SDAIA, Samsung Sign MoU to Explore Localization of Digital Technologies, Innovations

SDAIA signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics Co. Limited to explore the localization of digital technologies and innovations. (SPA)
SDAIA signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics Co. Limited to explore the localization of digital technologies and innovations. (SPA)
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SDAIA, Samsung Sign MoU to Explore Localization of Digital Technologies, Innovations

SDAIA signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics Co. Limited to explore the localization of digital technologies and innovations. (SPA)
SDAIA signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics Co. Limited to explore the localization of digital technologies and innovations. (SPA)

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) signed on Wednesday memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electronics Co. Limited to explore the localization of digital technologies and innovations.

The signing ceremony took place during SDAIA's participation in the third edition of the LEAP 2024 technological conference in Riyadh.

The MoU was signed on behalf of SDAIA by the Assistant Director of the National Information Center for the Tawakkalna Saleh bin Salem Musaibah and by Hyun-Dong Lee, the General Manager of Samsung Saudi Electronics Limited.

Cooperation aspects of the memorandum include automatically adding Tawakkalna system applications to all Samsung devices in the Kingdom and providing training services and workshops on the latest technologies used in application development.

Also at LEAP 2024, SDAIA signed an MoU with PwC Middle East to conduct experiments and research on the latest AI technologies.

In addition, SDAIA will create models specifically designed for the Arabic language to establish an advanced virtual laboratory for AI and a generative AI experiments center (GenAI).

CEO of Business Development Raed bin Faleh Al-Faleh signed on behalf of SDAIA, while General Manager Fadi Al-Qamati signed on behalf of PwC Middle East.



Google to Discount Cloud Computing Services for US Government, FT Reports

FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo is pictured on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair in Las Vegas. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa
FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo is pictured on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair in Las Vegas. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa
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Google to Discount Cloud Computing Services for US Government, FT Reports

FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo is pictured on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair in Las Vegas. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa
FILED - 09 January 2024, US, Las Vegas: The Google logo is pictured on the Internet company's pavilion at the CES technology trade fair in Las Vegas. Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa

Google will heavily discount cloud computing services for the United States government, in a deal that could be finalized within weeks, the Financial Times reported on Friday, amid President Donald Trump's efforts to implement sweeping measures to minimize federal spending.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Oracle will offer federal agencies a 75% discount on its license-based software and a "substantial" discount on its cloud service through the end of November.

Google's cloud contract is likely "to land in a similar spot", the Financial Times said, citing a senior official at the General Services Administration, adding that equivalent discounts from Microsoft's Azure and Amazon Web Services are expected to follow soon.

"Every single of those companies is totally bought in, they understand the mission," the senior official told the newspaper. "We will get there with all four players."

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Google and the General Services Administration did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside regular business hours.

In April, Google agreed to offer a 71% discount till September 30 to US federal agencies for its business apps package that could generate up to $2 billion in cost savings if there is government-wide adoption.