Saudi crown prince launches HUMAIN to position Kingdom as global AI hub

13/05/2025 02:14 AST

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince has launched HUMAIN, a new artificial intelligence company aimed at developing Arabic large language models and establishing the Kingdom as a global hub for AI innovation and leadership.

Backed by the Public Investment Fund, HUMAIN will operate across the entire AI value chain as an integrated technology firm, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

HUMAIN's creation aligns with the broader goals of Vision 2030, the Kingdom's economic transformation plan, and underscores its ambition to lead in high-tech sectors. The company will support local innovation, develop intellectual property, and attract top global AI talent and investment.

"Chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, HUMAIN will provide a comprehensive range of AI services, products and tools, including next-generation data centers, AI infrastructure and cloud capabilities, and advanced AI models and solutions," stated the SPA report.

"The company will also offer one of the world's most powerful multimodal Arabic large language models," it added.

The firm is also set to drive adoption of AI technologies in key sectors such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services. It will consolidate data center initiatives, oversee hardware procurement, and scale deployment of AI solutions regionally and globally.

AI is expected to contribute SR58.8 trillion ($15.6 trillion) to the global economy by 2030, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has projected. The sector is also forecast to generate 98 million jobs by 2025.

PIF and its portfolio companies are actively working to build a thriving AI ecosystem, leveraging Saudi Arabia's strategic location, economic growth potential, and rising demand for advanced AI research and innovation.

The Saudi Co. for Artificial Intelligence, a PIF-owned entity established in 2021, serves as the fund's AI and emerging tech arm, supporting national goals through solutions in smart cities, energy, healthcare, and finance.

PIF's strategy contributes to the Kingdom's ambition of becoming a competitive global player in the digital economy, supporting economic diversification goals as outlined in Vision 2030, the SPA report said.

In recognition of these efforts, Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in the 2024 Global AI Index for government AI strategy, affirming its leadership in this transformative sector.

Arab News