Drones, Technology Localization Top ‘AI’ Discussions in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Drones, Technology Localization Top ‘AI’ Discussions in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Experts at the International Exhibition and Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing, held in Riyadh, discussed enhancing AI for the drone sector in smart cities and the possibility of localizing the technology in the Kingdom.

They also tackled mapping cloud digital transformation and the role of AI in the customer services industry, with the participation of several local, regional, and global companies.

Saudi Arabia aims to compete in global markets and against developed countries by enhancing sustainability, creating jobs, investing in entrepreneurship, attracting global investments in various fields, and incubating SMEs and large companies to support the Saudi economy, Prince Fahd bin Abdullah Al Saud, advisor to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The Kingdom seeks to fully digitize vital sectors and adopt technological transformation through plans based on providing technical solutions to improve performance, reduce costs and make all sectors in the Kingdom more efficient and smart,” Wafi bin Hammad Albalawi, vice president of the Saudi Electronic University, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Albalawi pointed to a recent study conducted by the US-based company Accenture, which said that investment in artificial intelligence will increase the Saudi gross domestic product by 12.5 % and will inject more than $215 billion into the Saudi economy by 2035.

This can encourage the adoption of technology and innovation within Saudi SMEs, especially since the Kingdom enjoys the largest share in the digital industries market.

Saudi Arabia has continuously adopted digital transformation to serve its national transformation plan, dubbed Kingdom Vision 2030.

Maher Uday, a specialist in digital interaction systems at Avaya, which specializes in the customer services industry, stressed the acceleration of process automation in the field of customer service in general.

Uday predicted that, during the next two years, the automation of e-marketing will boom in various customer service fields.

This will affect a number of activities such as booking flights, ordering food from restaurants, booking a taxi, and purchasing other online products using AI.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the International Exhibition and Conference for Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing from May 22 to 24. The event features leaders and pioneers in the technology sectors, both in local, global government, and private institutions.

This conference is one of the most specialized and widely spread events globally and seeks to foster innovation and increase competitiveness.

It offers a platform for collaboration between AI leaders and investors to create a better future. The conference offers discussion panels and workshops that will address relevant topics such as artificial intelligence, data science, the internet, cybersecurity, big data, and more.

Saudi Arabia seeks to digitize many vital sectors and adopt technological transformation through steps based on digital solutions, to improve performance, reduce costs and raise efficiency, as well as create an attractive environment for investors and entrepreneurs.



China's Coal Power Plants Grow After 2024 Decline

Guohua Power Station, a coal-fired power plant, operates in Dingzhou, Baoding, in the northern China's Hebei province (AP)
Guohua Power Station, a coal-fired power plant, operates in Dingzhou, Baoding, in the northern China's Hebei province (AP)
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China's Coal Power Plants Grow After 2024 Decline

Guohua Power Station, a coal-fired power plant, operates in Dingzhou, Baoding, in the northern China's Hebei province (AP)
Guohua Power Station, a coal-fired power plant, operates in Dingzhou, Baoding, in the northern China's Hebei province (AP)

China approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power plants in the first three months of 2025, already exceeding the 10.34 GW approved in the first half of 2024, a new Greenpeace report showed on Thursday.

Last year, Chinese approvals of new coal-fired power capacity fell 41.5% year-on-year to 62.24 GW, the first annual decline since 2021. The new data suggest approvals are tracking higher this year.

While all the approved projects may not be built, the growing pipeline signals a continued reliance on coal.

Reducing coal use to cut emissions is key to China's goal to hit peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.

Gao Yuhe, Greenpeace's climate and energy project manager for East Asia said,

“The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the country’s energy transition. There is already enough existing capacity to meet today's peak demand.

Approving a new wave of large-scale coal projects risks creating overcapacity, stranded assets, and higher transition costs.”

State planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Energy Administration did not immediately respond to faxed requests for comment.

This year marks the last in China's 2021-2025 five-year plan, in which China has approved 289 GW in new coal capacity, around double the 145 GW approved for the 2016-2020 period.

China has said it will start to phase down coal during the 2026-2030 five-year plan, but Beijing has not committed to any specific targets.

In return, Greenpeace called for more ambitious carbon emissions goals from China and a clear timeline for phasing out coal.

It also said China's power sector emissions could peak this year as growth in wind and solar outpaces coal.