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Saudi Arabia's ALLaM Model Joins IBM Watsonx as a Top Arabic Language Generator

The announcement was made at the IBM Think event underway in Boston. (SPA)
The announcement was made at the IBM Think event underway in Boston. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia's ALLaM Model Joins IBM Watsonx as a Top Arabic Language Generator

The announcement was made at the IBM Think event underway in Boston. (SPA)
The announcement was made at the IBM Think event underway in Boston. (SPA)

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) announced on Tuesday that its ALLaM model, which generates Arabic text, was included in IBM’s leading watsonx platform.

The announcement was made at the IBM Think event underway in Boston.

This selection is testament to ALLaM’s advanced technical capabilities.

During its experimental phase, the model underwent rigorous testing against international standards for generative AI to ensure its readiness to compete with other models on watsonx, a platform widely used by developers around the globe.

Currently available in a trial version, ALLaM’s inclusion in watsonx allows for further professional evaluation. The testing will be instrumental in accelerating the release of the model's full capabilities and establishing it as a highly competitive force in the field of Arabic language generation.

The inclusion also aligns with Saudi Arabia's, specifically with SDAIA's, broader mission to promote the Arabic language on regional and global scale. The efforts focus on preserving the integrity of the language while promoting its use by enriching Arabic content in various fields, including technical, cultural, literary, scientific, and other humanities-based domains.

Ultimately, this initiative aims to leverage AI technologies and digital applications to foster cultural diversity and benefit all humanity, regardless of language, nationality, or educational background.

These efforts contribute to the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, driven by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SDAIA, to make the Kingdom a global leader in advanced technologies, including those associated with AI.

ALLaM is the first Saudi-developed AI system designed to answer user questions on different knowledge domains in Arabic.

The groundbreaking model leverages cutting-edge AI technology. Trained on a massive Arabic language dataset, one of the world's largest, and supplemented by English content, ALLaM ensures comprehensive responses.

Users can submit inquiries in text or audio format, and ALLaM will answer in the chosen format, drawing from the most trusted sources in the Kingdom and the Arab world.

The ALLaM model is the product of the SDAIA-IBM partnership. This collaboration is a significant milestone on the road to advancing Arabic language applications within generative AI, said Regional Vice President of IBM Saudi Arabia Ayman Al-Rashed.

"This cooperation unlocks the potential of Arabic language models for both public and private sectors, aligning with the cultural needs of the region," he added.

Al-Rashed further highlighted the broader impact of this project, stressing: "Companies can leverage these models to develop innovative services."

This latest development strengthens Saudi Arabia's position as a leader in AI technology tailored to the specific needs of the regional market, he went on to say.

Artificial intelligence experts, technicians, innovators, company presidents, and policymakers formed part of the IBM Think event.

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Technology

Tim Cook’s Time as Apple Chief Marked by Profit Absent Awe

Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives for Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy Party in West Hollywood, California, on September 14, 2025. (AFP)
Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives for Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy Party in West Hollywood, California, on September 14, 2025. (AFP)
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Tim Cook’s Time as Apple Chief Marked by Profit Absent Awe

Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives for Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy Party in West Hollywood, California, on September 14, 2025. (AFP)
Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives for Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy Party in West Hollywood, California, on September 14, 2025. (AFP)

An Alabama-born engineer seen as a supply-chain savant, Tim Cook took on the daunting challenge of succeeding Apple's iconic boss Steve Jobs 15 years ago.

While Cook is not known for the culture-changing "one more thing" gadget reveals that Jobs fans came to expect, he guided the company to a stunning valuation of some $4 trillion based on its share price.

Cook built up Apple's lucrative business selling digital content and services to lovers of its devices, and his legacy is marked by the success of Apple Watch and Airpods, as well as strong ties with China as a manufacturing hub and a major market.

- iPhones galore -

Apple had a market valuation of $350 billion when Cook succeeded Jobs, who died in October 2011.

While Jobs launched the iPhone in 2007, it was then chief operating officer Cook who oversaw the supply chain that met demand while minimizing costs.

Most of the money Apple makes comes from iPhone sales.

- Slow and steady -

Since taking over for Jobs, Cook has faced pressure to show Apple could come up with "the next big thing" without its legendary co-founder.

The Apple Watch launched by Cook in 2015 became the top-selling smartwatch in the world, and he introduced the world to Airpods, wireless earbuds which went on to become sophisticated fashion statements in a sea of competition.

Cook also led a shift to Apple making custom chips, ending 20 years of dependence on outside suppliers and gaining more control of its hardware.

- Digital services -

One of Cook's profitable pivots at Apple was to sell digital content and services, from streaming music and television to cloud data storage and apps for iPhones.

By 2024, Apple's services segment accounted for nearly a quarter of its revenue.

Central to that strategy is the App Store, which Apple made the sole gateway to software on its devices, taking a cut of transactions -- and thereby drawing accusations of monopoly abuse, regulatory scrutiny in Europe and court orders in the United States to open up its platform.

- China -

Cook's reliance on China in the Apple supply chain served the company well until US President Donald Trump targeted the country for tariffs as part of a trade war.

Apple has since worked to diversify production to India, Vietnam and even the United States.

Meanwhile, smartphone competitors in China are seen as gaining an edge as shoppers there are encouraged to buy local brands.

- Stumbles -

Cook's run at the helm of Apple was far from perfect, however.

Under Cook, Apple spent billions of dollars on a self-driving electric vehicle project called "Titan" that it wound up scrapping in 2024.

An Apple Maps service launched in 2012 was so rife with errors that Cook published a letter of apology.

And, while a technical marvel, the Apple Vision Pro "spacial computing" headgear launched in 2024 with a price tag of $3,500 and has made little traction in the market.

A promised upgrade to Apple's digital assistant Siri was delayed, in what analysts called a rare stumble for the company.

And rather than relying on its own engineers to overhaul Siri, Apple has turned to Google for its AI capability.

Technology

Who Is John Ternus, Apple’s New CEO?

Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus presents the “Apple Experience” to announce Apple's new products, including the MacBook Neo, in New York, New York, USA, 04 March 2026. (EPA)
Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus presents the “Apple Experience” to announce Apple's new products, including the MacBook Neo, in New York, New York, USA, 04 March 2026. (EPA)
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Who Is John Ternus, Apple’s New CEO?

Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus presents the “Apple Experience” to announce Apple's new products, including the MacBook Neo, in New York, New York, USA, 04 March 2026. (EPA)
Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus presents the “Apple Experience” to announce Apple's new products, including the MacBook Neo, in New York, New York, USA, 04 March 2026. (EPA)

Apple on Monday named insider ‌John Ternus as its next CEO, tasking the longtime hardware chief with steering the company after Tim Cook as the iPhone maker prepares for industrywide shifts driven by artificial intelligence.

The leadership change marks the end of an era at one of the world's most iconic companies, just as rivals bet on products that use AI to loosen Apple's grip on the consumer electronics market.

Here are some ‌key facts about ‌Ternus:

LONGTIME VETERAN

Ternus joined Apple's product ‌design ⁠team in 2001 ⁠and became a vice president of hardware engineering in 2013.

He joined the firm's executive team in 2021, when he took on his current role of senior vice president of hardware engineering, reporting to Cook.

HARDWARE ENGINEERING BETS

Ternus has overseen some of Apple's ⁠most consequential hardware bets in recent years, ‌including the teams ‌behind the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and AirPods.

He has ‌played a key role in reigniting sales ‌of products such as Apple's Mac computers, which have gained market share in recent years.

IPHONE REVAMP

Ternus most recently showed the company's iPhone Air last fall, the biggest revamp ‌of the iPhone since 2017.

APPLE HANDS REINS TO TERNUS

Ternus will take over ⁠as Apple ⁠CEO on September 1, succeeding Cook - who has led Apple since 2011 and will become the company's executive chairman.

Ternus, 50, is the same age as Cook when he took over the reins as CEO from co-founder Steve Jobs in 2011.

He will also join Apple's board effective September 1.

EARLY CAREER

Before Apple, Ternus worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems. He holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Technology

Apple’s Tim Cook to Step Down as CEO in September

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in the Steve Jobs Theater during an Apple event on the campus of Apple Park in Cupertino, California, USA, 09 September 2025. (EPA)
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in the Steve Jobs Theater during an Apple event on the campus of Apple Park in Cupertino, California, USA, 09 September 2025. (EPA)
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Apple’s Tim Cook to Step Down as CEO in September

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in the Steve Jobs Theater during an Apple event on the campus of Apple Park in Cupertino, California, USA, 09 September 2025. (EPA)
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in the Steve Jobs Theater during an Apple event on the campus of Apple Park in Cupertino, California, USA, 09 September 2025. (EPA)

Apple on Monday announced that Tim Cook will step down as the tech giant's chief executive officer in September, handing the top job to company veteran John Ternus.

The announcement answers long-simmering questions about a successor for 65-year-old Cook, who said he will become executive chairman of the board when he cedes Apple's CEO position.

"It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company," Cook said in a statement.

Cook joined Apple in 1998, rising through the ranks and helping drive its success as chief operating officer coordinating the iPhone maker's complex supply chain.

He became chief executive in 2011 after its iconic co-founder and leader Steve Jobs left due to health issues.

Cook is credited with expanding Apple's product line and ramping up the company's value to some $4 trillion based on the value of its shares.

"Tim's unprecedented and outstanding leadership has transformed Apple into the world's best company," outgoing chairman of the board Arthur Levinson said in the statement.

"His integrity and values are infused into everything Apple does."

Levinson currently holds the board chairmanship in a non-executive role. He will become the board's lead independent director.

Ternus joined Apple's product design team in 2001 and became a senior vice president of hardware engineering over the course of the following two decades.

He is credited by Apple with playing roles in an array of products including iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and Mac computers.

"I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple's mission forward," Ternus said in the same statement.

"Having spent almost my entire career at Apple, I have been lucky to have worked under Steve Jobs and to have had Tim Cook as my mentor."

Apple marks its 50th anniversary this year as artificial intelligence challenges the Silicon Valley legend to prove it can deliver yet another culture-changing innovation.

Jobs, a driven marketing genius, and Steve Wozniak, who invented the Apple computer, revolutionized how people use technology in the internet age.

The two men -- both college dropouts -- changed the way people use computers, listen to music and communicate on the go, giving rise to lifestyles revolving around smartphone apps.

Apple's hit products - the Mac, the iPhone, the Apple Watch and the iPad - command a cult-like following, long after the company's humble beginnings on April 1, 1976 in Jobs's Cupertino, California garage.