AI News

Follow the latest AI and automation news

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

DeepSeek Raises AI Service Prices, Sparking Cost Concerns

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, announced price increases for its services, with hikes ranging from 50% to 1,100% depending on the model. The new pricing took effect on August 16, 2026, with different rates applied during peak and off-peak times. This move comes as AI companies aim to convert rising usage of their models into revenues that align with high operational costs. However, the subscription prices for average users have not increased proportionately, as the API is primarily targeted at businesses and developers.

Business

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

DeepSeek Raises AI Service Prices, Sparking Market Concerns

DeepSeek, a Chinese company, announced a price increase for access to its new models via the API, effective August 16, 2026. The increases range from 50% to 1,100% depending on the model and usage type, raising questions about the future of low-cost AI. The new pricing primarily targets companies and developers, while ordinary user subscriptions remain less affected. This move comes as AI companies seek to generate revenue that aligns with high operational costs and significant investments in the sector.

Agents

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Building trustworthy agentic AI: How security concerns have changed in 2026

Srikrishna Shankavaram, Head of AI Security at Zebra Technologies, discusses the delicate balance between securing digital agents and managing them. By 2026, AI agent projects are expected to transition from speculation to real-world deployment, yet a forecast suggests that 40% of these projects may be canceled by the end of 2027 due to rising costs and unclear business value.

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e& launches its first AI-powered enterprise laptop in the UAE

What impact will the new laptop have on businesses in the UAE?

Arab AI Scene

Oracle showcases AI innovation for Saudi Vision 2030 at LEAP 2026

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Oracle showcases AI innovation for Saudi Vision 2030 at LEAP 2026

Oracle will showcase how it accelerates Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 through AI and cloud innovation at LEAP 2026. The company will demonstrate how organizations can securely and effectively utilize AI through a comprehensive cloud solution stack. Additionally, Oracle will highlight its initiative aimed at equipping 50,000 Saudis with essential digital skills.

Models

OpenClaw 2.0 brings simplified setup, a rebuilt browser app, and multiplayer sessions

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Models

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

OpenClaw 2.0 brings simplified setup, a rebuilt browser app, and multiplayer sessions

The OpenClaw Foundation has announced the release of version 2.0 of its open-source platform, marking its largest release to date with over 16,000 pull requests. New features include cloud sessions on rented machines, real-time collaboration, and a completely rebuilt browser app. The software now automatically detects existing resources like API keys and AI subscriptions during setup. This release represents a significant step towards simplifying the platform's setup, making it easier for developers to utilize AI tools more efficiently and enhancing collaboration among teams on their projects.

Arab AI Scene

HP brings Garage 2.0 AI startup incubator to Saudi Arabia

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

HP brings Garage 2.0 AI startup incubator to Saudi Arabia

HP Inc. has launched HP Garage 2.0 in Saudi Arabia, an incubator aimed at helping startups develop AI solutions, announced on the first day of LEAP 2026. The incubator brings together startups, educators, and industry partners to support skills development and innovation across the Kingdom. This initiative arrives at a time when the Saudi market is experiencing increased activity in the AI startup ecosystem. This project reflects HP's ongoing commitment to innovation, education, and digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, aiming to equip Saudi innovators with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to turn their ideas into real-world impact.

Infrastructure

OpenAI and rival AI labs are buying tens of thousands of Mac minis to train computer-use agents

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Infrastructure

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

OpenAI and rival AI labs are buying tens of thousands of Mac minis to train computer-use agents

Reports indicate that OpenAI has purchased tens of thousands of Mac minis and Mac Studios to train AI agents. The high demand for these devices has led to the most powerful models being sold out for months, highlighting the increasing need for AI technologies. This move is significant in the context of competition between OpenAI and other companies like Anthropic, as Apple's Mac revenue surged by 29% to $10.4 billion in the last quarter.

Arab AI Scene

Qualcomm opens Riyadh office in Gulf AI push

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Qualcomm opens Riyadh office in Gulf AI push

Qualcomm, a US-based company, announced the opening of its new office in Riyadh on August 30, 2026, reflecting its regional AI strategy. The soft launch was attended by Wassim Chourbaji, President of Qualcomm EMEA, and Saeed AlDobas, Executive Vice President at Saudi Arabia's PIF-owned AI company HUMAIN. Qualcomm aims to reposition itself from a mobile chip supplier to a full-stack AI solutions provider, with Saudi Arabia serving as a key testing ground for this transition. This opening follows a year of rapid growth in Saudi Arabia and strengthens the partnership with HUMAIN, which includes AI data centers and cloud infrastructure.

Arab AI Scene

Europe Expands AI Supercomputer Network with €387.8 Million Project

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

31 Aug 202619 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Europe Expands AI Supercomputer Network with €387.8 Million Project

Europe has announced a €387.8 million project with French company Bull to build a new supercomputer named Lumi-AI. This contract marks the largest in the company's history and aims to enhance AI computing capabilities by tenfold compared to the current Lumi supercomputer. Lumi-AI will be installed at the high-performance computing center in Kainuu, Finland, with operations expected to commence in the second half of 2027. The project is supported by the Euro HPC initiative and aims to benefit researchers and startups across Europe.