SDAIA, LinkedIn Sign MoU to Study Data and AI Market in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and LinkedIn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in research and studies related to the Saudi labor market in the field of data and artificial intelligence.
The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and LinkedIn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in research and studies related to the Saudi labor market in the field of data and artificial intelligence.
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SDAIA, LinkedIn Sign MoU to Study Data and AI Market in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and LinkedIn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in research and studies related to the Saudi labor market in the field of data and artificial intelligence.
The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and LinkedIn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in research and studies related to the Saudi labor market in the field of data and artificial intelligence.

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and LinkedIn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in research and studies related to the Saudi labor market in the field of data and artificial intelligence.

The MoU aims to enrich knowledge and launch awareness initiatives to build a digital professional identity and link it to appropriate career opportunities.

Representing SDAIA, the MoU was signed by Manager of the General Department of Studies Eng. Majid Alshehry and on behalf of LinkedIn, the head of LinkedIn for the Public and Academic Sectors in the Middle East, Rajai El Khadem at SDAIA's headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.

The MoU reflects SDAIA’s aspiration and belief in the importance of cooperation in the field of data and AI with various sectors and working to develop and harness it as part of SDAIA's work in building and developing national capabilities and enhancing its skills in data and AI.

SDAIA seeks to raise the Kingdom among the developed countries in the field of data and AI. This cooperation will positively reflect the Kingdom's ranking in relevant global indicators.

Both parties also look forward to developing a general framework for studying the Saudi labor market in the field of data and AI, national understanding needs in the public and private sectors, and making recommendations to fill gaps in specialized skills and capabilities, thus contributing to the Kingdom's global leadership in this field and achieve the goals of Vision 2030.



Japan's Tech Business SoftBank Rolls Out OpenAI 'Patches' Against Cyberattacks

SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son speaks during an event to pitch AI for businesses, in Tokyo, Japan June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manami Yamada
SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son speaks during an event to pitch AI for businesses, in Tokyo, Japan June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manami Yamada
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Japan's Tech Business SoftBank Rolls Out OpenAI 'Patches' Against Cyberattacks

SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son speaks during an event to pitch AI for businesses, in Tokyo, Japan June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manami Yamada
SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son speaks during an event to pitch AI for businesses, in Tokyo, Japan June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Manami Yamada

Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group Corp. is launching a service using OpenAI technology to protect against the looming threat of cyberattacks, both companies said Tuesday.

Chief Executive Masayoshi Son called Japan’ s vulnerability to cyberattacks “a crisis,” comparing it to a potential assault by machine guns instead of the rifle shots of the past.

SoftBank will offer “a patching service,” targeting the nation’s top 3,000 companies behind crucial infrastructure like airports, power systems and transportation, The Associated Press quoted Son as saying.

“I feel it is our duty,” Son said, repeatedly referring to the criminal attackers as “the bad guys.”

The service involves first diagnosing any weaknesses to attacks, and then analyzing what needs to be done to patch up such “holes," Son said.

Sam Altman, chief of OpenAI, was scheduled to attend the launch, but instead appeared only in a short video. He said he couldn’t make it because his baby daughter was born earlier than expected. Mark Chen, OpenAI’s chief researcher, was present in his place.

SoftBank and OpenAI, behind the popular chatbot ChatGPT, set up a 50:50 joint venture named SB OAI Japan last year to develop and exclusively market an AI service for the Japanese market.

Tuesday’s announcement was a key update, highlighting the rollout. No monetary value was announced. But SoftBank said everyone who came to the presentation in Tokyo Tuesday can apply for a free diagnosis.

The use of AI has caused the number of attacks to balloon exponentially and grow more complex, meaning defenses have had to become more AI-savvy and versatile.


France to Invest €655 Mln in AI, Set Up Common Chatbot for All State Services

France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu gestures as he speaks during a press conference. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu gestures as he speaks during a press conference. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
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France to Invest €655 Mln in AI, Set Up Common Chatbot for All State Services

France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu gestures as he speaks during a press conference. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu gestures as he speaks during a press conference. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday the government will invest €655 million ($758.29 million) in artificial intelligence and will set up a common chatbot for all the state services.

The French government will create a public ⁠health chatbot for state-owned ⁠health insurance Ameli agency.

"We can either be ⁠subjected to this (Artificial intelligence) revolution, or we can lead it," he said in a post on X.

"The question is not whether the state will use the artificial intelligence anymore, but the question is how fast will it ⁠transform," ⁠Lecornu said.

"We cannot rely on tools developed by foreign powers. France must have its own tools," he said.

He made the announcement as the "Viva Tech" conference was set to start in Paris.


AI-referred US Shoppers Browse Longer, Spend More per Visit, Data Shows

 The ChatGPT logo is displayed on a mobile phone in Liverpool, Britain, 09 June 2026. (EPA)
The ChatGPT logo is displayed on a mobile phone in Liverpool, Britain, 09 June 2026. (EPA)
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AI-referred US Shoppers Browse Longer, Spend More per Visit, Data Shows

 The ChatGPT logo is displayed on a mobile phone in Liverpool, Britain, 09 June 2026. (EPA)
The ChatGPT logo is displayed on a mobile phone in Liverpool, Britain, 09 June 2026. (EPA)

US shoppers who use large language models, including Google's Gemini or OpenAI's ChatGPT, for purchase recommendations are lingering more on retailers' websites and are more likely to spend, according to May data from Adobe Analytics.

Consumers who are referred to retail websites from LLMs generated ‌53% more ‌revenue per visit than ‌shoppers ⁠from non-AI sources, the ⁠data firm said, emphasizing the need for brands to invest in AI-readable webpages.

Retailers whose products show up in LLM suggestions are able to "drive more personalization" to ⁠shoppers who leave the platforms to ‌complete their ‌purchases on the native websites, Vivek Pandya, ‌director of digital insights at ‌Adobe, said.

AI traffic to retail websites increased 138% in May from last year, the highest share of ‌total retail visits since Adobe Analytics began tracking in October 2024.

⁠Retail ⁠website visitors recommended by AI converted at a rate 54% higher than online shoppers from non-AI sources did in May.

Shoppers referred to e-commerce websites spent 53% more time on the sites than visitors from other sources.

AI-referred shoppers also visit more retail webpages than non-AI referred visitors.