How Qualcomm and Saudi Arabia are pushing the boundaries of AI and 5G innovation
Thanks to an ambitious plan for artificial intelligence, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made large strides in its journey toward digital transformation. Helping to blaze that path is Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., whose unique expertise is enabling the Kingdom and its leading companies to embrace the intelligent industry and the hybrid AI future.
Our work together is critical in many ways. It positions Saudi Arabia as a hub for innovation and technology. The Kingdom’s work also sets a global example that can inspire other countries to invest in localized AI capabilities that Qualcomm Technologies specializes in.
On the opening day of the LEAP Conference, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qualcomm Technologies introduced ALLaM PC, the world’s first AI PC branded with a national Large Language Model (LLM), ALLaM, and running ALLaM out of the box offline. The device was one of the two marquee announcements of Qualcomm Incorporated Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Akash Palkhiwala’s day one remarks at the tech convention.
ALLaM PC represents the culmination of Saudi Arabia’s investment in a new AI ecosystem combined with Qualcomm Technologies’ experience in connectivity, high-performance and low-power computing and leading-edge intelligence. It runs on Snapdragon X Elite processors, powerful enough to run the ALLaM model locally on device, which offers a responsive and private experience for users.
In the intelligent industry space, Qualcomm unveiled its collaboration with Aramco Digital to develop the world’s first 5G AI-enabled industrial smartphones with native support for 450 MHz. It’s an important step in advancing the digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that will be fueled by Aramco Digital’s 5G industrial network operating in this spectrum. Qualcomm Technologies, Aramco and Saudi Arabia’s Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) also launched a new program, Design in Saudi Arabia with AI (DISAI), that provides technical and business support to AI and Internet of Things (IoT) startups in the country.
These announcements build upon our existing work driving innovation in the region. In September, Qualcomm Technologies, Aramco and Saudi Arabia’s RDIA announced the deployment of the first generative AI-powered industrial IoT solutions at the edge aimed at enhancing operational safety, efficiency and sustainability.
Together, we’re leading the evolution of advanced compute and edge intelligence across industries.
Taking the long view
That evolution means ensuring ALLaM thrives over the long term. To make it easier for developers to work with the LLM, we are onboarding ALLaM to the Qualcomm AI Hub.
In just a few months, our AI Hub has grown into a healthy ecosystem and essential resource for developers looking to test their AI apps on virtual versions of our different platforms. More than 1,400 companies are using it, including many service and software collaborators and model makers.
Adding ALLaM to Qualcomm AI Hub will give the LLM access to this ecosystem. Developers will be able to more easily create and deploy ALLaM models on the devices powered by Qualcomm and Snapdragon technologies enabling continued innovation, support and longevity.
Developers looking for a hands-on opportunity to work with ALLaM and gain insights from industry experts will get an opportunity at our Developer Day on Feb. 10 at LEAP.
The upshot is both the ALLaM PC and the 5G AI-enabled industrial smartphone will potentially see a wealth of useful new apps to expand their capabilities.
A hybrid AI future
The future of AI relies on both the cloud and devices at the edge such as smartphones, PCs, cars, XR and IoT devices. Distributing AI workloads between the cloud and edge is necessary to enhance overall performance, resiliency, privacy and security. The hybrid approach is crucial for generative AI to scale and meet enterprise and consumer needs globally for private computing.
Towards this hybrid AI future, we are enabling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with AI data center solutions powered by Qualcomm Cloud AI inference accelerator cards.
On the mainstage at LEAP, Palkhiwala also unveiled the ALLaM Developer Playground, a cloud environment operating out of a state-of-the-art data center located in Saudi Arabia and equipped with advanced and innovative hybrid AI capabilities. Powered by the Qualcomm AI Inference Suite for Cloud, developers can access the playground today to assess the Suite’s capabilities and take advantage of ready-to-use AI applications and agents, tools and libraries for building Cloud AI and hybrid AI enabled applications. This will help foster innovation in on-device AI, hybrid AI and Sovereign Cloud solutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The collaboration between Qualcomm Technologies and Saudi Arabia highlighted at the LEAP Conference underscores the significant strides being made in the realm of AI and 5G innovation. The introduction of the ALLaM PC, the enablement of the world's first 5G AI industrial smartphones in 450 MHz, the deployment of ALLaM Playground powered by Qualcomm Cloud AI and the introduction of the most advanced hybrid AI techniques in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exemplifies the powerful synergy between Qualcomm Technologies' cutting-edge technology and Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030.
As we continue to drive advancements in AI, connectivity and computing, this partnership sets a global benchmark for innovation and positions Saudi Arabia as a leading hub for technological progress. Together, we are not only enhancing the digital landscape but also paving the way for a more intelligent and connected world.
