Humane: Saudi Arabia’s Bold Bid to Lead 7% of Global AI Processing by 2030
In a world increasingly powered by artificial intelligence, few companies have laid out ambitions as bold and transformative as those of Saudi Arabia’s Humane. Founded with a vision to place the Kingdom at the heart of the AI revolution, Humane is rapidly emerging as a global powerhouse in AI infrastructure, talent, and investment.
By 2030, the company aims to process up to 7% of the world’s AI training and inference operations, a staggering goal with an estimated cost of $77 billion. This target would position the firm among the top global players in AI compute, aligning closely with Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 to diversify its economy and become a leader in cutting-edge technology.
Massive Infrastructure Ambitions
In an interview with the Financial Times, Humane’s CEO Tariq Amin outlined the company's roadmap to scale its infrastructure. A cornerstone of the plan is the construction of data centers with a combined capacity of 1.9 gigawatts by the end of the decade. To put that into perspective, this would rival or even exceed the current AI infrastructure capacity of several leading global technology companies.
Achieving this scale requires massive partnerships, and Humane has already struck strategic deals with some of the biggest names in the industry: Qualcomm, NVIDIA, AMD, and Amazon. These collaborations are expected to deliver cutting-edge chips, server technologies, and cloud computing resources to power Humane’s future data centers.
A Strategic Fund and Global Investments
Humane is not just building infrastructure—it’s also seeding the global AI ecosystem. In early 2025, the company announced the launch of a $10 billion venture capital fund, Humane Ventures, aimed at investing in promising AI startups across North America, Europe, and Asia. The goal is to create a global innovation network while ensuring that the best technologies are integrated into Humane’s AI ecosystem.
The fund is expected to support startups working in foundational models, AI hardware, language models, robotics, and edge computing. According to insiders, Humane Ventures is already in talks with dozens of potential investees, including next-generation AI labs and AI-driven enterprise platforms.
U.S. Collaborations and Strategic Dialogues
Humane is also actively pursuing partnerships and equity deals with major U.S.-based AI companies, including Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI, and xAI, the AI startup led by Elon Musk. While the details of these discussions remain confidential, the company hinted that several of the firms involved are “leading names in the global data center sector.”
Furthermore, according to reports, Humane is exploring the sale of a stake in its data center business to American investors. This move could not only secure advanced technical partnerships but also improve regulatory clarity and boost trust in global markets.
Political Backing and Favorable Regulatory Shifts
The rise of Humane coincides with a notable shift in U.S.-Saudi tech relations. Ahead of a high-profile visit by former U.S. President Donald Trump and a coalition of his tech allies, new policy measures were introduced under a Trump-era initiative. These measures allowed American technology suppliers, including NVIDIA and AMD, to enter into agreements with Saudi firms such as Humane.
This geopolitical alignment has played a key role in opening the door for Humane’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies, even amid global tensions over AI and chip export regulations. It also signals growing U.S.-Gulf cooperation in digital infrastructure and innovation.
Humane’s Role in Saudi Vision 2030
The growth of Humane is deeply tied to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country from a fossil-fuel-dependent economy into a diversified, tech-forward society. The AI sector, along with biotechnology, renewable energy, and digital finance, forms a central pillar of this transformation.
Tariq Amin, a seasoned telecom executive and former CTO of Rakuten Mobile in Japan, has been handpicked to lead Humane into its next phase of development. His international experience in building digital infrastructure is considered instrumental in realizing the company’s global ambitions.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its promise, Humane’s ambitions do not come without challenges. The global AI race is intensifying, with the U.S., China, and Europe pouring billions into AI chip manufacturing, model development, and cloud infrastructure. Competing with these giants will require sustained investment, regulatory finesse, and continuous technological upgrades.
Moreover, building and maintaining 1.9 GW of data center capacity involves significant logistical, environmental, and cybersecurity challenges. From energy sourcing to AI model optimization and workforce training, Humane must overcome numerous operational hurdles.
Still, analysts say that Saudi Arabia’s access to capital, land, energy, and strategic partnerships gives it a unique advantage. If executed successfully, Humane could not only process a sizable share of global AI workloads but also serve as a bridge between East and West in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Conclusion
Humane’s strategy is more than just bold; it reflects a larger shift in the global balance of AI power. With strong state support, world-class partners, and a clear roadmap, the Saudi-based company is positioning itself as a future superpower in AI infrastructure and innovation.
If it meets its targets, Humane will not only redefine Saudi Arabia’s role in the AI economy—but may also reshape how AI is trained, deployed, and governed across the world. The next few years will reveal whether this ambitious vision can be translated into technological reality.