The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia collaborates with Chinese universities to develop Arabic-focused AI system
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia has partnered with two Chinese universities to create an artificial intelligence (AI) system that focuses on the Arabic language. The system, called AceGPT, is a large language model built on Meta’s LlaMA2. It was developed by a Chinese-American professor at KAUST in collaboration with the School of Data Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHKSZ), and the Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data (SRIBD).
AceGPT: An AI Assistant for Arabic Speakers
AceGPT, according to its GitHub page, is designed to function as an AI assistant for Arabic speakers, providing answers to queries in Arabic. However, it may not yield satisfactory results in other languages. The developers have also enhanced the model to identify potential misuse, including handling sensitive information improperly, generating harmful content, spreading misinformation, or failing safety checks.
“We have not conducted an exhaustive safety check on the model, so users should exercise caution. We cannot overemphasize the need for responsible and judicious use of our model.”
Responsible Use and Data Sources
Although AceGPT has been created using open-source data and data crafted by the researchers, users are advised to be responsible in their utilization due to a lack of comprehensive safety checks.
Saudi Arabia’s Pursuit of Technological Leadership
This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as a regional leader in emerging technologies like AI. In recent months, the country’s central bank collaborated with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on tokens and payments, while the Saudi government partnered with the Sandbox metaverse platform to accelerate its metaverse plans. However, U.S. regulators previously urged AI chip manufacturers Nvidia and AMD to limit exports of their high-level semiconductor chips used in AI development to “some” Middle Eastern countries, although they have since denied explicitly blocking exports to the region.
Hot Take: Saudi Arabia and China Join Forces in Developing Arabic-Focused AI
The collaboration between the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and Chinese universities signifies a significant step toward advancing AI capabilities in the Arabic language. The AceGPT system aims to serve as an AI assistant for Arabic speakers, offering answers and support. However, responsible use is strongly emphasized due to limited safety checks. This partnership reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a leader in emerging technologies, including AI. As global collaborations continue to drive innovation, the development of specialized AI systems tailored for specific languages and regions will play a crucial role in shaping the future of technology.
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