Qualcomm and Saudi smart tech conglomerate Alat are to collaborate on developing AI and Industrial IoT for smart and embedded devices. The collaboration between the two firms is aimed at accelerating solutions to bring Saudi Arabia to the forefront of digital transformation.

Owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Alat was founded in February 2024 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The conglomerate focuses on seven main business streams: semiconductors, advanced industries, smart appliances, smart health, smart devices, smart buildings, and next-generation infrastructure.

The collaboration between Qualcomm and Alat will focus on accelerating the development and commercialisation of AI-enabled smart devices and Industrial IoT modules, combining technologies and capabilities from both Qualcomm and Alat.

The first major initiative under this collaboration will be an Alat AI inference accelerator card powered by Qualcomm Technologies products. The Alat inference cards will be designed to enhance AI task performance in both cloud and enterprise computing. The inference cards will be aimed at driving innovation in areas such as image recognition, natural language processing, and generative AI including large language models.

The companies aim to expand their joint efforts to include a variety of advanced technologies such as AI, Industrial IoT and other technologies. Qualcomm Technologies and Alat will explore scalable local manufacturing opportunities, aiming to enhance Saudi Arabia’s stature as an international centre for cutting-edge technology.

“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 commercialisation 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,” said 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.”