Recently, Google and the Saudi Public Investment Fund jointly announced the establishment of a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) center in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this new AI center is to support research on AI models for the Arabic language and the development of AI applications tailored to specific Saudi needs.
Saudi Arabia's oil industry has long relied on traditional energy production methods, with the nation's economy heavily dependent on oil resources. According to Saudi Aramco, the company has already widely applied artificial intelligence technology in its operations. In one oil field, the application of AI technology has helped the company increase production by 15%, demonstrating the potential and value of AI in the oil industry.
Although Google announced in 2020 that it would stop developing algorithms for oil and gas production and committed in 2021 to halving its carbon emissions by 2030, this new collaboration has sparked concerns about whether it will conflict with its environmental commitments. A Google spokesperson, when interviewed by E&E News, stated that this new agreement is consistent with its existing commitments. Although Google and the Saudi Public Investment Fund have not disclosed what specific "Saudi-specific AI applications" will look like, considering the central role of oil in the Saudi economy, it can be inferred that these AI algorithms might be applied in the production processes of oil and natural gas.
By establishing the AI center, Google hopes to promote technological advancement in the Middle East and provide support for local research and development. This initiative is not only a further exploration of artificial intelligence technology but also may offer new development opportunities for Saudi Arabia in its transformation process.
Key Points:
🌍 Google is setting up a new AI center in Saudi Arabia to support research on Arabic language AI models.
🤖 Saudi Aramco has already applied AI technology in multiple oil fields, increasing oil production.
🌱 Despite Google's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, the new project may involve oil and gas production.