logo
Rotana Channels, Alibaba Cloud to advance Arabic automatic speech recognition

Rotana Channels, Alibaba Cloud to advance Arabic automatic speech recognition

Arab News04-03-2025

Rotana Channels has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, to enhance Automatic Speech Recognition technology for Arabic languages.
This collaboration aims to focus on fine-tuning ASR capabilities for two key categories: Egyptian dialect and Khaliji Arabic, underscoring Rotana Channels's commitment to innovation in Arabic-language content and the region's technological advancement.
As part of the agreement, Alibaba Cloud will partner with Rotana Channels to co-develop an advanced Arabic Automatic Speech Recognition model by leveraging Alibaba Cloud's trustworthy cloud-based AI technology and Rotana Channels's industry expertise in Arabic languages.
This advanced solution will revolutionize how Arabic speech is recognized and processed, catering to the linguistic diversity and cultural richness of the Arabic-speaking world. In addition, Alibaba Cloud and Rotana Channels will establish a distribution partnership for the Middle East and North Africa region, ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge ASR solutions tailored to the region's specific needs.
As a leading cloud service provider, Alibaba Cloud will also assist Rotana Channels in transitioning its video archive to the cloud, providing a comprehensive and scalable end-to-end solution tailored to Rotana Channels's needs leveraging Alibaba Cloud's secure, scalable and robust cloud infrastructure.
Furthermore, Alibaba Cloud will provide Rotana Channels with access to its cutting-edge film restoration service, leveraging advanced deep learning models.
This collaboration aims to revitalize classic Arabic films and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
Princess Lamia bint Majid, CEO of Rotana Media Group, commented: 'This partnership with Alibaba Cloud marks a significant step in advancing Arabic-language media through cutting-edge AI solutions. As a leader in content production, Rotana Channels remains committed to integrating the latest technologies that enhance audience experiences and support the digital transformation of the industry. By harnessing AI-powered Automatic Speech Recognition and cloud-based solutions, we are not only preserving the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Arabic language but also setting new standards for accessibility and engagement in media production.'
Eric Wan, general manager of the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa, at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating: 'We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Rotana Channels through this memorandum of understanding.
'This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting the digital transformation of the media industry in the Middle East.
'By leveraging Alibaba Cloud's advanced technologies and innovative AI-powered cloud solutions, we aim to enhance Rotana Channels' content delivery and audience engagement, ultimately driving value for their operations and elevating audiences' experience.'
This strategic collaboration highlights Rotana Channels's leading role in advancing digital innovation within the media and entertainment industry.
By integrating advanced technologies with Rotana's vast expertise in Arabic content production, the partnership is poised to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions that meet the evolving demands of the region's audience.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

King Salman Academy to document 52 local Saudi dialects
King Salman Academy to document 52 local Saudi dialects

Saudi Gazette

timea day ago

  • Saudi Gazette

King Salman Academy to document 52 local Saudi dialects

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language revealed that the first phase of the "Aswat Blog" project will document 52 local dialects from various regions of Saudi Arabia, with the possibility of integrating the data into artificial intelligence applications. The blog is still undergoing work on its tools and remains in the development and testing phase. According to the academy, the blog will preserve Saudi dialects, as the project's impact extends to the possibility of integrating data into artificial intelligence applications such as voice recognition and instant translation, facilitating communication and enhancing understanding of dialects used in daily life. It will provide researchers with a robust audio database to study the evolution of dialects and the impact of social and economic factors on them. The blog also seeks to raise public awareness of dialect diversity and strengthen the connection of new generations to their local dialects, in addition to Standard Arabic. According to the academy, the blog preserves Saudi dialect diversity and enables researchers to study it through a suite of analytical tools, most notably a voice detector, a sound map, and a list of common collocations. It also includes a tool for enriching the blog and verifying dialects, available for public use. It is noteworthy that the blog includes a variety of topics, including graphic storytelling, discussion of places, foods, customs and traditions, holidays, everyday situations, and quotes. The academy owns 13 blogs. The Falak Language Blogs platform, a technical platform comprising 13 language blogs supervised by the academy, enables linguistic researchers and data scientists to study linguistic phenomena and develop artificial intelligence applications in the field of Arabic language. It is noteworthy that the Aswat blog was announced by the King Salman Gobal Academy for the Arabic Language in early 2024. This is in line with its strategic plans aimed at supporting the fields of linguistic computing, accelerating the pace of scientific research, enhancing data sources, employing artificial intelligence technologies in Arabic language applications, preserving its integrity, and supporting its pronunciation and writing. This also aims to enhance its global standing, raise awareness of it, and facilitate its teaching and learning within and outside the Kingdom.

SFDA elected to Management Committee of MedDRA, the 6th global regulatory body
SFDA elected to Management Committee of MedDRA, the 6th global regulatory body

Saudi Gazette

time04-06-2025

  • Saudi Gazette

SFDA elected to Management Committee of MedDRA, the 6th global regulatory body

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — In a move that highlights Saudi Arabia's growing prominence in global pharmaceutical governance, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has been officially elected to the Management Committee of the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA). The authority has thus become the sixth regulatory authority worldwide to join this prestigious global medical body. This election marks a pivotal milestone for both Saudi Arabia and the international scientific community, reflecting global confidence in the SFDA's regulatory excellence and the Kingdom's strategic role in advancing international harmonization in drug safety and medical product oversight. MedDRA, developed by the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), is a globally recognized standard for coding and analyzing safety data across the lifecycle of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products. It plays a central role in regulatory communication, post-market surveillance, clinical trial reporting, and signal detection. SFDA's election to the MedDRA Steering committee was confirmed during the ICH Management Committee meeting held in Madrid, Spain, from May 11–12, 2025. With this appointment, SFDA joins a group of regulators, including the European Commission, U.S. FDA, UK MHRA, Health Canada, Japan's MHLW and PMDA, alongside the World Health Organization (WHO), which participates as an observer. This strategic appointment reaffirms SFDA's active leadership within ICH working groups, particularly in the areas of medical terminology and pharmacovigilance. Among its most impactful contributions is the linguistic and technical leadership demonstrated in the translation and validation of over 20,000 MedDRA terms into Arabic—a landmark initiative completed between May and October 2022. This achievement significantly facilitates the implementation of MedDRA across Arabic-speaking regions and enhances inclusive pharmacovigilance throughout the MENA region. For CEOs, scientific leaders, and policymakers, this development signals new opportunities to align regulatory frameworks, accelerate clinical development across the region, and enhance data interoperability. SFDA's presence on the MedDRA Steering Committee is not merely symbolic—it serves as a strategic platform for integrating global safety data, advancing regulatory innovation, and sharing best practices. As Saudi Arabia continues to lead in biopharma localization, digital health, and AI-driven pharmacovigilance, SFDA's role in shaping the evolution of MedDRA is set to reinforce the Kingdom's position at the forefront of global health regulation.

EU warns of retaliation as Trump threatens 50% tariffs on European exports
EU warns of retaliation as Trump threatens 50% tariffs on European exports

Saudi Gazette

time24-05-2025

  • Saudi Gazette

EU warns of retaliation as Trump threatens 50% tariffs on European exports

BRUSSELS — The European Union has warned that it is prepared to defend its economic interests after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a sweeping 50% tariff on all goods imported from the EU starting June 1, escalating tensions between two of the world's largest trading partners. Speaking after a call with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič emphasized the bloc's desire to reach a deal rooted in 'mutual respect, not threats.' 'The EU is fully engaged and committed to securing a trade deal that works for both sides,' Šefčovič said, adding, 'We stand ready to defend our interests.' Trump, growing increasingly frustrated with the pace of negotiations, said Friday that he was 'not looking for a deal' and had already 'set the deal.' He reiterated his plan to enact the tariffs but suggested that major new investments in the U.S. from European firms could influence a delay. The proposed tariffs come amid strained talks and would impact more than $600 billion in goods the EU exports to the U.S. annually. Trump defended the plan by pointing to what he claims is an unbalanced trade relationship, citing the EU's surplus and policies he says disadvantage American farmers and manufacturers. European leaders swiftly condemned the move. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin urged restraint, saying, 'We do not need to go down this road. Negotiations are the best and only sustainable way forward.' France's Foreign Minister Laurent Saint-Martin echoed the call for de-escalation but warned that Europe is 'ready to respond,' while Germany's Economy Minister Katherina Reiche stressed the need to 'do everything' to avoid an all-out trade war. The Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof voiced support for a unified EU position, noting that tariff rhetoric with Washington has fluctuated in the past. The latest threats follow Trump's April announcement of 'reciprocal tariffs' on dozens of countries, including a 20% tariff on most EU goods. Though he temporarily paused those increases until July 8 to allow negotiations to proceed, a baseline 10% tax remains in effect. Meanwhile, the EU has held off on its own retaliatory tariffs, including a proposed 25% levy on $20 billion worth of U.S. goods and additional measures under consultation targeting $95 billion in American imports. Trump has also reignited concerns in the tech sector, warning Apple that a 25% import tax could be imposed on iPhones not manufactured in the U.S., later broadening the threat to include all smartphones. Markets responded nervously to the latest escalation. The S&P 500 closed down 0.7% on Friday, while Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 both fell more than 1.5%. While some of Trump's advisors, including Heritage Foundation economist Stephen Moore, floated the idea of negotiating bilateral deals with individual EU countries, Brussels has reaffirmed that all talks with Washington will continue on a bloc-wide basis. — BBC

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store