AI News

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8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Alibaba shares spike 12% in Hong Kong as T-Head chips, AI revenue fuel earnings optimism

Alibaba Group Holding's shares surged 13.8% in Hong Kong on Wednesday, driven by analysts' expectations of revenue growth in the June quarter. This increase is attributed to rising demand for artificial intelligence and narrowing losses in food delivery. The stock closed up 12.2% at HK$107.5 (US$13.71). This marks Alibaba's strongest gain this year, reflecting improved performance amid challenging economic conditions. Competitors Tencent Holdings and Meituan also saw their shares rise by 3.8% and 3.3%, indicating a broader recovery in the tech sector.

Arab AI Scene

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

ASUS, Intel open AI Lab in Ibri area

ASUS, in collaboration with Intel and Bahwan Projects & Telecoms, has opened an AI Lab at the Directorate-General of Education in Ibri, Al Dhahirah Governorate. This marks ASUS Education's first AI-focused project in the region, equipping classrooms with AI PCs and rugged Chromebooks. The lab supports Oman's National Program for Artificial Intelligence, showcasing how global hardware makers view education as a gateway into Gulf AI strategies. It aims to enhance youth skills in the region, especially given its proximity to Oman's largest oil field.

Arab AI Scene

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Salam builds innovation ecosystem powering Saudi Arabia’s digital future

Ahmad Al-Anqari, CEO of Salam, discussed how the company's research and innovation centers enhance talent in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. These centers foster collaboration between industry and academia within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, promoting digital transformation in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is increasingly investing in research, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies, strengthening ties between academia and industry. The new research and innovation center in Al-Ahsa builds on the success of the Riyadh center, aiming to enhance collaboration and develop local talent.

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Helping K–12 educators build practical AI skills

What impact will AI skills have on K-12 education?

Infrastructure

DeepSeek examines in-house chip development

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Infrastructure

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

DeepSeek examines in-house chip development

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, is developing its own AI chip to reduce reliance on Nvidia and Huawei processors. According to Reuters, the chip will focus on inference workloads, where trained models generate user responses rather than training new models. The company has been working on this project for about a year and is in talks with external partners, including chip design firms and memory suppliers. They have also increased hiring for chip design engineers, although this has been done privately without public job listings.

Governance

This Former DeepMind Exec Thinks the AI Arms Race Could End in Disaster

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Governance

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

This Former DeepMind Exec Thinks the AI Arms Race Could End in Disaster

Verity Harding spoke to WIRED about concerns regarding the U.S. government's nationalistic stance on artificial intelligence, suggesting it may lead to negative scenarios. Harding argues that this nationalism could hinder international collaboration in AI, limiting innovation and increasing tensions between nations. She also noted that this trend contradicts the urgent need for developing global standards in the field.

Business

Samsung predicts record AI profit

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Business

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Samsung predicts record AI profit

Samsung Electronics has forecast a record operating profit for Q2, with revenues exceeding KRW171 trillion ($113 billion). This surge is attributed to the global demand for AI memory chips, with expected average operating profits of KRW89.4 trillion, a 19-fold increase from KRW4.7 billion in Q2 2025. The company has seen record operating profits for three consecutive quarters, with revenues projected to more than double the KRW74.6 trillion recorded in Q2 2025. This growth comes as semiconductor demand, driven by the AI boom, continues to outpace supply.

Models

OpenAI's GPT-5.6 launches Thursday after a delay forced by the U.S. government

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Models

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

OpenAI's GPT-5.6 launches Thursday after a delay forced by the U.S. government

OpenAI is set to launch GPT-5.6 on Thursday after the U.S. government lifted its release ban following additional testing. Currently, there are no binding standards for future model approvals. OpenAI claims its Sol model outperforms Anthropic's Claude Mythos 5 on coding benchmarks at about half the cost. This launch highlights the significance of innovation in AI, especially amid the absence of regulatory standards. Companies must prepare for intensified competition as new models emerge.

Models

Hot French startup ZML releases free product to speed inference across lots of AI chips

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Models

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Hot French startup ZML releases free product to speed inference across lots of AI chips

French startup ZML, backed by Turing Award winner Yann LeCun, has launched ZML/LLMD software aimed at reducing costs associated with operating AI systems. ZML/LLMD represents a significant advancement in AI, providing innovative solutions to lower operational expenses. The software is expected to enable organizations to utilize AI technologies more efficiently. ZML anticipates that ZML/LLMD will enhance AI adoption across various sectors, potentially driving innovation and improving performance, with considerable implications for both European and global markets.

Arab AI Scene

ASUS, Intel partner with Oman’s Ministry of Education to power education with AI Lab

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

8 Jul 202623 Muharram 1448 AH

ASUS, Intel partner with Oman’s Ministry of Education to power education with AI Lab

ASUS, in collaboration with Intel, has inaugurated an AI lab in the Dhahirah Governorate of Ibri. This marks ASUS's first project of its kind in the region, reflecting the company's commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing AI adoption in education. The lab supports Oman's efforts to develop student skills and empower teachers, with AI playing a central role in Oman Vision 2040. The project aims to position Oman among the leading countries in AI readiness and to build a knowledge-based economy.