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Arab News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia ranks 15th globally in AI research output
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has ranked 15th globally in artificial intelligence research output for 2025, driven by the volume of academic publications, according to a new report. The Kingdom produced 29,639 AI-related publications, placing it among the top contributors to global AI research and highlighting its emerging role as a regional technology leader. This performance places Saudi Arabia ahead of several long-established research hubs, including the Netherlands, Singapore, and Russia, as well as Switzerland and Sweden, according to the newly released Global AI Competitiveness Index. Dmitry Kaminskiy, general partner at Deep Knowledge Group, said: 'Saudi Arabia's ranking aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives, reinforcing the country's commitment to developing a sustainable, diversified knowledge-based economy.' He added: 'With AI being a central pillar in the nation's development plans, the findings of our report pave the way for continued excellence and leadership in the field.' The Global AI Competitiveness Index, jointly developed by the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group, evaluated more than 2 million AI-related scientific papers and invention patents worldwide. The report measures countries based on both the quantity and impact of their AI research contributions. The Kingdom's output translates to over 823 AI publications per million people, which reflects its ongoing efforts to strengthen its scientific and technological landscape. 'Saudi Arabia's AI research output is a testament to the country's commitment to becoming a leader in technology and innovation. The Kingdom's strategic investments in AI infrastructure and talent development are already yielding impressive results, setting the stage for further advancements,' Kaminskiy added. The research milestone comes amid broader gains in global AI competitiveness. In the 2024 Global AI Index by Tortoise Media released in September, Saudi Arabia climbed 17 positions to rank 14th overall, overtaking the UAE as the leading Arab nation in AI. The index, which evaluates countries on factors such as research, talent, infrastructure, and government policy, also reaffirmed the Kingdom's top global ranking in the government strategy category. Global trends The Global AI Competitiveness Index report also underscores broader international trends, with Mainland China leading in total volume of AI papers — reporting a 696 percent increase over the past decade to reach 769,000 publications. Japan and South Korea's entry into the global top 10 further reflects the growing dominance of East Asia in the international AI research landscape, the report noted. Saudi Arabia has also been ranked 24th globally in AI patent output. With a total of 1,189 AI-related patents filed, the Kingdom is continuing to build its innovation capacity in parallel with its growing research footprint. While its absolute patent count remains modest compared to leading nations, the ranking reflects the country's early but expanding efforts in technological commercialization and intellectual property development within AI. In terms of AI patents per million people, Saudi Arabia reported a rate of 35, placing it ahead of larger economies such as Russia with 6.4, and India with 3.1, but still trailing far behind global leaders like South Korea, 2,317.9, Japan, 1,751.2, and the US, 1,365.2.
The Guardian
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The week in audio: Die Die DEI; Drama on 4: The Film; Good Hang with Amy Poehler; Confessions of a Female Founder and more
The Slow Newscast: Die Die DEI (Tortoise Media)Drama on 4: The Film (Radio 4) | BBC SoundsGood Hang with Amy Poehler (The Ringer)Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan (Lemonada)Working Hard, Hardly Working (Grace Beverley) | Apple podcasts The Slow Newscast is usually worth a listen. Take Die Die DEI, from the week before last. Queasy and pointed, it tackles the issue of the Trump administration's 'war on woke'. As soon as the orange man-baby got into office, his government started shutting down inclusion programmes, and corporate US followed. Why? It's not about saving money, or terminology-wrangling. It's far more deeply prejudiced. Written and presented by Stephen Armstrong, the show focuses on one particular member of the Trump administration: the deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, Stephen Miller. Described baldly by one contributor as 'a violently rightwing racist who is pushing a white nationalist agenda', he is far from a nice guy. But Armstrong is wise enough to tell Miller's story gradually. He was brought up in liberal, multiracial Santa Monica, California. Yet as a kid he dumps one of his friends by telling him exactly why he doesn't like him. 'Among that list of things,' recalls the friend, 'was my Latino heritage. That was one of the things that disqualified me from being his friend.' We follow Miller through his college years, a controversial rape case (not his: he supported some lacrosse players who were falsely accused of sexual assault) and into the Senate. There, he uses the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) approach against itself, telling white people that they are, in fact, victims. 'Hijacked victimhood' is what it's called: the idea that your lifestyle – your life – is put in a precarious position because other people are different from you. The way Miller plays it, it's a zero-sum game. You must triumph and 'they' – people not like you – must be vanquished. Armstrong's script is excellent. I could quote from any part of the show, but he really hits his stride towards the end. 'Don't get distracted by absurdities. This administration is throwing out so many bouncing, multicoloured balls that it's almost impossible to focus on what's important. The trick is to watch Stephen Miller. When he says something, it matters… The truth is, his views haven't changed since he dumped his best friend for being Latino.' There's something at once modern and classic about Armstrong's script, and I thought about this while listening to Drama on 4: The Film, a small gem of a radio play about a movie. Its subject is a true story. In 1945, Sidney Bernstein, a film-maker and producer, was given hundreds of hours of footage from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Shot by British army crews for the Ministry of Information, the footage was basic but devastating, full of appalling, cruel, hellish murder. How to make this into a film that would both engage and expose the public to the horrors of the Holocaust? How to do justice to the suffering? Amazingly, Bernstein asked Alfred Hitchcock to help. And Hitch, initially reluctant, said yes. Written by Martin Jameson, The Film is a Radio 4 drama of ye olde school: rather stagey, with theatrical speeches and performances. But it's also nicely paced, well acted, clear, moral. I found myself almost relieved that it exists. Not just because it's about the Holocaust, which should never be forgotten, but because it's an interesting real-life story that's a play, as opposed to an episode of a clever news podcast. Old-fashioned audio. Here's an example of new-fashioned audio, and it's one that promises much. Amy Poehler, delightfully funny comedian and actor, has decided 'about four or five years too late' to give us a podcast. The pitch for Good Hang with Amy Poehler must have had producers drooling: Poehler simply scrolls her contacts list, calls up a famous mate and has a chat, avoiding anything controversial in favour of having a laugh. Her first episode was with Tina Fey, who, being Tina Fey, took over and gave us insight (she works 12 hour days, plus 'homework' in the evening) and wit (she's worried about becoming one of those older Hollywood types who just 'tells it like it is'). But, God, it only takes a couple of episodes before we find ourselves riding on fumes. All is slapdash and self-congratulatory. An episode with actor Ike Barinholtz gives us almost nothing. There's a passing reference to him getting in an ecstasy mess in Amsterdam when he was younger, but we breeze past, and by the end of the show we know him no better. In every episode, Poehler enthuses so much about her guest – to their face! – that it feels performative. She laughs too much and for too long. Are these incredibly successful, creative, funny people so insecure that they need bolstering every other sentence? (Yes, clearly.) In a similar vein, please welcome Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's latest podcast venture, Confessions of a Female Founder. Actually, don't bother, unless OMG-yes-sister-and-you-look-so-good-while-doing-it is your thing. Honestly, I think it's just how they talk over there. Their idea of a good hang, or a good podcast, is different from ours, and involves a lot less piss-taking. Meghan's first show is with Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of dating app Bumble, but, nope, we don't learn anything much, except about how Megs and Whits met (it was NYE and Wolfe Herd was wearing a rhinestone cowboy costume! The embarrassment!) and how supportive they are of each other. If you want a decent podcast from a 28-year-old entrepreneur who's already built three companies and is generous with her business tips, then I recommend Grace Beverley's Working Hard, Hardly Working, now on episode 133. She also interrupts her guests too much to talk about her own life, but you get far more corporate insight and life practicality. The world, it seems, is full of these frantically perfectionist, success-obsessed, greige-swathed young women trying to get their life to work. I'd say relax, but they can't.
The Guardian
07-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
More information about the Observer moving to Tortoise Media
Ownership of the Observer is transferring from Guardian News & Media Limited to Tortoise Media Limited. This will be effective from Tuesday 22 April 2025. Subscribers who receive only the Observer newspaper on a Sunday will have their subscription transferred to Tortoise Media. These subscribers will not need to take any action as a result of this change, and will continue to receive or pick up their Observer newspapers on Sundays as usual. Customers whose subscriptions include Guardian and Observer products – for example a Weekend or Everyday package – will remain Guardian customers, and will also not need to take any action. For customers whose subscription includes the Observer newspaper and digital benefits, this also applies. We are sending out an email and letter to any affected Observer-only customers. If you have not received either of these communications, please contact From completion after 22 April 2025, Guardian will continue to assist Tortoise Media in the delivery of Observer subscriptions, this means: Home deliveries will continue as normal Guardian vouchers and subscription cards remain valid You should continue to contact the Guardian's customer service team for help with any queries relating to your subscription You should continue to manage your subscription (including arrangement of holiday stops) through your Guardian account. You can log-in to your Guardian account at If you are an Observer-only subscriber, you will hear from Tortoise Media after 22 April. For more information about the new owners of the Observer, you can visit their website here. From 22 April 2025, Tortoise Media will be the new publisher of the Observer, with full independent editorial control. If you have any comments about editorial matters you can contact the Observer via the Tortoise Media website: If you are an Observer only subscriber and would like to cancel, you can follow the guidance here. For more information on the Tortoise's bid to buy the Observer: For any editorial questions or complaints:
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Neil Gaiman says nanny's allegations are 'a sham'
Author Neil Gaiman has described allegations of sexual assault made against him by a former nanny as "a sham" and "invented". The Good Omens writer has filed a response to a lawsuit that was lodged against him and his ex-wife Amanda Palmer in February. Scarlett Pavlovich accused Gaiman of raping and assaulting her while she was working for his family in New Zealand in 2022, and is seeking at least $7m (£5.6m) damages. "In no uncertain terms, Pavlovich's accusations are false," his filing said. "The sexual scenarios she describes deliberately in graphic detail are invented. Any sexual conduct that occurred was in all ways consensual." Gaiman's legal papers also included WhatsApp messages which he says back up his case, in which Ms Pavlovich thanked him for a "lovely lovely night" and told him their relationship was "consensual". The British author's lawyers also said New Zealand police "thoroughly investigated" Ms Pavlovich's claims but found "no merit" in them and declined to file charges. In her lawsuit, Ms Pavlovich said she was befriended by Palmer when she was 22 and homeless in New Zealand. She was repeatedly assaulted by Gaiman after she started working for the couple, she claims. Ms Pavlovich alleges the former couple violated laws on federal human trafficking, with complaints of assault, battery and inflicting emotional distress against Gaiman and negligence against Palmer. Ms Pavlovich first made her allegations public in a Tortoise Media podcast in summer 2024, and was also one of eight women who made claims of assault, abuse and coercion to New York Magazine in January. In response to that article, Gaiman said: "I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever." A spokesman for Palmer has said: "While Ms Palmer is profoundly disturbed by the allegations that Mr Gaiman has abused several women, at this time her primary concern is, and must remain, the wellbeing of her son and therefore, to guard his privacy, she has no comment on these allegations." Ms Pavlovich filed a lawsuit against Gaimain and Palmer in Wisconsin, and against Palmer in Massachusetts and New York. As well as insisting her allegations are untrue, Gaiman's lawyers say US courts do not have authority to adjudicate her lawsuit because the alleged assaults happened in New Zealand.
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Neil Gaiman says nanny's allegations are 'a sham'
Author Neil Gaiman has described allegations of sexual assault made against him by a former nanny as "a sham" and "invented".The Good Omens writer has filed a response to a lawsuit that was lodged against him and his ex-wife Amanda Palmer in Pavlovich accused Gaiman of raping and assaulting her while she was working for his family in New Zealand in 2022, and is seeking at least $7m (£5.6m) damages."In no uncertain terms, Pavlovich's accusations are false," his filing said. "The sexual scenarios she describes deliberately in graphic detail are invented. Any sexual conduct that occurred was in all ways consensual." Gaiman's legal papers also included WhatsApp messages which he says back up his case, in which Ms Pavlovich thanked him for a "lovely lovely night" and told him their relationship was "consensual".The British author's lawyers also said New Zealand police "thoroughly investigated" Ms Pavlovich's claims but found "no merit" in them and declined to file her lawsuit, Ms Pavlovich said she was befriended by Palmer when she was 22 and homeless in New Zealand. She was repeatedly assaulted by Gaiman after she started working for the couple, she Pavlovich alleges the former couple violated laws on federal human trafficking, with complaints of assault, battery and inflicting emotional distress against Gaiman and negligence against Pavlovich first made her allegations public in a Tortoise Media podcast in summer 2024, and was also one of eight women who made claims of assault, abuse and coercion to New York Magazine in response to that article, Gaiman said: "I'm far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever."A spokesman for Palmer has said: "While Ms Palmer is profoundly disturbed by the allegations that Mr Gaiman has abused several women, at this time her primary concern is, and must remain, the wellbeing of her son and therefore, to guard his privacy, she has no comment on these allegations."Ms Pavlovich filed a lawsuit against Gaimain and Palmer in Wisconsin, and against Palmer in Massachusetts and New well as insisting her allegations are untrue, Gaiman's lawyers say US courts do not have authority to adjudicate her lawsuit because the alleged assaults happened in New Zealand.
