SDAIA Showcases Efforts in Utilizing AI to Support Entrepreneurs at Saudi-Korean Business Forum

The Saudi-Korean Business Forum is organized by the National Competitiveness Center, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (SPA)
The Saudi-Korean Business Forum is organized by the National Competitiveness Center, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (SPA)
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SDAIA Showcases Efforts in Utilizing AI to Support Entrepreneurs at Saudi-Korean Business Forum

The Saudi-Korean Business Forum is organized by the National Competitiveness Center, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (SPA)
The Saudi-Korean Business Forum is organized by the National Competitiveness Center, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (SPA)

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) participated in a working session centered around innovation and technology during the Saudi-Korean Business Forum in Seoul, South Korea.

Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi and a delegation of government and private sector officials are on an official visit to the Korean capital. The visit aims to bolster commercial relations in key economic sectors between both nations, strengthening their economic partnership.

The Saudi-Korean Business Forum is organized by the National Competitiveness Center, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the forum’s Saudi Arabia pavilion, SDAIA showcased the Rowad initiative, a package designed to assist entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia.

The initiative facilitates entrepreneurs and startups in verifying client data electronically by integrating with the National Information Center databases, ensuring top-notch safety, reliability, and supporting entrepreneurs' contributions to the national GDP. It enhances identity uses in emerging sectors and improves facility data quality.

SDAIA also presented plans for the third edition of the Global AI Summit, scheduled for Riyadh in September. Featuring over 250 speakers from across the globe, the summit will delve into AI potentials and its impacts across diverse fields.

SDAIA’s participation in the forum aligns with the Authority’s commitment to fostering partnerships with international entities. Through such collaborations, SDAIA strives to realize its vision of establishing a data-driven national economy, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and positioning the Kingdom among leading countries in data and AI-driven economies.



BlackBerry Forecasts Lower Annual Revenue due to Weak Demand for Cybersecurity Services

The Blackberry logo is seen on a smarphone in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken February 5, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The Blackberry logo is seen on a smarphone in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken February 5, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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BlackBerry Forecasts Lower Annual Revenue due to Weak Demand for Cybersecurity Services

The Blackberry logo is seen on a smarphone in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken February 5, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The Blackberry logo is seen on a smarphone in front of a displayed stock graph in this illustration taken February 5, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Canada's BlackBerry forecast a revenue decline in fiscal 2026 on Wednesday, as it anticipated weak spending on its cybersecurity products.

US-listed shares of the Waterloo, Ontario-based company fell 4% in premarket trading.

BlackBerry, once a dominant force in the smartphone market, has transitioned into selling software for devices and autonomous vehicles.

But enterprises are now reining their technology spending and optimizing costs, which in turn is affecting firms like BlackBerry.

The company forecast revenue to be between $504 million and $534 million for the financial year ending in February next year, lower than $534.9 million it reported in fiscal 2025, Reuters reported.

BlackBerry expects its cybersecurity unit, which provides intelligent security software to enterprises and governments, to report annual revenue between $230 million and $240 million, lower than the $272.6 million in the previous financial year.

The company posted revenue of $141.7 million for the fourth quarter, lower than $152.9 million it reported a year ago.

BlackBerry said it completed the sale of the Cylance business, which uses machine learning to preempt security breaches, to Arctic Wolf for $160 million.

The company sold the Cylance business to redirect its focus to high-growth areas, and as the unit required significant levels of investment and was facing strong competition.