Royal Commission for AlUla Partners with Google Cloud to Train Over 3,000 Community Members

RCU will invite more than 3,000 participants from AlUla to enroll in specialized courses designed to enhance their knowledge and expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, and other digital fields - SPA
RCU will invite more than 3,000 participants from AlUla to enroll in specialized courses designed to enhance their knowledge and expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, and other digital fields - SPA
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Royal Commission for AlUla Partners with Google Cloud to Train Over 3,000 Community Members

RCU will invite more than 3,000 participants from AlUla to enroll in specialized courses designed to enhance their knowledge and expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, and other digital fields - SPA
RCU will invite more than 3,000 participants from AlUla to enroll in specialized courses designed to enhance their knowledge and expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, and other digital fields - SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a collaboration agreement with Google Cloud, marking a significant step towards realizing its ambitious vision of transforming AlUla into a center for digital growth and innovation.
Announced at the Google Cloud Summit in Riyadh, the agreement will see the launch of AlUla Skills Lab (ASL), a key initiative aimed at equipping AlUla's residents with cutting-edge digital skills. This milestone underscores RCU's commitment to digital transformation and the enhancement of human capital in the region, SPA reported.
Through this initiative, RCU will invite more than 3,000 participants from AlUla to enroll in specialized courses designed to enhance their knowledge and expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, and other digital fields.
The training programs will be delivered both in-person and online, following three main tracks: foundational and professional digital skills, data and artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.
The AlUla Skills Lab will also welcome students, educators, and digital enthusiasts from AlUla, providing them with hands-on learning experiences through Google Cloud's suite of digital tools and services. Community members eager to develop their digital expertise and professional skills will have the opportunity to register for these courses, which are open to individuals with a strong interest in exploring the latest technological advancements and applications Google Cloud offers.
Through the ASL initiative, RCU seeks to ensure that the program aligns with its long-term goals for human capacity development. The collaboration also aims to establish an official Google Innovation Lab in AlUla, serving as a dedicated hub for community learning, innovation, and digital literacy.
Developing digital capabilities in AlUla is a fundamental pillar of RCU’s broader strategy, which focuses on expanding smart and digital services to improve the daily lives of residents, businesses, and investors. Enhancing digital skills within the local workforce will also contribute to the sustainable growth and economic diversification of Northwest Arabia and the Kingdom at large.



DeepSeek Faces Expulsion from App Stores in Germany

FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
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DeepSeek Faces Expulsion from App Stores in Germany

FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
FILE - The smartphone apps DeepSeek page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Germany has taken steps towards blocking Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from the Apple and Google app stores due to concerns about data protection, according to a data protection authority commissioner in a statement on Friday.

DeepSeek has been reported to the two US tech giants as illegal content, said commissioner Meike Kamp, and the companies must now review the concerns and decide whether to block the app in Germany, Reuters reported.

"DeepSeek has not been able to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German users' data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that in the European Union," she said.

"Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies," she added.

The move comes after Reuters exclusively reported this week that DeepSeek is aiding China's military and intelligence operations.

DeepSeek, which shook the technology world in January with claims that it had developed an AI model that rivaled those from US firms such as ChatGPT creator OpenAI at much lower cost, says it stores numerous personal data, such as requests to the AI or uploaded files, on computers in China.