Title: A New Era of AI Investment: U.S.-Saudi Partnerships Pave the Way for Technological Advancement
In a significant development indicative of the changing global economic landscape, a consortium of prominent U.S. technology firms announced a series of high-profile deals focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in the Middle East. This announcement coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Gulf states, during which he secured a remarkable 0 billion in investment commitments from Saudi Arabia.
Among the most consequential agreements was Nvidia’s pledge to sell hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips to Saudi Arabia, with an initial order of 18,000 units of their latest ‘Blackwell’ chips destined for Humain, an AI startup established with the backing of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Furthermore, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has entered into a collaborative agreement with Humain valued at billion, aiming to advance AI capabilities in the region.
Embarking on his tour of the Gulf, President Trump initiated a strategic economic partnership with Saudi Arabia, reflecting the kingdom’s ambitions to diversify its economy by reducing reliance on oil revenue. This partnership underscores Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform itself into a preeminent hub for AI development, aspiring to stand as a leading center for AI activity outside the United States.
Throughout this visit, the U.S. administration aims to foster bilateral investments that could total trillions of dollars, with commitments flowing in both directions. The White House acknowledged that Saudi Arabian firm DataVolt intends to invest billion in AI-driven data centers and energy infrastructure within the United States. In a wider collaborative effort, tech giants such as Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD, and Uber plan to collectively invest approximately billion in cutting-edge technologies spanning both nations.
The ambitions extend beyond economic transactions; they symbolize an intricate intertwining of technological innovation and geopolitical alliances. As President Trump prepares to visit the United Arab Emirates later this week, reports suggest that his administration is nearing a deal which would facilitate substantial sales of Nvidia’s AI chips to the UAE, further solidifying the Middle East’s growing significance within the global technology landscape.
In alignment with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s strategic vision, Humain aims to develop and manage the burgeoning AI ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. The partnership with Nvidia envisions establishing the kingdom as a global leader in AI, particularly focusing on GPU cloud computing and digital transformation. Both companies have committed to constructing AI factories that will integrate up to 500 megawatts of capacity and encompass hundreds of thousands of Nvidia’s state-of-the-art GPUs over a five-year period.
The agreement between Humain and AMD emphasizes a parallel plan to invest an additional billion geared towards creating an AI hardware infrastructure with similar output capacity. “Together, we are building a globally significant AI platform that delivers performance, openness and reach at unprecedented levels,” stated AMD CEO Lisa Su, highlighting the pivotal role that these partnerships could play in reshaping the landscape of both technology and investment in the region.
With the expectation that some operational capacity will commence in 2026, Humain will be responsible for delivering the powerful data-analysis capabilities to potential customers, while AMD will provide the requisite AI chips and software solutions. Chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Humain will function under the aegis of the Public Investment Fund and is poised to offer a suite of AI services and products, spanning data centers, AI infrastructure, cloud capabilities, and advanced AI models.
Illustrating the breadth of this initiative, Humain CEO Tareq Amin articulated the crucial need for foundational infrastructure in establishing a successful AI enterprise. “In building an AI company, you need the foundation and the infrastructure,” Amin remarked during a press event in Riyadh. “It’s a really, really big initiative for the kingdom,” encapsulating the transformative ambitions lying at the heart of this endeavor.
As innovation surges forward, Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia, are positioning themselves at the forefront of AI development, embarking on a journey of economic diversification and technological advancement. With these landmark agreements in place, the future of AI investment in the Middle East looks promising, promising a new chapter in technological collaboration between the United States and one of its key partners in the Gulf region.
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