News

Smartphones Dominate The Saudi Online Gaming Sector

Around 73% of gamers use smartphones in the Kingdom to play online, according to a YouGov survey.

Published

9 months ago

August 17, 2023

Nour Nasir

smartphones dominate the saudi online gaming sector

Gamers8

By 2026, the global gaming market is projected to surpass $200 billion in value, with mobile devices continuing to dominate the sector.

As in many other markets, smartphones are the gaming device of choice for Saudi Arabians, with nearly three-quarters of users (73%) preferring portability and convenience over consoles and PCs.

UK-based research firm YouGov found that game consoles like Microsoft’s Xbox, Sony’s PlayStation, and Nintendo’s Switch were favored by 34% of gamers, with desktops and laptops recording a 33% score. Meanwhile, high-end gaming PCs were preferred by just 14% of users.

On how much time is spent gaming per week, the biggest portion of respondents (22%) admitted they spend about 3-6 hours per day, YouGov found.

“Although mobile devices have opened the gates to casual gaming in a big way, the likes of Xbox and PlayStation continue to appeal to gaming enthusiasts, with a third of weekly gamers using dedicated gaming consoles to play video games. Men are more likely than women to say this,” YouGov analysts explained.

Like citizens in most other developed nations, social media interaction remains the top online activity for Saudi Arabians, with 41% of those surveyed engaged in it, according to experts. As you’d imagine, the likes of YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime came in next, dominating the rankings ahead of other activities like checking emails and general browsing.

Also Read: Top 10 Best Video Games Set In The Middle East

As for online gaming, Saudi Arabia’s government will be pleased with the survey’s findings, as the country plans to develop 30 new gaming titles locally and create around 40,000 jobs by 2030 as part of a program known as the National Gaming and Esports Strategy.

Last month, the Kingdom began hosting Gamers8, one of the world’s largest gaming festivals, which YouGov found to be well received by residents. Saudi Arabia’s online gaming industry also received a boost with $488 million of funding from the Saudi Esports Federation, the National Development Fund, and the Social Development Bank, announced at Riyadh’s Leap Technology Conference back in February.

News

Meet JAIS Chat: The AI-Powered Chatbot For Arabic Speakers

The AI-driven mobile app was created by Core42 and offers seamless cross-language communication and advanced AI assistance.

Published

23 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Nour Nasir

meet jais chat the ai powered chatbot for arabic speakers

Emirates News Agency

Core42, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s G42 specializing in sovereign cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and AI infrastructure, has launched JAIS Chat, a mobile app for iOS.

Developed to cater to the increasing demand for Generative AI capabilities in the Middle East, the user-friendly chatbot serves both English and Arabic speakers, understanding various local dialects and cultural subtleties.

JAIS Chat allows seamless translation and cross-language communication on a large scale, leveraging AI to empower Arabic speakers worldwide. With its mobile version, JAIS Chat brings accessibility, efficiency, and convenience to users’ daily interactions, providing AI-driven assistance wherever they go.

Powered by JAIS 30B, the world’s leading Arabic Large Language Model (LLM), JAIS Chat boasts unparalleled Arabic language processing and accuracy. Core42 claims that the chatbot now rivals top-performing English language models of a similar size.

Andrew Jackson, Chief AI Officer at Core42, said, “Since the inception of JAIS in August 2023, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, and with the recent launch of JAIS 30B, we’ve witnessed a significant enhancement in its performance metrics compared to its predecessor, JAIS 13B. With its Arabic-first approach, JAIS reshapes how bilingual individuals interact with technology, and with JAIS Chat for mobile, we are delivering the next advancement in our mission to democratize AI access for the world”.

Also Read: Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide

JAIS Chat is now poised to revolutionize various sectors across the wider Middle East, from government communications to customer service automation with AI-powered functionalities that also include chat summarization and new content generation.

Future updates will integrate document processing, customizable user settings, voice conversation capabilities, and enterprise support for businesses seeking tailored AI solutions.

Apple users can download the chatbot on the App Store. If you’re interested in taking a more detailed look under the hood, click here.