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Groq Secures $1.5 Billion Commitment from Saudi Arabia for AI Expansion

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U.S.-based semiconductor startup Groq has secured a $1.5 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to expand the delivery of its advanced AI chips to the country. The Silicon Valley company, founded by a former Alphabet (GOOGL.O) AI chip engineer, specializes in AI inference chips designed to optimize speed and execute commands for pre-trained models.

Groq already has an agreement with Aramco Digital, the tech subsidiary of oil giant Aramco (2222.SE), which helped establish a key AI hub in the region in December. The new investment will be used to expand Groq’s existing data center in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The company’s chips, which are particularly adept at delivering fast responses from large language models and chatbots, are subject to U.S. export controls. However, Groq has confirmed it holds the necessary licenses to ship its chips to Dammam.

The commitment was unveiled during Saudi Arabia’s global tech event, LEAP 2025, where the country secured a total of $14.9 billion in fresh AI investments. The Dammam data center will support Allam, an AI language model developed by the Saudi government, capable of working in both Arabic and English.

Earlier in August, Groq achieved a $2.8 billion valuation after raising $640 million in a funding round led by Cisco Investments, Samsung Catalyst Fund, and BlackRock Private Equity Partners.

Salesforce to Invest $500 Million in AI Ventures in Saudi Arabia

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Salesforce announced on Monday that it plans to invest $500 million in artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the country’s competitive push to attract critical tech investments. The investment will be a key part of Salesforce’s efforts to introduce its Hyperforce platform architecture in the region, leveraging a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The announcement comes amid a global surge in AI investments, as countries ramp up efforts to become leaders in the fast-growing technology. This trend follows a shift in regulatory approaches, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump overturned an executive order that sought to impose restrictions on AI advancements.

In addition to launching Hyperforce, Salesforce will collaborate with major global firms such as Capgemini, Deloitte, Globant, IBM, and PwC to expand the use of its AI product, Agentforce, which is designed for customer service agents. Another key aspect of the plan includes offering Arabic language support for Salesforce’s AI product suite, aiming to make the technology more accessible to local businesses.

Salesforce made this announcement at Saudi Arabia’s global tech event, LEAP 2025, where the country secured $14.9 billion in AI investments. Earlier in the month, Salesforce also revealed plans to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh and to upskill 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030, further cementing its commitment to fostering AI growth in the region.