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Saudi Communications Ministry, HUMAIN Sign Agreement to Strengthen Kingdom’s AI Infrastructure

The agreement focuses on exploring opportunities to establish strategic partnerships in the AI infrastructure sector and strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders. (SPA)
The agreement focuses on exploring opportunities to establish strategic partnerships in the AI infrastructure sector and strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders. (SPA)
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Saudi Communications Ministry, HUMAIN Sign Agreement to Strengthen Kingdom’s AI Infrastructure

The agreement focuses on exploring opportunities to establish strategic partnerships in the AI infrastructure sector and strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders. (SPA)
The agreement focuses on exploring opportunities to establish strategic partnerships in the AI infrastructure sector and strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and HUMAIN signed a partnership agreement to strengthen collaboration on the development and enablement of AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, explore partnership and investment opportunities, and develop specialized studies and solutions, supporting the growth of the AI sector and enhancing the Kingdom’s readiness to scale AI applications. 

Head of the Cloud Computing and AI Enablement Office Eng. Bassam Albassam signed the agreement on behalf of MCIT, while HUMAIN CEO Eng. Tareq Amin represented the company. 

The agreement focuses on exploring opportunities to establish strategic partnerships in the AI infrastructure sector and strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders. This will support the development of the sector’s regulatory and operational environment, help attract local and international investment, and contribute to achieving national objectives in AI and the digital economy. 

The two parties will also collaborate on preparing and developing specialized studies and solutions for AI infrastructure, exchanging technical expertise and knowledge, and developing innovative solutions that address the requirements of government entities and align with national standards. These efforts will enhance infrastructure efficiency and support the growth of the Kingdom’s AI ecosystem. 

Areas of collaboration include supporting the development of AI data centers by strengthening coordination and integration with relevant government entities to facilitate the enablement and expansion of infrastructure projects. The two parties will also collaborate on knowledge transfer and national capability building in coordination with the HUMAIN Academy. 

The agreement builds on national efforts to develop advanced AI infrastructure, enable strategic investment in the sector, develop specialized national capabilities, and advance innovative technology solutions. These efforts will further strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading global hub for AI and support the continued growth of the digital economy. 

Adobe partnership 

Adobe announced at LEAP 2026 the expansion of its partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and HUMAIN, a Public Investment Fund company, to support the growth of Saudi Arabia's creative sector. 

Adobe's commitment to the partnership exceeds $4 billion. The company plans to offer more than 27 million eligible Saudi citizens and residents aged 13 and above 12 months of free access to Adobe Firefly Standard and Adobe Express Premium features by the end of 2026. 

The partnership includes the development of an image generation model jointly designed by HUMAIN and Adobe. It is the first image generation model developed with Adobe Firefly Foundry and tuned to Saudi culture. The model will enable individuals, organizations, and creative teams to produce high-quality images reflecting Saudi culture using Arabic-language prompts. 

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha affirmed that the partnership with Adobe and HUMAIN reflects the Kingdom's commitment to empowering talent, accelerating the growth of the creative economy, and expanding the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) for innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs. 

Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen explained that the partnership combines the company's creative tools with Firefly Foundry's image and video models, tuned to Saudi culture, the ministry's local expertise, and HUMAIN's understanding of the cultural context. He said the partnership will help accelerate the growth of the Kingdom's creative economy and expand creative opportunities for all segments of society. 

Adobe Firefly, the integrated AI-powered creative studio, is among the solutions the company provides to support creativity and productivity. It combines AI models, professional editing tools, and AI agent capabilities, covering all stages of the creative process, from idea generation and visualization to creating, editing, and producing images, video, audio, and design assets. 

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Technology

EU Fines Google 403 mn Euros for Location Data Breach

FILE PHOTO: A specially designed Google logo, during the opening of Google's new Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Berlin, Germany, March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A specially designed Google logo, during the opening of Google's new Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Berlin, Germany, March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse//File Photo
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EU Fines Google 403 mn Euros for Location Data Breach

FILE PHOTO: A specially designed Google logo, during the opening of Google's new Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Berlin, Germany, March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A specially designed Google logo, during the opening of Google's new Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Berlin, Germany, March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse//File Photo

Ireland's data protection watchdog, acting on behalf of the European Union, said Monday it had fined Google 403 million euros ($462 million) for improperly using users' location data, eight years after consumer groups complained.

The fine is the fourth largest imposed by the Data Protection Commission, the regulator said in a statement.

The DPC is responsible for overseeing Google at the European level because, like most tech giants, the company has its European headquarters in Ireland.

Google infringed the EU's General Data Protection Regulation between May 2018 and February 2020, the DPC said.

In its final decision after opening an inquiry in February 2020, the watchdog ruled that Google infringed GDPR "in respect of the lawfulness and fairness of its processing of location data in web and app activity and location history".

DPC deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said "as a result of Google's failures... individuals could have been unaware that their location was being used to, for example, influence them with ads or to infer their interests".

He added that "the retention of users' location data for longer than necessary aggravated this loss of control".

Alongside the fine, the regulator said it had ordered Google to comply with the European Union's GDPR within six months.

In response, Google said the "case centres around historical policies that have since been updated".

"From 2019 onwards, we've significantly evolved our practices and launched robust tools that make managing location data simple," the company added in a statement.

- 'Harmful late enforcement' -

In November 2018, the DPC received coordinated complaints from European consumer organisations in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden.

European Consumer organisation BEUC, which brought together the groups, called Monday's ruling "an important decision, close to eight years after a series of complaints" were lodged against Google.

"The decision is good news for consumers, as it holds Google accountable and confirms the illegality of the way the tech giant obtained consent to use peoples' location data," BEUC director general Agustin Reyna, said in a statement.

"However, the time needed to come to this conclusion is disproportionate with the seriousness of the infringement.

"Late enforcement can be as harmful as no enforcement at all. Consumers' fundamental rights need to be upheld faster and better," he added.

BEUC described geolocation data as "one of the most invasive forms of commercial surveillance because it reveals all kinds of sensitive information about us, such as our religious beliefs, our health condition, our political opinions or our sexual orientation".

Google is the subject of three other DPC investigations -- all "at an advanced stage" -- according to the regulator.

These include proceedings opened in September 2024 to determine whether the company is liable for failing to conduct an impact assessment regarding the use of Europeans' personal data to train Google's artificial intelligence.

The largest DPC fine was imposed on Facebook owner Meta in 2023 -- 1.2 billion euros for transferring data to the United States.

Technology

Saudi Arabia Advances Data and AI Leadership, Promotes Responsible Use for Humanity

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its leading position on the global digital map, with data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies serving as key pillars in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its leading position on the global digital map, with data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies serving as key pillars in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Advances Data and AI Leadership, Promotes Responsible Use for Humanity

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its leading position on the global digital map, with data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies serving as key pillars in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its leading position on the global digital map, with data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies serving as key pillars in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its leading position on the global digital map, with data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies serving as key pillars in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.

The Kingdom is adopting an integrated approach that balances advanced technological innovation with the development of national human capabilities while establishing comprehensive ethical governance frameworks for the responsible use of these technologies. This work supports a knowledge-based economic future and strengthens the Kingdom's competitiveness among the world's leading economies.

With 2026 declared the Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026, national efforts led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) are highlighting the Kingdom's advances in developing and governing advanced technologies. This approach reflects the Kingdom's determination to employ smart technologies as a catalyst for inclusive growth and a driver of quality of life, while establishing itself as a global model for sustainable development.

These efforts coincide with the Kingdom's participation in the High-level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah's statement affirming the Kingdom's commitment to using AI responsibly to enhance the efficiency of sectors and support innovation.

Saudi Arabia has also affirmed its support for the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to shaping international policies on AI that serve the well-being of societies worldwide.

During the Year of Artificial Intelligence, Saudi Arabia ranked 13th globally among 70 economies covered by the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, issued by the International Institute for Management Development, and third among Group of Twenty (G20) economies.

It also ranked fourth globally in AI adoption by companies, supported by several SDAIA initiatives, most notably the Rowad Package and AI Ethics Incentive Badges for companies. The Kingdom ranked fourth globally in societal access to AI, supported by SDAIA's efforts to spread digital knowledge and build national capabilities through the SDAIA Academy for Data and AI and the SAMAI initiative, which has trained more than 1.2 million Saudis in AI.

A report issued by the International Monetary Fund following the conclusion of its 2026 Article IV consultations with Saudi Arabia also highlighted the Kingdom's strong performance in AI adoption across several sectors.

Saudi Arabia's ambitious vision is supported by the central role played by SDAIA in policymaking, developing infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, building capabilities, and providing enablers that allow the government and private sectors to make the most of data and AI solutions.

Young national talent also forms a key pillar of this transformation, as training and academic programs prepare students, researchers, and innovators with advanced skills to drive development and compete globally, further strengthening the Kingdom's position on global platforms.

In governance and ethics, Saudi Arabia places great importance on guiding the development and application of AI in accordance with global standards based on transparency, fairness, and privacy protection, while limiting the risks and negative effects of algorithms. This approach is complemented by partnerships and the exchange of expertise and knowledge with international organizations and academic institutions, translating the potential of technology into tangible outcomes that serve sustainable development and support global peace and prosperity.

Technology

Trump Says Will Not Tolerate Attempts to Slow AI Growth

An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. (Reuters)
An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. (Reuters)
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Trump Says Will Not Tolerate Attempts to Slow AI Growth

An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. (Reuters)
An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at critics of artificial intelligence and data centers, saying he would not allow the "destruction" of the industry and announcing the creation of a new government "AI Force."

Trump -- who finds himself out of step with growing public skepticism over AI and dire safety warnings from AI industry leaders -- said liberals want the "decimation, or destruction, of AI."

"I, as President of the United States, will not stand by and let this happen," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!"

Trump added, without explaining, that he was creating an "AI Force" that would be tasked with "looking for BAD" actors, and would soon announce an AI coordinator or "Czar."

Trump's latest full-throated defense of artificial intelligence came even though polls show Americans are largely opposed to allowing the energy-guzzling data centers that are the engines of AI to be built in their communities.

As the war against Iran drags on and Americans grapple with the inflation it has fueled, Trump's approval rating is low.

Surveys suggest his Republican Party could lose control of the House and perhaps the Senate in November's midterm elections.

Trump is also firmly embracing the technology despite widespread warnings, even from top industry leaders, that AI development is going too fast and the technology could soon threaten our survival as ever-smarter AI agents escape the control of their human designers.

Jacob Coxon, a former AI researcher who worked at Anthropic before resigning, set off the latest round of alarm by describing how those building the technology "earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade."

Trump has repeatedly dismissed all the doomsday talk, calling it a "hoax" -- a term he often uses for crises or issues he cannot control.

The president said the United States could not afford to lose a technological race with rival China and he insisted the only guardrails necessary were a "STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!"

In another social media post on Saturday, Trump mused on whether artificial intelligence is an accurate term, offered three alternatives in what he called a poll, and asked people to weigh in.

The three are superior intelligence, extreme intelligence and supreme intelligence, Trump wrote.

"This is a Poll, and I would appreciate everybody voting! Which is the best name for this ever growing "Revolution?"