Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global AI powerhouse. In this episode, we break down six major deals between the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund-backed startup Humain and US tech giants Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, Cisco, AWS, and Luma.
Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence. In this episode, we break down six major deals between the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund-backed startup Humain and US tech giants Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, Cisco, AWS, and Luma.
Covered in this episode:
1. Nvidia
– 18,000+ Blackwell GPUs for Humain’s AI “factories”
– Part of a multi-year rollout backed by Saudi’s Crown Prince
– Supports a 500 MW hyperscale data center in the Kingdom
Source: Reuters
2. AMD
– $10B partnership to build sovereign-scale AI infrastructure
– Full-stack build: CPUs, GPUs, software, data centers
– Reinforces Saudi’s multi-vendor AI strategy
Source: Bloomberg
3. Qualcomm
– Co-developing a new CPU for AI infrastructure
– Launching a Saudi-based semiconductor design center
– Builds on Qualcomm’s acquisition of Nuvia
Source: Reuters
4. Cisco
– Supporting Humain’s “AI-ready” infrastructure rollout
– Focusing on networking, scalability, and resilience
– Committing to train 500,000 people across Saudi Arabia
Source: ArabNews
5. AWS
– Investing over $5.3B to create an “AI Zone” in Saudi Arabia
– Launching a Generative AI Innovation Center
– Training 10,000 Saudi women in AI and cloud
Source: Reuters
6. Luma
– Teaming with Humain to develop hyperreal generative video platforms
– Focus on cinematic AI, 3D rendering, and real-time content creation
– Supports Saudi ambitions in gaming, media, and culture
Source: TechCrunch
Key takeaway: Saudi funding is actively shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Through Humain, the Kingdom is embedding itself into the core of US-led AI development, from chip design and cloud infrastructure to generative media.
Episode produced by Miret Padovani. Music licensed via Artlist: “Mau Mau – instrumental version,” La Nata. Connect on LinkedIn