Aramco, the giant Saudi Arabian integrated energy and chemical company, has been in the telecoms news recently after announcements of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AMD and plans for handset innovation with Qualcomm.
High-performance and adaptive computing specialist AMD has signed an MoU with Aramco relating to the evaluation and use of AMD’s products and technology to, among other things, accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) for specific industrial workloads.
Key areas of focus include leveraging high-performance AMD graphics processing unit (GPU) and central processor unit (CPU) capabilities, exploring industrial edge AI deployment, cloud strategy, AI/machine learning, predictive analytics, and data centre modernisation. Additional areas for potential collaboration include training on AMD ROCm (a software stack for graphics processing unit programming) as well as evaluating AMD AI capabilities for operational optimisation and digital twin technologies in the energy sector.
Aramco embarked on a digital transformation program in 2017, aiming to drive greater efficiency, accelerate innovation, build a digital-savvy workforce, and create new employment opportunities. The potential collaboration with AMD reflects Aramco’s aim to continue exploring technologies such as AI, big data, and predictive analytics to help make its operations more productive, efficient, and sustainable.
Meanwhile at the ongoing tech show LEAP 2025 in Saudi Arabia, Qualcomm and Aramco Digital, the digital and technology subsidiary of Aramco, have announced a collaboration to develop the world’s first AI-enabled industrial 5G smartphones with native support for the 450MHz spectrum.
As the partners explain, support for 450MHz spectrum allows 5G IoT devices, edge computing and end users to connect to a new generation of AI-enabled industrial applications. The initial focus will be on advanced industrial solutions for Aramco Digital’s parent company Aramco.
The new industrial smartphones will be powered by the Qualcomm QCM8550 and QCM6490 processors, which provide native support for 5G in 450MHz. These processors are designed to provide ubiquitous connectivity to intelligent edge devices, enabling superior communication and data transfer in industrial settings.