Key figures in AI and technology gathered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the “Global AI Summit” (GAIN). Attendees included Esam Alwagait from the National Information Center of Saudi Arabia, Hae-jin Lee and Soo-yeon Choi from Naver, and Abdullah Al-Ghamdi from the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). This summit, organized by SDAIA, aims to enhance international cooperation and innovation in AI, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
On September 12, Naver announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saudi AI-related institutions. This partnership focuses on developing an Arabic-based Large Language Model (LLM) and related services, covering fields like AI, cloud computing, data centers, and robotics.
Naver, a prominent South Korean tech company, is collaborating with the Saudi government to boost regional AI capabilities. ‘Team Naver,’ which includes Naver Cloud and Naver Labs, will work on data center solutions and cloud services, develop an Arabic-based LLM, and research intelligent robots and their applications.
A Naver representative highlighted the significance of this partnership, noting, Amid the intensifying AI technology hegemony competition between the United States and China, the fact that Saudi Arabia chose Korea’s Naver as a partner for its own AI development makes this MOU highly significant.
The Global AI Summit (GAIN) promotes international cooperation and AI innovation, crucial for Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030.” This initiative aims to diversify the economy and develop public sectors like health, education, infrastructure, and tourism, reducing reliance on oil. Technological innovation, particularly in AI, is vital to this vision.
This collaboration between Naver and Saudi Arabia exemplifies international cooperation in AI, essential for sharing knowledge and expertise to drive innovation and tackle global challenges. Developing an Arabic-based LLM aims to improve AI services in Arabic-speaking regions, contributing to Vision 2030’s broader goals.