Latest news with #HUMAIN
Arab News
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Driving KSA's digital future: Cisco's Saudi chief talks AI, cybersecurity and local talent development
On the sidelines of Cisco Connect KSA, Salman Faqeeh, managing director of Cisco Saudi Arabia, discussed how the global technology leader is helping to accelerate the Kingdom's digital transformation and build a future-ready economy. With nearly three decades of presence in Saudi Arabia, Cisco's story is closely intertwined with the country's ambitions under Vision 2030. Powering the AI revolution in Saudi Arabia As Saudi Arabia doubles down on its efforts to lead the AI revolution, Cisco is working hand-in-hand with government and enterprise partners to build the infrastructure of the future. Faqeeh highlighted Cisco's groundbreaking initiative with HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia's homegrown AI enterprise, to build one of the world's most open and scalable AI infrastructures. 'Saudi Arabia is laying the foundation for a globally competitive AI ecosystem,' Faqeeh said. 'With local data centers already operational for security cloud services and the Webex platform, and plans underway to bring the Meraki cloud to the Kingdom, Cisco is committed to enabling businesses to scale confidently in a cloud-first, AI-driven world.' Upskilling the next generation Beyond technology, Cisco is investing heavily in Saudi talent. Faqeeh announced the company's plans to launch the Cisco AI Institute at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, a center dedicated to driving AI innovation and preparing the next generation of Saudi talent. Cisco is also scaling its efforts through digital upskilling, pledging free training for 500,000 learners over the next five years in critical areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and data science. This builds on the success of Cisco's Networking Academy, which has already trained over 401,000 learners in the Kingdom — 36 percent of whom are women. 'Our goal is to prepare Saudi talent to thrive in an AI-powered world,' Faqeeh said. 'Partnerships with institutions like King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology are also helping expand the pool of Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts, ensuring the Kingdom has the skilled workforce it needs to manage complex networks that support the AI future.' Driving local manufacturing Cisco is also laying the groundwork for local manufacturing operations in Saudi Arabia, starting with wireless technologies. According to Faqeeh, this effort will evolve in response to market demand, supporting the Kingdom's goal of building a sustainable and diversified economy. A rapidly advancing digital landscape Reflecting on the pace of digital transformation, Faqeeh praised Saudi Arabia's vision and execution. Over the past six years, the government has invested more than $24.8 billion in digital infrastructure. Internet penetration has reached 99 percent, with mobile Internet speeds surpassing 215 Mbps. The Kingdom now ranks first regionally and fourth globally for government digital services. 'Saudi Arabia is no longer just a consumer of technology; it's becoming a global leader,' Faqeeh said. 'We see immense opportunities for Cisco to contribute, especially in building AI-ready data centers, driving digital resilience, and developing future-proof workplaces.' Strengthening cybersecurity in the age of AI With the Kingdom accelerating its adoption of emerging technologies, cybersecurity has become a top priority. Cisco's recent Cybersecurity Readiness Index shows that 91 percent of Saudi organizations experienced AI-related cyber incidents last year, yet an impressive 93 percent of organizations already leverage AI in strengthening security strategies. 'Cybercriminals are using AI to automate and scale their attacks. Organizations can no longer rely solely on human-scale defenses,' Faqeeh explained. 'Cisco is embedding AI across its security portfolio to help SecOps teams assist, automate, and augment their capabilities.' Cisco's AI Defense solution protects both the development and use of AI applications, safeguarding enterprises against misuse, data leakage, and sophisticated cyberthreats. Also Cisco's cloud security data center in Saudi Arabia powers cloud-based security services such as Secure Service Edge, Cisco Secure Access, and Umbrella DNS, providing local organizations with flexible, AI-powered protection. Preparing for the future of industry transformation Looking ahead, Faqeeh highlighted several critical trends shaping Saudi Arabia's industries. AI is transforming sectors from healthcare to finance, with organizations deploying secure, scalable infrastructures to harness practical AI use cases — such as predictive maintenance and automated onboarding. The next leap, he said, will be agentic AI: autonomous AI tools capable of learning and acting independently. Supporting this evolution will require ultra-fast, low-latency, energy-efficient networks, as well as integrated security at every layer. 'We are on the verge of an AI-powered future that is difficult to fully comprehend today,' Faqeeh said. 'The infrastructure we build now — whether in networking, compute, or cybersecurity — will determine how far we can go.' Vision 2030: A blueprint for the digital economy Saudi Arabia's transformation is already bearing fruit. The digital economy contributes 15 percent to the GDP, equivalent to SR495 billion ($132 billion). The ICT market surpassed SR180 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $43.5 billion by 2027. The AI sector alone is expected to add $135 billion to the Saudi economy by 2030, accounting for 12 percent of the GDP. 'Vision 2030 isn't just a set of goals — it's a blueprint for building a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy,' Faqeeh added. 'At Cisco, we are proud to partner with Saudi Arabia on this journey, helping turn bold ambitions into reality.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HSBC Upgrades Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Stock to Buy from Hold
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is one of the 10 Best Semiconductor Stocks to Buy According to Reddit. The company's stock was upgraded to a 'Buy' rating from 'Hold' by HSBC analyst Frank Lee with a street-high price target of $200. The analyst is now increasingly optimistic about Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)'s long-term growth potential and improved market performance in the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and CPU (Central Processing Unit) markets. Furthermore, the analyst noted stronger-than-expected pricing power in the company's AI GPU lineup and increasing confidence in its data center roadmap. A close up of a complex looking PCB board with several intergrated semiconductor parts. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) and HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia's new AI enterprise, announced the landmark agreement to build the world's most open, scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient AI infrastructure. This is expected to power future of global intelligence via a network of AMD-based AI computing centers stretching from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the US. According to the agreement, the parties are expected to invest up to $10 billion to deploy 500 megawatts of AI compute capacity over the upcoming 5 years. Longriver Investment Partners released its 'Longriver Partners Fund' Q2 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said: 'Nvidia's NVLink, its high-bandwidth interconnect, underpins training at scale, where GPUs must coordinate across racks. NVLink Fusion, announced this year, may extend that advantage by letting custom chips plug into Nvidia's system rather than replace it. However, many inference tasks can be handled independently, one GPU at a time. That lowers the importance of networking, and with it, Nvidia's edge in tightly integrated systems. While we acknowledge the potential of AMD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Leaders
4 days ago
- Science
- Leaders
Saudi Minister Calls for Global Action to Bridge AI Divide
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Communications and IT, Abdullah Al-Swaha, has urged decisive international collaboration to tackle the AI divide. Speaking at the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, he highlighted the concentration of computing power in few regions and the limited AI infrastructure in many countries. Al-Swaha pointed out the lessons from past technological eras, since the analog era took over a century to connect 800 million people, while the digital era linked 5.5 billion individuals in just 50 years, leaving 2.6 billion unconnected. In the AI era, gaps in computing infrastructure, data availability, and algorithms could hinder progress. Saudi Arabia's Commitment Saudi Arabia is committed to leading international efforts to close these technological divides as the minister highlighted Saudi Arabia's efforts, including the digital empowerment of women, who now have a participation rate of about 35%, with the Kingdom ranks top globally in digital competitiveness for two consecutive years. Moreover, Al-Swaha praised researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), who rank among the top one percent globally in scientific citations in an achievement that signals a promising future for AI development in the Kingdom. He also highlighted advancements in data protection regulations and the creation of language models that ensure inclusive access to technology. He cited the HUMAIN project, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to provide a full spectrum of AI capabilities, positioning the Kingdom as a global AI pioneer. Al-Swaha stressed the importance of the next decade and called for multination partnerships under the ITU to build a fair, safe, and inclusive AI ecosystem. Al-Swaha emphasized that bridging the AI divide is critical and requires urgent global cooperation, calling for partnerships under the ITU to build a fair, safe, and inclusive AI ecosystem that supports sustainable development and enhances human well-being. Short link : Post Views: 10
Campaign ME
17-06-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Sport Impact Summit teams up with HOKO for global expansion
Sport Impact Summit (SIS) has announced a strategic partnership with HOKO, the UAE-based experiential agency known for its work across sport, hospitality and AI innovation. The partnership will see HOKO lead SIS's global expansion efforts, with new editions of the Summit planned in Abu Dhabi, China, Bahrain and Singapore over the next 12 months. Following the success of SIS 2024 in Dubai, the second edition is set to take place in Abu Dhabi in December 2025. The move signals SIS's ambition to build an international presence as a platform connecting sport, sustainability and technology. Founded by Bally Singh and Max Palethorpe, HOKO has built a global reputation through its premium hospitality brand Aioka, which delivers high-end experiences for brands like Mclaren, Mercedes-Benz, Red Bull and LVMH at Formula 1 weekends in cities like Monaco, Las Vegas and Singapore. The agency also recently launched HUMAIN, an AI-powered content creation platform developed under Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. 'The collaboration with HOKO marks a pivotal moment for SIS,' said Sean Morris, Co-Founder of Sport Impact Summit. 'Bally and Max's team bring deep domain expertise in delivering world-class experiences at the intersection of sport, hospitality and innovation. The partnership will help accelerate our global expansion and enhance the brand experiences across the Sport Impact Series.' He added that with sustainability becoming an increasingly central theme in global sports and business, the alliance also supports SIS's long-term vision of delivering experiences with lasting value and real-world relevance. 'With innovation in sustainability taking centre stage in global sports and business arenas, this alliance aims to meet growing client demand for authentic and impactful sustainability solutions. HOKO's experiential expertise and deep relationships across elite sports and brand platforms create a high-impact pathway for SIS to deliver its mission worldwide,' he said. 'We've seen first-hand the growing demand from brands, rights holders, and venues to integrate sustainability into their core strategy,' said Balbinder Singh and Max Palethorpe, Founders of HOKO. 'SIS has created a bold and meaningful platform, and we're thrilled to partner with them to scale their vision globally.'
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Dominate the Rest of 2025
Advanced Micro Devices has reported three consecutive quarters of accelerating revenue growth, and the stock is starting to respond. Amazon has a monster opportunity in robotics that isn't reflected in its current valuation. 10 stocks we like better than Advanced Micro Devices › As long-term investors, it's most important to focus on where a company will be in 10 years and invest accordingly. But it's also beneficial to find growth stocks benefiting from catalysts that could send their shares higher in the near term. After falling earlier this year, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) are starting to see their share prices rise. AMD is a leader in supplying artificial intelligence (AI) chips to data centers, while Amazon is benefiting enormously from its increasing use of robotics in its fulfillment centers. Here's what's driving these stocks higher and why they have room to run. Shares of AMD have soared 61% since hitting a 52-week low of $76.48 in April. The company reported its third consecutive quarter of accelerating revenue growth as it prepares to launch new versions of its MI300 series of graphics processing units (GPUs) for data centers. AMD is building momentum. It recently announced an agreement with Saudi Arabia's new AI enterprise HUMAIN to build cost-efficient computing systems using AMD chips to power advanced AI workloads for enterprises, start-ups, and governments. This news comes as AMD is set to launch its MI350 GPU. Its first data center GPU debuted in 2023: the MI300 chip, which raked in $5 billion of revenue last year. The MI350 promises 35 times more throughput and performance than the MI300x, and management said on the first-quarter earnings call that customer interest is "very strong." Oracle is already in line to deploy a large-scale cluster powered by MI355x accelerators for AI workloads. AMD reported a 36% year-over-year increase in revenue in the first quarter, accelerating from a 24% increase in the fourth quarter of 2024. The momentum is catching investors' attention heading into the company's upcoming Advancing AI event, where analysts are expecting it to announce new design wins and potentially new customers for its GPUs. During the first-quarter earnings call, management noted positive customer feedback and plans for broader deployments for its MI400 chip, which is being launched in 2026. Even with the risk that chip export controls might pressure revenue, CEO Lisa Su doesn't see China chip restrictions changing AMD's long-term addressable market, which is estimated at $500 billion. AMD is on track to finish 2025 on a high note. The consensus analyst estimate has earnings per share growing 20% in 2025 before surging 44% in 2026, according to Yahoo! Finance. Given this expectation, the stock's forward price-to-earnings multiple of 31 could support more gains in the near term. Shares of Amazon have rebounded 42% from their 52-week low of $151.76. With analyst estimates calling for record earnings in 2025 and 2026, the stock could be ready to hit new highs in the second half of the year. The company reported a 62% year-over-year increase in earnings in the first quarter. Its growing use of robotics across its fulfillment network is starting to gain attention on Wall Street that could send its stock higher in the second half of 2025. There's no retailer more invested in robotics than Amazon. Since it acquired robotics company Kiva Systems in 2012, Amazon has continued to lean into this technology to improve delivery speeds and efficiency. It has the largest fleet of industrial robots, with over 750,000 across its fulfillment network. This technology is getting very sophisticated, and it uses different types of robots for various tasks. For example, its Vulcan robot knows how much force to apply to an object to avoid damaging it. Amazon says it has several initiatives underway to improve its cost structure. It is reportedly testing the use of humanoid robots for carrying packages from the delivery van to a customer's door. This could be very beneficial to margins in the long run, since the last mile typically accounts for over half of total shipping costs. With AI and robotics getting more advanced every year, now's the time to buy Amazon stock. Robots are only going to get more capable in the coming years, which will increase the number of tasks they can handle in the company's fulfillment centers. This spells massive productivity gains and margin improvement that is not reflected in the stock's current valuation. The shares are trading at 35 times 2025 earnings estimates, which looks very reasonable considering the robust earnings growth over the past year and opportunities for higher margins over the long term. As Wall Street continues to pay attention to Amazon's opportunity in robotics, the stock could climb higher. Before you buy stock in Advanced Micro Devices, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Advanced Micro Devices wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $655,255!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $888,780!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 999% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 174% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Ballard has positions in Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Dominate the Rest of 2025 was originally published by The Motley Fool Error al recuperar los datos Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos
