Saudi Arabia is planning an ambitious US$100 billion AI initiative, named Project Transcendence, to establish a technology hub to rival the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The state-backed entity aims to invest in data centers, startups, and AI infrastructure while recruiting global tech talent and developing the local AI ecosystem.
The project’s structure will mirror Saudi Arabia’s Alat fund, a US$100 billion investment focused on sustainable manufacturing, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This new entity aims to attract international tech companies by offering infrastructure and capital support, with potential partnerships involving Alphabet Inc. (Google), which plans to co-invest US$5 billion to US$10 billion in Arabic language AI models.
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to diversify the economy away from fossil fuels, places AI at its core. The kingdom aims to be a top 15 AI player globally, with plans to integrate AI domestically before expanding exports from 2030. The kingdom has also invested in research centers and large-language models akin to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is exploring partnerships with major firms, including venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, to establish a new AI-focused fund with up to US$40 billion in commitments.
Comments
Post a Comment