Saudi SDAIA Signs MoU with NAVER LABS and NAVER CLOUD to Develop Arabic Large Language Model 

The MoU was formalized during the third Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh. (SPA)
The MoU was formalized during the third Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi SDAIA Signs MoU with NAVER LABS and NAVER CLOUD to Develop Arabic Large Language Model 

The MoU was formalized during the third Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh. (SPA)
The MoU was formalized during the third Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) signed on Tuesday a MoU with NAVER LABS and NAVER CLOUD to design an advanced language model for Arabic and its applications.

The MoU was formalized during the third Global AI Summit (GAIN) in Riyadh. It was signed on behalf of SDAIA by National Information Center Director Dr. Esam Alwagait, while Dr. Sangok Seok and Dr. Yoon Kim represented NAVER CLOUD and Dr. Choi Soo-Yeon represented NAVER Corporation.

The signing was hosted by SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and South Korea’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi-Byung- Huyk.

The partnership aims to employ the latest technical developments related to developing an Arabic language model to provide data-center solutions and services, in addition to participating in the cloud platform for digital transformation solutions.

Through a set of applications that use AI algorithms, SDAIA is focusing on boosting the position of the Arabic language in the field of AI.

The authority, in cooperation with the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language, recently prepared a dictionary of data and AI to collect the most important technical terms and provide brief and simplified definitions in both Arabic and English.

SDAIA also prepared the "Your Voice" application, which enables the conversion of speech into text via a voice recognition feature in classical Arabic and local dialects, which can be used to record minutes of meetings and build interactive audio systems.

During the second Global AI Summit held in 2022, SDAIA launched the "ALLaM" application to serve the Arabic language and improve language models using the application in various fields, including: developing a model capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, developing an AI model capable of accurately parsing Arabic sentences, and developing a model that helps children learn the Arabic language in a fun and effective way.



Winter at Tantora Festival Begins in AlUla

Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)
Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)
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Winter at Tantora Festival Begins in AlUla

Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)
Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)

This year's Winter at Tantora Festival opened Thursday in AlUla, celebrating the region's unique blend of art, culture, and heritage.
The festival, part of ongoing efforts to position AlUla as a premier global tourist destination, will run until January 11. The opening day attracted a large number of visitors who enjoyed a variety of cultural and heritage activities, including live musical performances, art exhibitions, guided tours to archaeological sites, and traditional folk-art displays, said the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.
The festival features a rich program of activities catering to all ages, including workshops, interactive experiences, and culinary events that highlight local cuisine. It also provides an opportunity to explore traditional wedding customs, offering visitors an authentic insight into Saudi culture.
Winter at Tantora is one of the flagship initiatives supporting tourism and heritage as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, and it serves as a platform for cultural exchange, bringing together attendees from around the world.