Saudi oil giant Aramco has introduced new initiatives to advance the development and implementation of sophisticated digital solutions across its operations. These announcements were made at the Global AI Summit (GAIN), taking place at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.
Aramco’s Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation, Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, noted that new digital technologies like generative AI and the Industrial Internet of Things are anticipated to revolutionize not just their work processes but also the broader commercial landscape. He emphasized that Aramco is at the forefront of implementing these technologies on an industrial scale to create substantial value throughout its operations. He also mentioned that the company’s history of innovation motivates them to continue leveraging emerging technologies to support the Kingdom’s aspirations of becoming a global leader in AI.
Strategic partnerships for innovation
During the summit, Aramco formalized partnerships by signing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Cerebras Systems and FuriosaAI to explore collaborative opportunities in supercomputing and AI. Additionally, an MoU with Rebellions aims to investigate the potential integration of the company’s Neural Processing Unit chips within Aramco’s data centers, enhancing digital infrastructure and fostering advanced AI innovations.
Advancements in AI capabilities
Aramco also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SambaNova Systems to explore opportunities for speeding up AI capabilities, fostering innovation, and promoting adoption across the Kingdom. In addition, the company unveiled the launch of an AI supercomputer, among the first of its kind in the region. Powered by some of the most advanced NVIDIA graphical processing units (GPUs), this system is engineered to accelerate complex computational tasks, including the analysis of drilling plans and geological data to suggest optimal well placements.
Deployment of GenAI solutions
In collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Aramco is also initiating the deployment of industrial generative AI solutions at the edge, which are geared towards improving facility monitoring, predictive maintenance, and the utilization of autonomous drones.
Read more: Italy’s Saipem secures $1 billion in two major offshore contracts with Saudi Aramco
Comprehensive digital strategy
These initiatives are integral to Aramco’s comprehensive strategy to integrate state-of-the-art digital solutions across its operations. This builds upon the company’s introduction of the Saudi Accelerated Innovation Lab (SAIL)—a national initiative aimed at transforming innovative concepts into functional products—and its Global AI Corridor ecosystem. Aramco’s efforts have already resulted in the development of its first large language model (LLM) tailored for industrial AI applications, alongside the launch of the Eye on AI Program, which seeks to establish strong AI cybersecurity governance, equip users with essential cybersecurity skills, and adapt to the rapidly changing digital environment.
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