stc Group Signs Strategic Agreements to Enhance Local Content

stc Group has signed new agreements with local partners at the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF’s) Private Sector Forum in Riyadh
stc Group has signed new agreements with local partners at the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF’s) Private Sector Forum in Riyadh
TT

stc Group Signs Strategic Agreements to Enhance Local Content

stc Group has signed new agreements with local partners at the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF’s) Private Sector Forum in Riyadh
stc Group has signed new agreements with local partners at the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF’s) Private Sector Forum in Riyadh

stc Group has signed a raft of new agreements with local partners at the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF’s) Private Sector Forum in Riyadh, with the aim of enriching the local economy.

Prince Mohammad Bin Khalid Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, the chairman of the Board of Directors of stc Group attended the signings.

stc Group was represented at the Forum by its Rawafed program which also participated in a workshop dedicated to improving localization of procurement and supply chains.

The annual event brings together policymakers, key local private-sector players, visionaries, and industry leaders to discuss and catalyze and accelerate economic growth opportunities within the Kingdom’s private sector.

Commenting on the stc’s participation, CEO Olayan Al-Wetaid said: “We welcome the opportunity to participate once again at the PIF Private Sector Forum – a brilliant space to reaffirm our commitment to driving forward the Kingdom's economic agenda. At stc Group, we are dedicated to providing world-class connectivity, driving digital transformation, and empowering sustainable growth.”

He added that the signed agreements reflect stc Group’s commitment to cooperating with various local partners, and empowering innovation, and contributing to enhancing local content in line with Vision 2030's objectives.

The agreements signed covered a range of strategic stc Group objectives, from sustainability to digital transformation. They included a contract with Al Jazea Contracting & Trading Company for the establishment of a grey water treatment plant. The agreement aims to reduce water consumption and achieve broader sustainability goals.

Another agreement was signed with Master Works to enhance the customer experience by expanding stc’s capabilities to monitor new key performance indicators.

An agreement signed with Gazal, PIF’s portfolio company, to provide eco-friendly mobility movement at stc Group’s headquarters. An agreement was also signed with Simah to develop a system for integration and validation of partner data, enhancing the onboarding process, in an initiative called “Partner Hub Enhancement.”

During the forum, a contract was signed with Middle Sea for Telecommunication Establishment, Prime Gate Company, and Awnas Contracting Company to modernize infrastructure and advance sustainability efforts, specifically focusing on offloading of stc OSP (outside plant) infrastructure.

Capping stc Group’s involvement, Rawafed participated in the "Maximizing Local Content in Procurement" workshop and exhibition. The event provided the opportunity for direct registration to local partners, allowing them to showcase technological investment opportunities and provide examples of how stc Group is one of the Kingdom’s best-practice leaders in localization.

The workshop also provided an opportunity to exchange expertise and insights on how local procurement and localization of supply chains can be bolstered.

The PIF Private Sector Forum attracts elite policymakers and prestigious local private-sector institutions, along with prominent figures and specialists in the sector. It serves as a platform for dialogues to review ways of supporting local content and enhancing opportunities for private sector growth in the Kingdom.



OpenAI, Anthropic Sign Deals with US Govt for AI Research and Testing

OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. (Reuters)
OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

OpenAI, Anthropic Sign Deals with US Govt for AI Research and Testing

OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. (Reuters)
OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. (Reuters)

AI startups OpenAI and Anthropic have signed deals with the United States government for research, testing and evaluation of their artificial intelligence models, the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute said on Thursday.

The first-of-their-kind agreements come at a time when the companies are facing regulatory scrutiny over safe and ethical use of AI technologies.

California legislators are set to vote on a bill as soon as this week to broadly regulate how AI is developed and deployed in the state.

Under the deals, the US AI Safety Institute will have access to major new models from both OpenAI and Anthropic prior to and following their public release.

The agreements will also enable collaborative research to evaluate capabilities of the AI models and risks associated with them, Reuters reported.

"We believe the institute has a critical role to play in defining US leadership in responsibly developing artificial intelligence and hope that our work together offers a framework that the rest of the world can build on," said Jason Kwon, chief strategy officer at ChatGPT maker OpenAI.

Anthropic, which is backed by Amazon and Alphabet , did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

"These agreements are just the start, but they are an important milestone as we work to help responsibly steward the future of AI," said Elizabeth Kelly, director of the US AI Safety Institute.

The institute, a part of the US commerce department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will also collaborate with the U.K. AI Safety Institute and provide feedback to the companies on potential safety improvements.

The US AI Safety Institute was launched last year as part of an executive order by President Joe Biden's administration to evaluate known and emerging risks of artificial intelligence models.