Google is set to establish a new AI-focused data center in Saudi Arabia, despite its lagging progress on climate commitments and Saudi Arabia’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels. According to a joint announcement by Google and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the AI hub will focus on developing Arabic AI models and AI applications specific to Saudi needs. This move comes after Google, in 2020, halted the development of algorithms for oil and gas production and, in 2021, pledged to cut emissions by half by 2030.
A Google spokesperson stated that the project aligns with the company’s existing sustainability goals, although the decision has raised questions among environmental advocates.
Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company, has already incorporated AI extensively into its operations, reporting a 15% increase in production in one field due to AI-driven optimization.
While neither Google nor the Saudi Public Investment Fund provided details on the “Saudi-specific AI applications,” industry experts speculate that, given the central role of fossil fuels in the Saudi economy, the new data center’s AI algorithms could potentially be applied to oil and gas production.
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