashar Assad in December. He confirmed that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa is expected to visit Washington on Nov. 10 鈥 the first such visit by a Syrian president since the country鈥檚 independence in 1946.

Barrack also said that Syria is expected to join the US-led anti鈥揇aesh group coalition, describing it as 鈥渁 big step鈥 and 鈥渞emarkable.鈥 The coalition includes some 80 countries working to prevent a resurgence of IS.

As for Lebanon, Barrack pointedly said it was the only state in the region 鈥渘ot jumping in line鈥 with the new Middle East realignments. 鈥淭he state is Hezbollah,鈥 he said, noting that the Iran-backed group provides for its supporters and fighters in ways the Lebanese state cannot 鈥 in a country where basic services like electricity and water are chronically unreliable.

鈥淚t is really up to the Lebanese. America is not going to get deeper involved in the situation with a foreign terrorist organization and a failed state dictating the pace and asking for more resources and more money and more help,鈥 he said.

Barrack added that the US would not intervene in regional disputes but would support its ally 鈥渋f Israel becomes more aggressive toward Lebanon.鈥

Israel recently intensified its strikes on southern Lebanon. Both sides have accused each other of violating a ceasefire, which nominally ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war last November. The conflict started after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas and the Palestinians, prompting Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in return. The low-level exchanges escalated into full-scale war in September 2024.

Since the ceasefire, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes across southern Lebanon, saying they target Hezbollah militants, weapons depots and command centers. Israeli forces have also maintained positions on several strategic points inside Lebanese territory.

Lebanese officials have accused Israel of striking civilian areas and destroying infrastructure unrelated to Hezbollah, calling on Israeli forces to withdraw and respect Lebanon鈥檚 sovereignty.

Barrack said that Israel is still bombing southern Lebanon because 鈥渢housands of rockets and missiles鈥 remain there, threatening it. But he acknowledged that 鈥渋t is not reasonable for us to tell Lebanon to forcibly disarm one of its political parties 鈥 everybody is scared to death to go into a civil war.鈥

鈥淭he path is very clear 鈥 that it needs to be to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv for a conversation along with Syria. Syria is showing the way,鈥 Barrack said, adding that Syria and Israel are expected to hold a fifth set of de-escalation discussions.

The United States is leading a diplomatic push involving Syria and Israel, who are engaged in direct negotiations to de-escalate tensions and restore a 1974 ceasefire agreement. That deal established a demilitarized separation zone between Israeli and Syrian forces and stationed a UN peacekeeping force to maintain calm.

Tensions have soared between the two neighbors following the overthrow of Assad in December in a lightning rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgents.

Shortly after Assad鈥檚 overthrow, Israeli forces seized control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone in Syria set up under the 1974 agreement and carried out airstrikes on military sites in what officials said was aimed at creating a demilitarized zone south of Damascus.

Israel has said it will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves along the frontier, as Iranian-backed groups did during Assad鈥檚 rule. It distrusts Syria鈥檚 new government, which is led by former Islamist insurgents.


German third-division player subjected to racist abuse at game in Munich

German third-division player subjected to racist abuse at game in Munich
Updated 01 November 2025

German third-division player subjected to racist abuse at game in Munich

German third-division player subjected to racist abuse at game in Munich
  • 鈥淭SV 1860 Munich will strive for a full investigation into this incident and will hold the spectator accountable using all available means,鈥 the club said
  • The game resumed after an interruption of about 10 minutes

MUNICH: German third-division club 1860 Munich have apologized after one of their fans racially abused Energie Cottbus forward Justin Butler during a league match between the teams on Saturday.
鈥淭SV 1860 Munich will strive for a full investigation into this incident and will hold the spectator accountable using all available means,鈥 the club said in a statement.
The game was almost called off after Butler was subjected to monkey chants from a person among the 1860 fans. The club said players from both teams, stewards and other fans helped identify the alleged perpetrator, who was handed over to police.
The incident was addressed by the stadium announcer and 1860 supporters chanted 鈥淣azis out!鈥 while play was suspended. The game resumed after an interruption of about 10 minutes.
Referee Konrad Oldhafer said Butler informed him that he had been targeted by someone making monkey noises.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 hear them myself,鈥 Oldhafer told broadcaster MagentaSport. 鈥淚 immediately made it clear to the player that we were taking it very seriously.鈥
Oldhafer said he spoke with both captains and with Butler, who is Black. The referee said he asked Butler 鈥 after they were told the alleged perpetrator was found and removed from the stadium 鈥 whether he felt he could continue the game. He resumed it when Butler said he could.
鈥淚t鈥檚 appalling,鈥 Bulter鈥檚 teammate Axel Borgmann said in comments reported by news agency dpa.
鈥淚 asked Justin, and he confirmed it. It鈥檚 sad that this keeps coming up. 鈥 It happens again and again, which is sad and regrettable. I鈥檓 glad the fan was identified and removed from the stadium.鈥


Book Review: 鈥榃hy Do You Dance When You Walk?鈥 by Abdourahman A. Waberi

Book Review: 鈥榃hy Do You Dance When You Walk?鈥 by Abdourahman A. Waberi
Updated 01 November 2025

Book Review: 鈥榃hy Do You Dance When You Walk?鈥 by Abdourahman A. Waberi

Book Review: 鈥榃hy Do You Dance When You Walk?鈥 by Abdourahman A. Waberi

Author Abdourahman A. Waberi鈥檚 鈥淲hy Do You Dance When You Walk?鈥 novel begins in Paris one early morning before school with a simple question from Aden鈥檚 8-year-old daughter, Bea: 鈥淧apa, why do you dance when you walk?鈥

The question might have been innocent, but the answer was serious. 

Originally published in French in 2019 and translated into English in 2022 by David and Nicole Ball for Cassava Republic Press, the poetic prose reads like a song. Waberi鈥檚 sentences carries the texture of melodic memory 鈥 dusty streets, salt air, family laughter and the echoing ache of distance. It was dizzyingly beautiful. 

It is fictional, but so grounded in raw emotion that I found myself questioning how much of it was drawn from Waberi鈥檚 own truth.

Born in Djibouti in 1965, Waberi is evidently one of his country鈥檚 best-known literary voices. Like his narrator, he had polio as a child and was forced to walk with a limp 鈥 a detail that gives the novel its name and soul. 

Some of what he shared, at least to me, felt too intimate to tell a child who didn鈥檛 reach double digits in age yet 鈥 even if she seemed mature. He spoke about the good, the bad and the very ugly reality of living with a disability. Yet that honesty made their exchange even more powerful. 

I found myself wishing more fathers confided in their daughters in this most special way. By narrating his life story, customized for her ears, the story morphed from a history and geography lesson about their motherland and its people, to him as an individual, her father, and then to how it applied to her life, by extension.

Aden snaked silkily between the paths he took in his own childhood in a land far, far away from France; back to his roots in his native Djibouti, from his aloof mother and the shanty roofs of his neighborhood, to that pivotal ailment that turned his entire life around 鈥 quite literally. 

In vivid and fleeting bursts, he talked of his childhood in Djibouti, on the cusp of independence; his transfixed gaze on the French-from-France expats and then on himself, a lonely, confused sick boy finding solace in books and dreams.

Perhaps the reciting and recollecting the story of his life鈥檚 journey was cathartic for him. Often, it seemed, that the ripple effects of our past traumas 鈥 which may unknowingly jilt our movements 鈥 are out of our hands. Or in this case, out, or off, of his feet.

While I have never been to Djibouti, the book seemed to move to an African rhythm all its own. The father鈥檚 storytelling to his daughter carried that musical cadence 鈥 part lullaby, part confession; full of bombastic heartbeats.

At just over a hundred pages in the English version, 鈥淲hy Do You Dance When You Walk?鈥 lingers like a song.

It is a reminder that storytelling can turn personal pain into something graceful, and when told to an attentive and captivated audience, even joyful.