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AlUla Joins Five Saudi Cities in IMD Smart City Index 2025

This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA
This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA
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AlUla Joins Five Saudi Cities in IMD Smart City Index 2025

This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA
This marks AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time - SPA

AlUla has been included in the Smart City Index 2025, issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), alongside five other Saudi cities: Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar.
This milestone highlights the progress of Saudi Vision 2030 in advancing smart city transformation, driven by pioneering initiatives led by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in collaboration with various government entities, according to SPA.

These efforts aim to develop cities that uphold the highest quality of life standards.
AlUla's inclusion in the index for the first time this year underscores Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to transform the city into a premier heritage, cultural, and tourism destination.

This is achieved by leveraging AI-powered technologies to preserve archaeological sites while enhancing the visitor experience through innovative digital solutions.

These include smart mobility services, crowd management systems, and interactive applications that provide an immersive and efficient way to explore the city.

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Google Contemplated Exclusive Gemini AI Deals with Android Makers

Android Ecosystem president Sameer Samat presents the newest Gemini AI model capabilities during the Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US, August 13, 2024. (Reuters)
Android Ecosystem president Sameer Samat presents the newest Gemini AI model capabilities during the Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US, August 13, 2024. (Reuters)
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Google Contemplated Exclusive Gemini AI Deals with Android Makers

Android Ecosystem president Sameer Samat presents the newest Gemini AI model capabilities during the Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US, August 13, 2024. (Reuters)
Android Ecosystem president Sameer Samat presents the newest Gemini AI model capabilities during the Made by Google event in Mountain View, California, US, August 13, 2024. (Reuters)

Alphabet's Google contemplated deals with Android phone makers such as Samsung last year that would provide exclusivity for not only its search app, but also for its Gemini AI app and Chrome browser, according to a document shown at the second day of an antitrust trial.

The US Department of Justice and a broad coalition of state attorneys general are seeking an order from a judge in Washington that would require Google to sell its Chrome browser and take other measures. They hope to end what the judge found was Google's monopoly in online search and related advertising.

In that ruling, US District Judge Amit Mehta found that Google protected its search monopoly through exclusive agreements with Samsung Electronics and others to have its search engine installed as the default on new devices.

Google entered a new, non-exclusive agreement with Samsung on April 1 that includes no restriction on the smartphone maker loading alternative search products, according to a document shown at trial.

Google had proposed loosening its agreements to address Mehta's ruling but had not announced it was already doing so.

Prosecutors raised concerns in opening statements on Monday that Google's search monopoly could give it advantages in AI, and that its AI products are another way to lead users to its search engine.

OpenAI's ChatGPT head of product Nick Turley is expected to take the stand on Tuesday and testify about how Google's exclusive agreements make it harder to distribute AI products such as ChatGPT.

Google has said the case is not about AI, and that it faces robust competition from companies including Meta Platforms.