Saudi Arabia to Host First of its Kind Motor Show for Electric, Hybrid Cars

This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)
This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia to Host First of its Kind Motor Show for Electric, Hybrid Cars

This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)
This photo taken on July 21, 2017 shows Mahindra's electric car "e2o Plus" plugged in for charging at a showroom in New Delhi. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia will host the first of its kind e-Motor Show in the Middle East for electric and hybrid cars between February 25 and 28, with the participation of major car manufacturers and agents.

The e-Motor Show-Middle East will highlight recent developments in the electric and hybrid vehicles sector and clean technologies in the region, which are expected to become a natural part of the environmental transportation system, given the advanced technical capabilities and the promising opportunities.

Saudi Vision 2030 encourages such industries that help build a competitive economy along with sustainable development and infrastructure that promotes the realization of the Kingdom’s strategic short and long terms objectives.

The show also aims to enhance public awareness about electric and hybrid vehicles, which reflects the future of transportation in the Kingdom.

In addition, investing in such types of vehicles is an important trend, both in terms of manufacturing, various applications, import and export.

Chairman of the Cars Agent National Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers Faisal Abu Shusha said it was a “matter of pride” that such an important event is being organized inside the Kingdom.

He described it as a stepping-stone towards a prosperous future for modern transportation.

Abu Shusha stated it is important to prepare relevant policies and regulations pertaining to the electric vehicles (EVs) industry in both a clear and proactive manner.

He also called for activating the role of the private sector to provide new job opportunities and enhance the utilization of this technology.

Investing in the field of manufacturing electric vehicles in the Kingdom is something worth studying, especially as it falls in line with Vision 2030 and the national industry development program, he remarked.



Tiktok Makes AI Driven Ad Tool Available Globally

A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo
A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo
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Tiktok Makes AI Driven Ad Tool Available Globally

A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo
A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo

TikTok on Thursday began letting all marketers on its platform use an artificial intelligence-powered tool for generating marketing clips, becoming the latest platform to let advertisers tap into the technology.
The news came with word that Getty Images will make its stockpile of pictures and video available to TikTok's AI‑powered video generation tool -- called Symphony Creative Studio, AFP said.
Brands will be able to use Getty's licensed images and videos to create AI-generated ads, including marketing messages featuring characters resembling real people, according to the companies.
Getty and TikTok did not disclose financial terms of the deal.
The Getty Images integration is part of an expansion of TikTok tools for advertisers and content creators, according to the Chinese-owned app.
"We aim to empower advertisers and help them connect with their communities with the power of generative AI," TikTok head of creative product monetization Andy Yang said in a joint release.
AI-driven tools with the potential to help make money have been eagerly sought since generative AI caught the world's attention with OpenAI's release of ChatGPT in late 2022.
The technology can produce videos, pictures or written works quickly based on demands expressed in everyday language.
Questions have arisen, however, regarding how companies investing billions of dollars in AI will profit from it.
Last month, online advertising titans Amazon, Google, and Facebook-parent Meta launched tools putting AI to work helping create ads for their platforms.
"With the surge in demand for authentic storytelling in advertising, the need for captivating, high‑quality content to convey these stories effectively to audiences has never been greater," Getty Images senior vice president of global strategic partnerships Peter Orlowsky said in the joint release.
Generative AI models trained on images, articles and other data found online have elated some users, while arousing ire in authors, artists and others who believe their creations are being absorbed without them being asked or compensated.
Publications such as the New York Times have filed lawsuits to defend their content, while some news organizations have opted to make licensing deals.