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Progress in Building World's Largest Inferencing Data Center in Saudi Arabia

The third Global AI Summit, which concluded on Thursday in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat
The third Global AI Summit, which concluded on Thursday in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Progress in Building World's Largest Inferencing Data Center in Saudi Arabia

The third Global AI Summit, which concluded on Thursday in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat
The third Global AI Summit, which concluded on Thursday in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat

Aramco Digital, the digital and technology subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, and Groq, a leader in AI inference and creator of the Language Processing Unit (LPU), have announced a partnership to establish the world's largest inferencing data center in the Kingdom.

The announcement was made during the third Global AI Summit, which concluded on Thursday in Riyadh.

The strategic collaboration marks a significant step forward in advancing the Kingdom's digital transformation initiatives and solidifying its position as a global leader in AI and cloud computing.

"This initiative not only aims to create the largest facility of its kind but also ensures seamless access to advanced AI computing power for everyone, offered through our digital marketplace, nawat, in a flexible 'as-a-Service' model,” said CEO of Aramco Digital Tareq Amin.

“Our collaboration with Groq aligns directly with Vision 2030, promoting the localization of advanced technologies, driving innovation, enhancing sustainability, and reinforcing digital excellence within the Kingdom."

The facility will process billions of tokens per day by the end of 2024 and be able to onboard hundreds of thousands of developers in the region and then hundreds of billions of tokens per day with millions of developers by 2025, setting a new industry standard and bringing advanced technology from Groq to the Kingdom.

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Global Firms to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia Speeds Up AI Progress

Panel discussion at the Global AI Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Panel discussion at the Global AI Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Global Firms to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia Speeds Up AI Progress

Panel discussion at the Global AI Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Panel discussion at the Global AI Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Global tech companies at the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh emphasized Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in artificial intelligence, noting the Kingdom’s growing leadership in the field.

They highlighted the summit as a key opportunity for businesses to expand their local and international partnerships.

In talks with Asharq Al-Awsat, they described the summit as a major event that shapes the future of AI, helping to address challenges and fully leverage the technology.

The companies also pointed out that AI, closely tied to cloud computing, provides dynamic and complex solutions. They stressed that managing and protecting AI requires top-notch cybersecurity standards.

Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Thehaiban, managing director of Google Cloud for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa region (META), stressed the importance of AI, which is closely linked to cloud computing and offers innovative, adaptable solutions.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Thehaiban highlighted Google Cloud’s role in the event. He emphasized the company’s goal to connect with clients locally and globally, showcasing its AI technology solutions.

Al-Thehaiban said Google Cloud meets all AI needs for businesses and governments, including those related to climate change. He mentioned partnerships with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) that have trained women in AI.

He added that AI now significantly impacts not just businesses and governments but also individuals, with increasing reliance on the technology.

Al-Thehaiban also noted that while data collection was a major focus six years ago, it is now crucial for implementing AI solutions.

Ahmed Al-Reshoodi, COO of Saudi Cloud Computing Co., told Asharq Al-Awsat that AI needs advanced cloud services and strong data management and cybersecurity.

At the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh, he noted his company’s focus on localizing the latest technologies in Saudi data centers, operated by local talent, supporting Vision 2030 goals.

Al-Reshoodi said the company works with various organizations across the Kingdom, including government, private, financial, and small businesses.

He highlighted that AI is increasingly used in smart cities, financial tech, and healthcare, and emphasized his company’s commitment to meeting Saudi Arabia’s growing cloud service needs.