Riyadh to Host Third Edition of Global AI Summit in September

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). (SPA)
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Riyadh to Host Third Edition of Global AI Summit in September

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). (SPA)

The third edition of the Global AI Summit will be held in Riyadh in September under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Held from September 10 to 12, the summit will bring together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.

Riyadh will witness a gathering of international AI technology experts, where participants will exchange ideas and visions for the ethical development and application of AI technologies.

Aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the summit aims to establish the Kingdom as a global leader in AI innovation.

The event will bring together influential figures from across the globe, such as government officials, AI researchers, and technology executives. Notable participants will include Stefan Schnurr, Simon See, Alex Smolla, Julie Sweet, Nick Studer, Cristiano Amon, Amandeep Gill, and Douglas Schmidt, along with other prominent names in the field.

The summit will feature the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding, as well as the launch of international initiatives aimed at advancing AI development and benefiting countries worldwide.

These initiatives align with Saudi Arabia's aspiration to become a global model for AI leadership and support international efforts in the field.



UK Watchdog Shuts Down Probes into Apple and Google App Stores 

3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)
3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)
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UK Watchdog Shuts Down Probes into Apple and Google App Stores 

3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)
3D printed logos of Apple and Google are pictured on a keyboard in front of binary code in this illustration taken September 24, 2021. (Reuters)

Britain's competition watchdog has closed its existing investigations into Apple and Google's respective app stores, awaiting new laws governing digital markets.

The tech giants have faced scrutiny around the world over the dominance of their respective App Store and Google Play store platforms, which critics say impose unfair charges on app developers and limit competition.

In 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a market study of mobile ecosystems in Britain, which found Apple and Google held an effective monopoly over the distribution of apps in Britain.

The body subsequently launched parallel investigations into both companies for alleged anticompetitive behavior.

But in a statement published on Wednesday, the CMA said it had dropped both probes, pending the roll-out of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), which is expected to come into force later this year.

"Once the new pro-competition digital markets regime comes into force, we’ll be able to consider applying those new powers to concerns we have already identified through our existing work," said Will Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets at the CMA.

A Google spokesperson said its Android operating system had always allowed flexibility and choice not found on other platforms, including multiple app stores.

"We have engaged with the CMA over the course of many months during their investigation. As part of this, we made a number of significant commitments to further broaden the billing options available to developers through Google Play," they said.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.