Qatar Signs Deal with Scale AI to Use AI to Boost Government Services

The offices of artificial intelligence tech company Scale AI in Montreal, Quebec, Canada April 7, 2024. REUTERS/Evan Buhler/File Photo
The offices of artificial intelligence tech company Scale AI in Montreal, Quebec, Canada April 7, 2024. REUTERS/Evan Buhler/File Photo
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Qatar Signs Deal with Scale AI to Use AI to Boost Government Services

The offices of artificial intelligence tech company Scale AI in Montreal, Quebec, Canada April 7, 2024. REUTERS/Evan Buhler/File Photo
The offices of artificial intelligence tech company Scale AI in Montreal, Quebec, Canada April 7, 2024. REUTERS/Evan Buhler/File Photo

Qatar's government has signed a five-year deal with AI data company Scale AI to deploy AI-powered tools and training in a push to improve government services in the Gulf Arab state, a senior Scale AI executive told Reuters on Sunday.

"(This deal) can be a blueprint for other governments around the world, and it allows us to really commit in a way that I think could drive impact even faster," said Trevor Thompson, global head of growth at the San Francisco, California-based company.

The deal will allow Qatar's government to adopt tools such as predictive analytics, automation and advanced data analysis in an effort to streamline operations, said a statement by Qatar's communications and information technology ministry.

Scale AI will develop more than 50 possible uses of artificial intelligence (AI) for Qatar's government over the next five years, the statement added.



Apple's iPhone Sales Capture Top Spot in Chinese Market in May, Counterpoint Research Says

FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
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Apple's iPhone Sales Capture Top Spot in Chinese Market in May, Counterpoint Research Says

FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

Apple's iPhone sales rose to the top spot in China in May, with global sales growing 15% year-on-year during April and May in the tech giant's strongest performance for the two-month period since the COVID-19 pandemic, data from Counterpoint Research showed.

The increase in global sales was primarily driven by a return to growth in Apple's two largest markets, China and the United States, preliminary data from Counterpoint Research showed.

The company was aided in part by tariff dodgers and also saw double-digit increases in Japan, India and the Middle Eastern markets, Reuters quoted Counterpoint as saying.

"Q2 iPhone performance looks promising at the moment, but as always, swings either way are dictated by two markets - the US and China," Ivan Lam, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research said.

Calculations based on data from the government-affiliated China Academy of Information and Communications Technology showed that April shipments of foreign-branded phones in China rose to 3.52 million units from 3.50 million a year earlier.

Apple has faced increased competition from domestic rivals in China and has resorted to price cuts to stay competitive.

Chinese e-commerce platforms were offering discounts of up to 2,530 yuan ($351) on Apple's latest iPhone 16 models in May.