AWS and HUMAN Strategic Partnership | Cloud News

Amazon and Humain Announce Major AI Partnership in Saudi Arabia

Amazon has revealed plans to collaborate with Humain, a recently established AI firm spearheaded by Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman. This collaboration will involve an investment exceeding $5 billion to establish an “AI Zone” within Saudi Arabia.

Details of the AI Zone

The planned AI Zone will feature specialized Amazon Web Services (AWS) AI infrastructure. This includes dedicated servers, networking capabilities, and comprehensive training and certification programs, as detailed in a recent press release.

Humain has committed to the development of AI solutions leveraging AWS technologies. They will also work in conjunction with AWS to facilitate access to essential tools and programs for AI startups located in Saudi Arabia.

Growing Investment in Saudi AI

AWS is now among a growing list of technology leaders, including Nvidia and AMD, who are partnering with Humain. Funding for Humain is provided by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The PIF has become an increasingly important source of capital for American technology companies. Both Google and Salesforce have recently engaged in AI-focused projects and investments with the PIF.

U.S. Government Support for Tech Deals

A U.S.-Saudi investment forum was held on Tuesday, attended by former President Donald Trump and prominent figures from the tech industry. A new initiative from the Trump administration allows U.S. technology suppliers, such as Nvidia and AMD, to finalize agreements with Saudi Arabian companies.

Data Localization Requirements

Saudi Arabia is now requiring AI companies and service providers to store data within the kingdom. This mandate is driving vendors to establish local facilities to maintain contract eligibility.

Both Google and Oracle have announced expansion plans in the region within the last year to meet these requirements.

Amazon’s Broader Investment in Saudi Arabia

In early March of last year, Amazon initially pledged billions of dollars towards data center development in Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, the company stated it is allocating approximately $5.3 billion to create an AWS region within the kingdom, anticipated to be operational by 2026.

Amazon clarified that the AI Zone commitments represent an “additional investment” separate from the existing $5.3 billion allocation. However, it remains uncertain whether Amazon’s contribution to the AI Zone will be sourced from the previously announced funding tranche.

Seeking Clarification

TechCrunch has contacted Amazon for further clarification regarding the funding sources. This article will be updated upon receiving a response.