KACST Successfully Localizes, Develops Energy-Efficient Blue LED Technology

The successful localization of the technology enhances the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. SPA
The successful localization of the technology enhances the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. SPA
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KACST Successfully Localizes, Develops Energy-Efficient Blue LED Technology

The successful localization of the technology enhances the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. SPA
The successful localization of the technology enhances the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. SPA

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) successfully localized and developed blue light-emitting diode (LED) technology, which is used in modern energy-efficient lighting applications.
The achievement reflects the National Laboratory's efforts to establish infrastructure to support research, development, and innovation. It also highlights the training and qualification of national talents in designing and manufacturing electronic chips through KACST's Saudi Semiconductor Program.
The successful localization of this technology enhances the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to achieve industrial and technological leadership. It boosts local content in non-oil sectors, contributing to economic diversification and sustainable development.
The blue LED technology offers promising solutions in modern lighting by reducing energy consumption by up to 80%, increasing efficiency to 200 lumens per watt compared to traditional bulbs' 16 lumens per watt, and extending lifespan by 20 times compared to conventional technologies.
The technology helps reduce electronic waste and lowers greenhouse-gas emissions by more than six times, making it a key pillar in supporting global efforts to combat climate change and achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Saudi Arabia.



Nvidia Ramps up AI Tech for Games, Robots and Autos

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang holds a new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card as he gives a keynote address at CES 2025, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 6, 2025. (Reuters)
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang holds a new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card as he gives a keynote address at CES 2025, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 6, 2025. (Reuters)
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Nvidia Ramps up AI Tech for Games, Robots and Autos

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang holds a new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card as he gives a keynote address at CES 2025, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 6, 2025. (Reuters)
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang holds a new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card as he gives a keynote address at CES 2025, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, January 6, 2025. (Reuters)

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang made a rock star appearance at a packed arena late Monday, touting AI chips and software for robots, cars, video games and more.

After years of being on the sidelines at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, talk of computer chips was a hot ticket as people queued for hours to fill an arena to hear Huang talk AI.

"When you see application after application that is AI driven, at the core of it is that machine learning has changed how computing will be done," Jensen said during a one-man presentation on stage.

"There are so many things you can't do without AI."

Jensen's keynote came on the eve of the opening of the CES show floor, and on a day that Nvidia shares closed at a new record, giving the Silicon Valley company a market valuation of more than $3.6 trillion.

Nvidia's graphics unit processors (GPUs) for powering AI in datacenters have been snapped up by Google, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI and others racing to be leaders in the technology.

During a lengthy presentation in Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay resort, Huang introduced a GPU for ramping up AI capabilities in personal computers where Nvidia won the loyalty of gamers in the company's early days.

Nvidia touted the new GeForce RTX 50 series for desktop and laptop computers based on Blackwell chip architecture as its most advanced consumer GPUs.

"Blackwell, the engine of AI, has arrived for PC gamers, developers and creatives," Huang said.

PCs enhanced with RTX chips for AI capabilities will be available from an array of manufacturers including Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Razer and Samsung, according to Nvidia.

An AI PC displayed during the presentation was priced at $1,299, built with the $549 RTX chip at the starting point of the new GPU line-up.

Along with rapid rendering of rich gameplay action, Nvidia AI technology will enable the creation of characters that perceive, plan and act like human players, according to Nvidia.

Such autonomous characters are being integrated into games including "PUBG: Battlegrounds", according to Nvidia.

Huang also introduced a family foundation models open to the world for advancing "physical AI" that enables robots to understand and engage in real-world tasks.

Nvidia expanded partnerships and technology for autonomous capabilities in cars as well, with Toyota joining its roster of partners.