Jammu, April 29 -- Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in artificial intelligence as it aims to diversify its oil-dependent economy and become a leading player in the AI field. Top tech executives recently gathered in the desert outside Riyadh for the massive Leap conference, where over $10 billion in deals were signed as the kingdom offered its deep pockets to attract international companies.

Hosting hundreds of thousands of attendees, the conference highlighted Saudi Arabia's determination to build a domestic tech sector. Amazon CEO Adam Selipsky announced a major new investment in cloud computing and AI, praising the "lifetime friendship" between his company and the country. Other industry leaders from firms like IBM, Huawei and TikTok ...