Riyadh: A Global Destination for AI Events

During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)
During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)
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Riyadh: A Global Destination for AI Events

During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)
During the announcement of Artathon winners at the AI Global Summit (SPA)

The first global artificial intelligence (AI) summit, held under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, concluded Thursday, with the aim of creating a global destination for AI activities in Riyadh.

The summit called for an international framework to support international cooperation in the field of data technology and artificial intelligence.

The two-day summit held under the slogan: "AI for the Good of Humanity,” was organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

It included 30 sessions, with nearly 60 speakers, including ministers, leaders of global entities, academics, investors, and entrepreneurs from 20 countries.

President of SDAIA, Abdullah al-Ghamdi, delivered a speech on behalf of Prince Mohammed, in which he described 2020 as an exceptional year to test the potential of AI at a time when a new global status is being formed, redefining lifestyles, business, and learning.

The summit aimed to adopt Riyadh as a global destination for AI activities, where the summit will be held annually to discuss the reality, future, and issues of AI and shed light on the latest research and technologies in this field.

The summit discussed the role of AI in life and the future, and means of transition to the new era characterized by rapid change.


The AI Summit is held within the framework of the Kingdom’s endeavor to achieve its aspirations for global leadership through data and AI-based economy.

It also asserts the importance of international cooperation in order to use AI for the good of humanity, highlighting SDAIA's role in the strategic leadership of the alternative economy, in cooperation with many relevant authorities to achieve Vision 2030.

On the first day of the summit, Saudi Arabia launched the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI) with a vision to make the best of data and AI a tangible reality.

The strategy aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of data and AI at the national and global levels.

Saudi Arabia signed three memorandums of understanding (MoU) with IBM, Alibaba, and Huawei at a summit in the kingdom.

The Kingdom also signed an MoU with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to develop a global framework that supports international cooperation in the AI field.

Saudi Arabia, represented by SDAIA, worked with the World Bank on a joint initiative, as part of the Kingdom's endeavor to enhance, develop, and accelerate AI technologies and digital economy in developing countries.

In addition, it hosted an advisory session in cooperation with the UN, to establish a body on global cooperation to address issues around integration, coordination, and building capabilities.

At the end of the summit, winners of the NEOM and Artathon challenges were announced and received prizes worth over $266,000. The awards were delivered by Minister of Education, Hamad bin Mohammed Al al-Sheikh, and NEOM CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr.



Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Wednesday, after a gain of 4% in the previous session, as markets weighed up the chance of supply disruptions from the Iran-Israel conflict and as they ponder a direct US involvement.

Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 1.2%, to $75.52 a barrel by 0918 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 88 cents, also 1.2%, to $73.96 per barrel.

US President Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that US patience was wearing thin, and called for an "unconditional surrender" from Iran.

While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader Ali Khamenei "for now," his comments suggested a tougher stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement.

A source familiar with internal discussions said one of the options Trump and his team are considering included joining Israel on strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

A direct US involvement threatens to widen the confrontation further, putting energy infrastructure in the region at higher risk of attack, analysts say.

"The biggest fear for the oil market is the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz," ING analysts said in a note.

"Almost a third of global seaborne oil trade moves through this chokepoint. A significant disruption to these flows would be enough to push prices to $120 [a barrel]," the bank added.

Iran is OPEC's third-largest producer, extracting about 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

Meanwhile, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Ali Bahreini said on Wednesday that Tehran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign.

Markets are also looking ahead to a second day of US Federal Reserve discussions on Wednesday, in which the central bank is expected to leave its benchmark overnight interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%.

However, the conflict in the Middle East and the risk of slowing global growth could potentially push the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points in July, sooner than the market's current expectation of September, said Tony Sycamore, market analyst with IG.

Lower interest rates generally boost economic growth and demand for oil.

Confounding the decision for the Fed, however, is the Middle East conflict's potential creation of a new source of inflation via surging oil prices.

US crude stocks fell by 10.1 million barrels in the week ended June 13, market sources told Reuters, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Official Energy Information Administration data is due later on Wednesday.