In a groundbreaking collaboration, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia has joined forces with two prominent Chinese universities to birth a specialized artificial intelligence (AI) system named AceGPT, designed to cater to the Arabic-speaking population.
AceGPT, a significant leap in AI technology, is a large language model (LLM) that harnesses the power of Meta’s LlaMA2 framework. This innovative endeavour was initiated by a Chinese-American professor at KAUST in conjunction with the School of Data Science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHKSZ), and the Shenzhen Research Institute of Big Data (SRIBD).
The primary goal of AceGPT is to serve as an AI assistant tailored specifically for Arabic speakers, adept at comprehending and responding to queries in the Arabic language. However, it is important to note that the model may not yield satisfactory results when employed for languages other than Arabic.
To ensure responsible and safe usage, the developers of AceGPT have taken stringent measures. The model has been fine-tuned to detect potential misuse, including mishandling sensitive information, generating harmful content, perpetuating misinformation, or failing safety protocols. Despite these precautions, the project emphasizes the necessity for users to exercise caution due to the absence of exhaustive safety checks.
In a candid statement, the project team emphasized, “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.”
AceGPT’s creation draws from a blend of open-source data and data meticulously curated by the dedicated researchers involved in the project.
This remarkable development aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a regional frontrunner in emerging technologies, with a particular focus on AI. Recent collaborations, such as the partnership between the central bank of Saudi Arabia and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on tokens and payments in July, underscore the nation’s commitment to technological advancement.
In a separate instance earlier this year, the Saudi government forged a partnership with the Sandbox metaverse platform, signaling its determination to accelerate metaverse-related initiatives.
It’s worth noting that there has been international attention on the export of high-level semiconductor chips, crucial for AI development, to certain Middle Eastern countries. In August, U.S. regulators issued guidance to AI chip manufacturers, including Nvidia and AMD, urging them to exercise restraint in exporting such chips to “some” Middle Eastern nations. However, it’s essential to clarify that U.S. regulators have not explicitly blocked AI chip exports to the Middle East, dispelling earlier uncertainties surrounding the issue.
