Riyadh, November 11, 2024 – In a landmark event dedicated to advancing Arabic language technologies, Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), yesterday honored the top innovators of the ALLaM Challenge. Held in Riyadh from November 7 to 9, the competition represents the largest initiative focused on enhancing the Arabic language through artificial intelligence. Organized in partnership with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones, the event attracted 600 participants from 17 countries, highlighting its international appeal and significance.
The ALLaM Challenge celebrates individuals and teams who demonstrate dedication to developing AI solutions that advance Arabic language processing. The competition's success showcases the power of collaboration in technology and language preservation, with participants engaging in projects aimed at enriching Arabic’s digital presence. Dr. Mishari Almishari, SDAIA’s Deputy Director of the National Information Center, highlighted the importance of integrating AI-driven solutions for Arabic in today’s technology-driven world, emphasizing the need to preserve the language amidst rapid technological change.
The competition awarded a substantial sum to its top teams: SAR500,000 to the first-place team, SAR300,000 to the second, and SAR200,000 to the third. Additionally, five teams associated with the National Technology Development Program (NTDP) received recognition for their outstanding projects, earning a collective prize of SAR750,000. This recognition of the NTDP teams underscores the commitment to fostering local innovation and developing technologies uniquely suited to the needs of the Arabic-speaking world.
The ALLaM Challenge was initially launched during the third edition of the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh, further cementing its role within Saudi Arabia’s broader AI strategy. With goals that extend beyond basic language processing, the competition aimed to create AI models capable of advanced tasks: composing and interpreting Arabic poetry, accurately parsing complex sentence structures, and enhancing Arabic language education through interactive AI.
By supporting initiatives like the ALLaM Challenge, SDAIA reinforces its mission to harness AI in ways that both empower the Arabic language and inspire ongoing innovation in AI-related fields. The event marks a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s journey to lead in artificial intelligence, with SDAIA positioning itself as a key driver of AI development focused on preserving cultural heritage through technology.
