LONDON: A new Arabic-language artificial intelligence model called Allam, created and trained in Saudi Arabia, is set for launch this month, according to Tareq Amin, the CEO of the developer, tech company Humain.
He said it was built by a team of 40 Ph.D.-level researchers in the Kingdom, and described it as the best Arabic-language model yet developed for the 350 million people worldwide who speak the language, the majority of whom live in Arab countries.
“This is not just another large language model, it’s proof that the Arab world can innovate, train and deploy AI at a world-class level, according to our own standards,” Amin told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
Allam was designed to understand classical forms of Arabic and regional dialects, he added. It can converse in the Saudi, Egyptian, Jordanian and Lebanese dialects, and understands cultural and political nuances.
The AI model will initially be available through Humain Chat, a free Arabic-language app similar to ChatGPT. Humain, which is part of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, said it has been tested for use in sensitive applications.
“ChatGPT will never have the datasets we do (to develop an Arabic AI),” Amin said. “I want the Arab world to start asking: Why don’t we build a coalition to create AI models that reflect our culture and values?”
The PIF established Humain to lead the Kingdom’s AI strategy, harnessing expertise from Aramco Digital and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority’s National Center for AI.
Amin said he views the launch of Allam as a starting point for ongoing improvement, fueled by user feedback from the Arab world. The company plans to create a marketplace through which developers and businesses can access the AI linguistic model, with a particular focus on government bodies and private-sector organizations in industries such as tourism and healthcare that rely heavily on Arabic for the provision of services.
“(Allam) is the spark that can shift the Middle East’s position in the global digital economy from consumer to creator of original platforms and products,” Amin said.
“We don’t yet have a complete AI ecosystem of developers and companies. We need to believe in our abilities, and the time is now.”
Amin considers AI as “the foundation upon which the entire” Saudi Vision 2023 plan for national development and diversification is being built across various sectors including tourism, healthcare and industry.
He praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s approach to AI as “both visionary and pragmatic,” treating the technology “not as an optional tool but as a necessity for economic growth, citizen empowerment and sector-wide adoption.”
Amin added that Allam is Humain’s flagship model and ultimately the success of the tech company will primarily stem from the people who are part of it, in particular the rich pool of Saudi AI talent.
“Some doubted whether we had the capabilities,” he said. “I told them: come and see for yourself.”
