Naver's exhibition at the conference, themed 'AI for Saudi Arabia, Powered by Naver,' showcases services currently in use in South Korea that can be adapted for the Saudi market.

The LEAP 2025 Tech Conference is organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, SAFCSP, and Tahaluf Company, aiming to attract industry leaders and decision-makers.

DeepFest, another event, will highlight significant advancements in AI across sectors, featuring live demos and discussions on AI ethics and governance.

Tahaluf aims to remain responsive to emerging technologies, with ambitions to advance innovations in AI, fintech, renewable energy, and biotech in the future.

On February 10, 2025, Saudi Arabia made headlines by announcing a substantial $14.9 billion investment in artificial intelligence during the LEAP 2025 Tech Conference held in Riyadh.

This investment aligns with the growing trend among tech giants like Google, Qualcomm, and Alibaba Cloud, which have initiated various localized AI innovation projects.

In addition to these developments, Lenovo is set to establish a regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia as part of its expansion strategy.

Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, Executive Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Aramco, emphasized the necessity for collaboration among multiple companies to fully leverage AI's potential.

Despite facing U.S. export controls, Groq has successfully secured the necessary licenses to ship its AI chips to Dammam, aimed at enhancing the performance of chatbots and large language models.

Groq's partnership with Aramco Digital, established in December 2024, is focused on developing a significant AI hub in the region.

Han Dong-geun, Naver's public relations officer, highlighted the importance of creating AI models tailored specifically for Saudi Arabia to ensure the country's technological independence.

In a related initiative, Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed Al-Rajhi, launched digital services aimed at improving accessibility, including a Virtual Branch and Digital Childcare Platform.