Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have announced a multi-faceted strategic collaboration with Alat, a PIF company, whose primary focus will be the enhancement of AI and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. This initiative is designed to establish Saudi Arabia’s place as a global innovation leader. The collaboration will focus on accelerating the development and commercialization of AI-enabled smart devices and Industrial IoT modules, highlighting the advanced capabilities and functionalities of both Qualcomm Technologies and Alat.The first major initiative under this collaboration will be a cutting-edge Alat AI inference accelerator card powered by Qualcomm Technologies products. These Alat inference cards will be designed to enhance AI task performance in both cloud and enterprise computing. This increased efficiency is designed to empower businesses and organizations across various sectors to unlock the full potential of AI, driving innovation in areas such as image recognition, natural language processing, and generative AI including large language models.“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is creating an environment where leading global innovators can come together to accelerate digital transformation in the region,” said Cristiano Amon, president and chief executive officer, Qualcomm Incorporated. “We are excited to work with Alat to drive intelligent computing solutions in industrial IoT, and help establish Saudi Arabia as a key region for technology. This new collaboration with Alat will focus on the development and commercialization of AI-enabled smart devices powered by our cutting-edge semiconductors and technology platforms.'“This collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies signifies a major step forward in our mission to position Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the global AI revolution. At Alat, we believe in the transformative power of AI to solve complex challenges, drive economic growth and unlock unprecedented opportunities across industries,” Amit Midha, chief executive officer at Alat. “This includes building a future ready and innovative manufacturing sector in Saudi Arabia, powered by the latest AI advancements. By providing access to advanced AI acceleration hardware, powered by Qualcomm Technologies as a first initiative of our collaboration, we are empowering businesses in Saudi Arabia and beyond to harness the full potential of this technology, fostering a future where innovation knows no bounds.”The launch of Alat AI acceleration hardware powered by Qualcomm Technologies marks just the beginning of the collaboration between Alat and Qualcomm Technologies. Set to be available in Q4 2024 and showcased at the Global AI Summit, which will be held in Riyadh on September 12-14, this initiative is the first step in a broader collaboration. The companies aim to expand their joint efforts to include a variety of advanced technologies such as AI, Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), and other transformative solutions. Additionally, Qualcomm Technologies and Alat are dedicated to exploring scalable local manufacturing opportunities, aiming to enhance Saudi Arabia’s stature as an international center for cutting-edge technology.