Saudi Arabia just started a new AI company called Humain, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This big news comes as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg visit the country along with former President Trump for an important meeting about money and technology.
The timing shows how serious Saudi Arabia is about moving beyond oil. Countries in the Gulf area are putting their money into new technology, especially AI. With Saudi Arabia promising to spend billions on tech and working with top AI firms, they want to become an important player in the tech world.
We'll look at what Humain means for Saudi Arabia, why tech leaders are visiting, and how these big investments might change AI's future.
Let's get into it.
What is Humain?
Humain is a new AI company owned by Saudi Arabia's $940 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF). The company was recently launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who will serve as its chairman. This new venture is designed to be Saudi Arabia's main vehicle for developing AI technologies as the country aims to become a global hub for artificial intelligence.
The company will focus on building essential AI technologies and infrastructure, with plans to develop:
- Data centers across Saudi Arabia to support AI operations
- Advanced computing systems needed for AI model training
- Cloud capabilities to make AI services accessible
- Arabic language AI models specifically designed for the region
Humain will serve both Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East region, offering AI products and services customized to local needs. The company will operate as both an investor in AI technologies and as a direct operator of AI assets.
This launch represents a significant step in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program, which aims to reduce the country's dependence on oil by diversifying its economy. By creating Humain, Saudi leadership hopes to bring clarity to the kingdom's AI strategy after years of ambitious statements about plans in this sector.
Big Tech Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Former US President Donald Trump is currently visiting Saudi Arabia as the first stop on his three-nation tour of the Gulf region. His arrival comes at a significant moment, as Riyadh prepares to host several of the world's most influential technology leaders at a major US-Saudi investment forum.
The high-profile gathering is expected to bring together tech giants including:
- Tesla and X owner Elon Musk
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
- Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg
The investment forum is set to announce numerous multibillion-dollar deals across various sectors, with AI and defense partnerships taking center stage. These agreements are expected to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia while advancing Saudi's technological ambitions.
Specific US-Saudi AI Partnerships
US-Saudi partnerships in technology have been growing steadily in recent years. American tech companies increasingly view the Gulf region as an attractive source of capital investment, especially as they develop costly AI infrastructure.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund, with its $940 billion in assets, represents one of the world's largest potential funding sources for technology ventures.
Saudi Arabia hopes these high-level meetings will accelerate its transformation into a technology hub. The country has been actively pursuing partnerships with US tech firms as part of its Vision 2030 plan to diversify its economy beyond oil production.
The US Treasury has recently established a "fast track process" to facilitate greater investment from allies like Saudi Arabia into US businesses. This new approach could further strengthen technological cooperation between the two nations, making it easier for Saudi funds to support American AI development while gaining access to advanced US technology.
Saudi Arabia's AI Goals
Saudi Arabia is rapidly pushing to transform its economy beyond oil through major technology investments. The launch of Humain is just the latest step in the kingdom's broader AI strategy to become a global technology center.
The country has already established several AI-focused companies, including Alat, which has committed to invest $100 billion in AI hardware and technology infrastructure by 2030.
Both companies are chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, showing the high-level commitment to these initiatives.
- These investments support Vision 2030, the kingdom's plan to reduce oil dependency
- Saudi Arabia aims to position itself as a major AI hub outside the United States
- The strategy includes building state-of-the-art data centers across the country
The kingdom has also formed partnerships with American AI companies like Groq and Cerebras to develop advanced computing infrastructure.
These collaborations highlight Saudi Arabia's determination to create a complete AI ecosystem that can compete globally while addressing regional needs through Arabic language models and locally-relevant applications.
Gulf Region's Growing AI Focus
The entire Gulf region is rapidly embracing artificial intelligence as a pathway to economic diversification. Beyond Saudi Arabia, both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have launched ambitious AI initiatives to secure their technological futures.
The UAE has established G42, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, as its primary AI development vehicle. This company secured a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft last year.
Additionally, Abu Dhabi created MGX, a dedicated AI investment fund focused on supporting US technology companies.
- Gulf nations are strategically using their oil wealth to fund technological advancement
- These investments help reduce economic dependence on fossil fuels
- Regional cooperation is creating a Middle Eastern technology ecosystem
In a telling sign of Saudi Arabia's commitment to technology advancement, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently pledged $600 billion in US investments over the next four years.
Conclusion
The launch of Humain marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia's journey toward becoming a global AI leader. As Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs this new venture, it represents the kingdom's serious commitment to technological transformation.
The gathering of global tech leaders like Musk, Altman, and Zuckerberg alongside former President Trump highlights the growing importance of Gulf nations in the worldwide AI landscape.
These developments signal a profound shift for the oil-rich Gulf region as it leverages its substantial financial resources to create new technology hubs. With Saudi Arabia pledging $600 billion in US investments and developing partnerships with leading AI companies, we're witnessing the emergence of a new power dynamic in technology development.
The Gulf's AI initiatives represent not just economic diversification but a strategic repositioning in the global technology ecosystem that will shape the future of artificial intelligence development.
FAQs
1. What is Humain and who owns it?
Humain is Saudi Arabia's newest AI company owned by the $940 billion Public Investment Fund. Chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it will develop AI technologies including data centers and Arabic language models to serve Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region.
2. Why are tech leaders like Elon Musk visiting Saudi Arabia?
Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg are visiting Saudi Arabia for a major US-Saudi investment forum alongside former President Trump. They're expected to announce multibillion-dollar deals in AI and other sectors as Gulf nations become increasingly important technology investment partners.
3. How much is Saudi Arabia investing in AI technology?
Saudi Arabia is making massive investments in AI, including $100 billion through Alat by 2030 and a pledge of $600 billion in overall US investments. These funds will develop data centers, advanced computing systems, and Arabic language AI models.
4. How are Gulf countries diversifying from oil through technology?
Gulf countries are using their oil wealth to fund AI initiatives like Saudi Arabia's Humain, UAE's G42, and Qatar's technology programs. These investments create new revenue streams, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and position them as global technology hubs.
5. What is the "fast track process" for Gulf investments in US tech?
The US Treasury's "fast track process" streamlines investment approvals for allied nations like Saudi Arabia investing in American technology companies. This helps Gulf countries access advanced US chips while providing essential capital for American AI development projects.
