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Saudi SDAIA Signs MoU with IBM to Establish AI Center of Excellence 

The MoU aims to establish a specialized center of excellence for developing generative AI technologies, focusing on implementing innovative applications that meet the needs of government entities according to the best global standards and governance frameworks. (SPA)
The MoU aims to establish a specialized center of excellence for developing generative AI technologies, focusing on implementing innovative applications that meet the needs of government entities according to the best global standards and governance frameworks. (SPA)
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Saudi SDAIA Signs MoU with IBM to Establish AI Center of Excellence 

The MoU aims to establish a specialized center of excellence for developing generative AI technologies, focusing on implementing innovative applications that meet the needs of government entities according to the best global standards and governance frameworks. (SPA)
The MoU aims to establish a specialized center of excellence for developing generative AI technologies, focusing on implementing innovative applications that meet the needs of government entities according to the best global standards and governance frameworks. (SPA)

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) signed on Tuesday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the global company IBM during the third Global AI Summit (GAIN) underway in Riyadh.

CEO of the National Center for AI Dr. Yaser bin Mohammed Al-Onaizan, representing SDAIA, and the General Manager of IBM Saudi Arabia, Fahad Alanazi, finalized the agreement.

The MoU aims to establish a specialized center of excellence for developing generative AI technologies, focusing on implementing innovative applications that meet the needs of government entities according to the best global standards and governance frameworks.

It also includes the launch of the ALLaM Challenge, which seeks to develop innovative solutions and stimulate innovation by developing and enhancing large language models (LLM) in Arabic using the ALLaM model.

This partnership is expected to contribute to the exchange of expertise and enhancement of national capabilities, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 goals of building a knowledge-based society and reinforcing the Kingdom's position as a global hub for advanced technologies.

This collaboration is part of SDAIA's efforts to position the ALLaM model as the leading generative Arabic model on global platforms, according to the Arabic MMLU benchmark. This initiative aims to empower developers and users of Arabic-language AI solutions in the Kingdom and worldwide.

SDAIA and IBM have previously announced that ALLaM will be hosted on the IBM Watsonx platform and the Saudi government cloud "DEEM". This initiative will provide entities with advanced and unique services, contributing to the advancement of technological innovation in the region.

SDAIA and IBM's collaboration also includes establishing a specialized center of excellence for developing generative AI technologies and launching the ALLaM Challenge, which aims to discover exceptional talents and expertise in AI.

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Second Day of Workers’ Strike at Samsung India Plant Disrupts Output 

Workers of a Samsung facility listen to a speaker during a strike to demand higher wages at its Sriperumbudur plant near the city of Chennai, India, September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Workers of a Samsung facility listen to a speaker during a strike to demand higher wages at its Sriperumbudur plant near the city of Chennai, India, September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
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Second Day of Workers’ Strike at Samsung India Plant Disrupts Output 

Workers of a Samsung facility listen to a speaker during a strike to demand higher wages at its Sriperumbudur plant near the city of Chennai, India, September 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Workers of a Samsung facility listen to a speaker during a strike to demand higher wages at its Sriperumbudur plant near the city of Chennai, India, September 10, 2024. (Reuters)

Operations at Samsung Electronics' plant in southern India were disrupted for a second day on Tuesday by hundreds of employees striking for higher wages, in a rare episode of labor unrest for the South Korean company.

The strike at India's biggest consumer goods company comes ahead of the festive season, when sales of electronics items boom, bought by consumers as gifts or for personal use. Samsung competes with LG Electronics and domestic brands.

The plant is one of two factories in India, which Samsung counts as a key growth market. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said it contributed 20% to 30% of the company's annual revenue of $12 billion in the South Asian nation.

Posters reading "Indefinite Strike" went up outside the factory in Sriperumbudur near the city of Chennai, where hundreds of workers in company uniforms set up tents to shade them from the heat.

"We are striking for the second day," said union leader E. Muthukumar.

About half of the factory's daily production was affected when many workers stayed away on Monday, and the protest continues to press their demand for higher wages, better working hours and company recognition for the union.

Samsung India did not respond to a request for comment. On Monday, a spokesperson said it actively engaged with workers "to address any grievances they may have and comply with all laws and regulations".

Samsung employs about 1,800 workers at the plant, which makes items such as refrigerators, washing machines and televisions, while a bigger plant in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh turns out smartphones.

In South Korea, the 36,500 members of Samsung Electronics' biggest worker union who have been demanding higher wages and benefits, held a strike for several days in July and August.

In late July, however, the company said the action did not disrupt production there.

In India, its workers are demanding equal remuneration for those with the same length of experience, according to at least half a dozen employees Reuters spoke to on condition of anonymity.

One poster outside the factory exhorted state labor officials not to support the management, advising instead: "Discuss and solve demands from the labor union with union officials."