Saudi Arabia is putting artificial intelligence at the core of its economic diversification, highlighted by the launch of Humain, an ambitious AI platform supported by the Public Investment Fund. Equipped with a supercomputer using thousands of Nvidia GPUs, partnerships with Qualcomm, AMD, and Google Cloud, and multi-billion dollar investments, Humain aims to establish the kingdom as a major force in AI infrastructure.
Global tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle are also investing heavily in data centers across Saudi Arabia. Despite these significant efforts, experts warn that building robust local expertise in AI and data science is essential. Without nurturing a homegrown talent pool, much of the value created could end up benefiting foreign companies rather than the kingdom itself.
Some suggest that Saudi Arabia could accelerate its progress by looking to Israel’s tech sector for inspiration. Israel, despite its small size, boasts one of the highest concentrations of AI talent and has produced many successful startups and innovations, including technology now used by Nvidia. The country’s ecosystem thrives on entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and fostering innovation, rather than relying solely on natural resources or state funding.
Saudi Arabia has a growing base of skilled and motivated engineers, but could benefit from deeper collaboration and knowledge-sharing, similar to initiatives seen in the UAE following its cooperation with Israeli tech firms. By adopting aspects of Israel’s agile approach and investing in joint AI initiatives, Saudi Arabia could accelerate its ambitions to become a leader in the global AI sector and build a sustainable, knowledge-driven economy.