BrazilGoogle Cloud and Accenture launch Generative AI Center of Excellence in Saudi Arabia
Google Cloud and Accenture are extending their pan-global Generative AI collaboration into the Saudi market, launching their latest Center of Excellence in the Kingdom’s capital city.
First launched late 2023 in the US, the Generative AI Center of Excellence of Accenture and Google Cloud provides businesses with the industry expertise, technical knowledge, and product resources to build and scale applications using Google Cloud’s generative AI portfolio and accelerate time-to-value.
Fast forward to today, and Accenture and Google Cloud have setup over a dozen such Generative AI Center of Excellences, including in New York, London, Bengaluru, and Sydney. Now, Saudi Arabia has been unveiled as the next location (and first in the Middle East), with the initiative set to provide a major boost to the Kingdom’s generative AI scene.
According to a recent report by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority in collaboration with Accenture, the adoption of generative AI has the potential to increase Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product by 4%, amounting to billions in dollars of value added.
In a statement, Accenture and Google Cloud said that the collaboration will help KSA-based organizations harness the power of generative AI while maintaining data security and compliance through Google’s Dammam cloud region. Experts from both companies will work closely with clients to identify transformative use cases and rapidly develop and scale them in production for advancements.
“We’re bringing new capabilities to the region in order to help Saudi organizations transform how they reinvent products, services and experiences,” said Majid Altuwaijri, Saudi Arabia chair and country managing director at Accenture. “We are unique because our strategy brings together key stakeholders to pioneer digital sovereignty and to develop systems that are not only secure and compliant but also resilient and future ready.”
Bader Almadi, Saudi Arabia country manager at Google Cloud, added: “Organizations need the combination of leading technology and services expertise to successfully deploy generative AI. With Google Cloud’s advanced capabilities and Accenture’s industry expertise, customers will have access to the resources needed to plan, deploy and optimize generative AI projects.”
Local KSA talent
In addition to advancing the uptake and maturity of generative AI, the two executives said that both companies are committed to fostering local talent and skills, which is a key pillar of Saudization in the consulting industry and the Vision 2030 agenda.
Their local collaboration will include training programs (including on Accenture’s LearnVantage), hackathons and hands-on labs to experiment and equip professionals with the necessary skills to capitalize on the potential of cloud and generative AI effectively.
Global reaction
Commenting on the continued roll-out of the Generative AI Center of Excellence worldwide, Karthik Narain, Chief Technology Officer at Accenture, said: “As a catalyst for business reinvention, generative AI will transform how people work and access information.”
“Accenture’s deep expertise in managing and scaling large language models tailored for business needs, paired with tools like Accenture’s technology knowhow, can help accelerate adoption. Our joint investment with Google Cloud can help clients drive quicker business results, as well as long-term value from their generative AI applications.”
