On September 11, 2024, in Riyadh, the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IBM during the third Global AI Summit (GAIN), held at the King Abdulaziz International Convention Center. The MoU was signed by Dr. Yaser bin Mohammed Alonaizan, CEO of the National Center for AI (NCAI) under SDAIA, and Fahad Alanazi, General Manager and Technology Leader of IBM Saudi Arabia.
The agreement aims to establish an AI Center of Excellence to promote AI advancements and develop innovative applications tailored to the needs of government institutions, in line with global standards and governance practices. The collaboration also includes the launch of the ALLaM Challenge, designed to enhance large language models (LLMs) for the Arabic language using a "science" model, fostering innovation in Arabic AI technologies.
The partnership supports Saudi Vision 2030 by fostering knowledge exchange, building national capacities, and strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a leader in AI and advanced technologies. SDAIA’s broader initiative to position its "ALLaM" model as the top Arabic generative AI model globally is part of this collaboration, aiming to empower AI developers and users both locally and internationally. The ALLaM model will be hosted on IBM's Watsonx platform and the DEEM government cloud, providing stakeholders with access to advanced AI services that will drive technological innovation and growth across the region.
