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‘X’ Logo Installed atop Twitter Building, Spurring San Francisco to Investigate Permit Violation

Workers install lighting on an "X" sign atop the downtown San Francisco building that housed what was formally known as Twitter, now rebranded X by owner Elon Musk, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP)
Workers install lighting on an "X" sign atop the downtown San Francisco building that housed what was formally known as Twitter, now rebranded X by owner Elon Musk, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP)
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‘X’ Logo Installed atop Twitter Building, Spurring San Francisco to Investigate Permit Violation

Workers install lighting on an "X" sign atop the downtown San Francisco building that housed what was formally known as Twitter, now rebranded X by owner Elon Musk, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP)
Workers install lighting on an "X" sign atop the downtown San Francisco building that housed what was formally known as Twitter, now rebranded X by owner Elon Musk, Friday, July 28, 2023. (AP)

The city of San Francisco has opened a complaint and launched an investigation into a giant “X” sign that was installed Friday on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters as owner Elon Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.

City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons.

The X appeared after San Francisco police stopped workers on Monday from removing the brand's iconic bird and logo from the side of the building, saying they hadn't taped off the sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe if anything fell.

Any replacement letters or symbols would require a permit to ensure “consistency with the historic nature of the building” and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection said earlier this week.

Erecting a sign on top of a building also requires a permit, Hannan said Friday.

“Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The city is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation,” he said in an email.

Musk unveiled a new “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he remakes the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday.

Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, has long been fascinated with the letter X and had already renamed Twitter’s corporate name to X Corp. after he bought it in October. One of his children is called “X.” The child’s actual name is a collection of letters and symbols.

On Friday afternoon, a worker on a lift machine made adjustments to the sign and then left.

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Technology

Albudaiwi: GCC States Have Given Increasing Attention to AI Sector

Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)
Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)
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Albudaiwi: GCC States Have Given Increasing Attention to AI Sector

Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)
Albudaiwi highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI. (File Photo)

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi said that the leaders of the GCC foresaw the future and worked to achieve integration and convergence in various fields. They emphasized that the journey of cooperation should not be confined to specific areas but should encompass everything that touches human life, security, development, and the economy.

Accordingly, the GCC states have given increasing attention to the AI sector, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the features of the new global economy.

His statement was made during his participation in the Parliamentary Legislative Forum "Best Legislative Practices in the Field of Artificial Intelligence," held on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.

He explained that the estimates of the GCC states' investments in this sector have reached tens of billions of dollars over the past few years, with ambitious plans to increase these investments to hundreds of billions by 2030.

This reflects our countries' strategic direction towards building a knowledge-based economy founded on innovation and advanced technologies, and bolstering the region's position as a leading global hub in this field.

Here, the role of legislation becomes prominent in building renewable legal frameworks that strike a balance between two fundamental matters: encouraging innovation and openness to development, as well as protecting rights and human and societal values.

Albudaiwi also highlighted the GCC General Secretariat's commitment to building fruitful partnerships with regional and international centers in the field of AI.

These include the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), which is affiliated with the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as cooperation with leading international organizations such as WIPO and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This cooperation has led to joint Gulf workshops and events, contributing to the exchange of expertise and capacity building.

He touched upon the initiative of the General Secretariat and the approval of the Ministerial Committee for Digital Government to form a team concerned with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in June 2021.

This team works to support research and development among GCC countries in this field, improve digital government services, and create a flexible regulatory and legislative environment that responds to future requirements.

The secretary-general underscored that the current stage requires the formulation of an integrated vision that elevates cooperation between legislative councils, governments, the private sector, civil society, and academic institutions.

He added that our responsibility today is not limited to enacting new laws, but extends to shaping a social and legislative contract that places the human being at the heart of the AI equation.

He expressed hope that the forum would produce practical recommendations that enhance Gulf legislative cooperation and support the exchange of experiences with international partners to keep pace with the future and ensure the responsible use of AI.

Technology

Musk Reportedly Names Veteran Banker Anthony Armstrong as xAI Finance Chief

(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)
(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)
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Musk Reportedly Names Veteran Banker Anthony Armstrong as xAI Finance Chief

(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)
(FILES) Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)

Elon Musk has named Anthony Armstrong, a former Morgan Stanley banker who advised him on the acquisition of X, as the new chief financial officer of his artificial intelligence group xAI, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Armstrong will lead the finance operations for both xAI and social media platform X, the report said, citing several people familiar with the matter.

Veteran dealmaker Armstrong has been working with xAI for several weeks and was formally appointed the CFO in recent days, the newspaper said.

xAI and X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Armstrong could not be immediately reached.

Musk launched xAI in 2023 to challenge Big Tech's AI push, accusing industry leaders of excessive censorship and lax safety standards.

Armstrong will also be responsible for steering the social media business back to financial stability following an exodus of advertisers after Musk relaxed its content moderation standards.

As Morgan Stanley's global head of tech M&A, Armstrong was part of the team Musk enlisted to manage the $44 billion purchase of Twitter in 2022. As the Morgan Stanley-financed deal took shape, Armstrong and Musk developed a close relationship, according to the report.

Earlier this year, Armstrong helped Musk oversee the Office of Personnel Management during his stint in Washington at the Department of Government Efficiency.

Armstrong will replace Mike Liberatore as finance chief of xAI. Liberatore left the artificial intelligence startup this year following clashes with members of Musk's inner circle over corporate structure and aggressive financial targets, the FT report said.

Armstrong's X account now features the xAI logo next to his name, indicating his new role as an employee.

His appointment as CFO comes amid a broader wave of executive departures. In July, X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigned, and over the summer, xAI's Liberatore and general counsel Robert Keele also left the company.

Additionally, X's finance chief Mahmoud Reza Banki exited after less than a year in the role, the FT report said.

xAI is reportedly in discussions for a new funding round that could value the company at approximately $200 billion, though investors say the deal has not yet been finalized, the report added.

Technology

KAUST, Deloitte Sign MoU to Explore AI Applications in Saudi Arabia

The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)
The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)
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KAUST, Deloitte Sign MoU to Explore AI Applications in Saudi Arabia

The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)
The agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications. (SPA)

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Deloitte Middle East signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a new collaboration aimed at advancing the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Saudi Arabia.

A statement on Monday said the agreement aims to create a platform where scientific breakthroughs in AI meet business applications, ensuring that cutting-edge research is not confined to academic circles but instead reaches industries, markets, and communities across Saudi Arabia.

Through this partnership, Deloitte and KAUST will jointly develop projects that address some of the most complex AI challenges, while also focusing on preparing the next generation of AI talent through lectures, workshops, internships, and exchange opportunities.

The two entities will collaborate on knowledge transfer through joint seminars and conferences, with the ambition of commercializing new AI models and intellectual property emerging from the projects. The partnership will also focus on policy and governance, closely examining the ethical implications of AI technologies and their social impact in the Kingdom.

Deloitte Middle East Partner Sultanbek Khunkaev said: “By partnering with KAUST, we seek to ensure that the transformative power of AI is harnessed to deliver real societal and economic outcomes.”

Professor Gianluca Setti, Dean of the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division at KAUST, stated: “We aim to accelerate the development of responsible AI solutions and create new opportunities for talent and knowledge exchange that support Saudi Arabia's leadership in AI and contribute to both national and global priorities.”

The partnership will not be limited to laboratories or classrooms. Industry-specific solutions will be developed in areas where AI can make an immediate impact, whether in health, finance, energy, or logistics, and benchmarking efforts will help establish best practices for adoption. A range of initiatives will grow from the MoU, with both partners committed to developing strategies that can be scaled beyond the Kingdom.