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NEOM has taken a giant step towards its AI-driven future after announcing a collaboration with tech partners Oracle and NVIDIA on the sidelines of the LEAP23 event in Riyadh. Through its tech subsidiary TONOMOUS, Saudi Arabia’s NEOM will deliver ground-breaking AI across the development.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/technology/neom-announces-ai-technology-partners-at-leap23From left, Jaap Zuiderveld, Vice President EMEA at NVIDIA; Fabio Fontana, CEO of ZeroPoint DC; Nick Redshaw, Senior Vice President – Tech Cloud, Middle East and Africa, Oracle; Joseph Bradley, CEO of TONOMUS
What will life feel like in the city of “new future”?
“The Line” presented as a never seen before state-of-the art city is on its path to overthrow the established way of urban living. As with every other innovation, before it is brought to life, it is beyond challenging to get a glimpse of everyday life in such an environment. Below you will find an imagined interpretation of a normal everyday life in an abnormal city.
A neomian, a resident of the neo city will be at the centre of the cognitive environment that is the “The Line”. By placing the human in the centre surrounded by the elements of eternal sun, constant wind and plentiful water, a truly sustainable city operating fully on renewable energy is created. This green ambition is enabled by the unique and self-sufficient geography of the Neom, more balanced than the rest of the GCC, ranging from sunlit beaches to snowy mountains. As a result, a neomian will be free of cars and public transportation, instead being able to reach all necessities within 5 minutes.
A neomian can expect the “new future” to commence right after the moment of purchasing the flight tickets. As a reactive and autonomous city powered by AI based technology, a neomian will not be subjected to queues at the airport or taxi lines. While the luggage is delivered directly to the relevant address, the taxi powered drone transports a neomian without any manual work required. Once a neomian arrives at the accommodation of choice, the fridge is filled with the necessary ingredients based on the individual choices and preferences. A digital twin of a world-class chef enabled by the robotic arm prepares a dinner of choice.
As a truly inclusive and diverse environment, the neo city allows for creation of a digital twin, mimicking behaviour, reactions and features to assist in cooperation with the fellow neomians. This can be manifested in allowing the digital twin to process your native language and translate to any other language to foster global communication.
If the aforementioned is not revolutionising enough, imagine a way of defying the laws of space and time, by allowing your hologram enabled by remote presence technology to be in two places at once, boosting your efficiency.
The city by the name of The Line reminds us that the only constant in life is change. The new future is here, as efficient, autonomous and transformational as ever before.
References
Podcast: Neom’s head of technology describes his vision for the future city https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl5O_SENW7k&t=82s&ab_channel=TheNationalNews
What is Neom
https://www.neom.com/en-us/about
We now know the names of 12 architecture studios involved in Neom's The Line.
source: https://hoteldesigns.net/2023/12-studios-named-as-architects-on-the-line-in-saudi-arabia/According to Architects’ Journal and later Dezeen, the 12 architecture studios are working on the project include Adjaye Associates, Morphosis, Studio Fuksas and Coop Himmelb(l)au, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, Tom Wiscombe Architecture, Oyler Wu Collaborative, HOK, CHAP, Delugan Meissl Associated Architects and UNStudio.
It is unclear, at present, which studio will be responsible for what. And given that all are refusing to comment, this information is going to, if ever, be revealed at later stages of the build.
Here's a recent review of 'The Line Experience', a traveling exhibition that showcases The Line in the domestic market.
https://www.archpaper.com/2023/02/multimedia-exhibit-riyadh-saudi-arabia-details-neom-linear-city/
The author gives us a thorough overview of the exhibition's five zones and points out the lack of Arabic text in most of them which makes her wonder who this exhibition really targets.
Currently on display in Riyadh until the end of April.
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Peter Cook and Adjaye Associates are among the UK architects working on plans for a 170km-long ‘mega-city’ under construction in Saudi Arabia, part of the NEOM development, the AJ understands.Source: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/peter-cook-and-david-adjaye-working-on-saudi-neom-project-the-lineSections of ‘The LINE Exhibition’ seen by the AJ name 10 other global architects working on plans for The Line. They are: Morphosis, OMA, Peri Cobb Freed & Partners, Studio Fuksas, Tom Wiscombe Architecture, UNStudio, Coop Himmelb(l)au, HOK, Oyler Wu Collaborative, and Delugan Meissl Associated Architects.
US consultancy firm Parsons has been assigned as a major delivery partner for the Line.
Parsons’ framework agreement for consultancy services on The Line includes project and construction management services for the design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the project.
The consulting firm will also manage the project’s critical interfaces with adjacent NEOM projects and logistics.
Construction on The Line at NEOM began in the first quarter of 2021. Its delivery team is expected to reach 6,000 staff at peak between 2025 and 2026.
“The Line is a civilisational revolution inspired by the dream of sustainable urban living in harmony with nature,” said Pierre Santoni, president for the Middle East and Africa at Parsons.
“Closely aligned to Parsons’ own mission of delivering a safer, cleaner, and more connected world, we are proud that as The Line’s delivery partner, our work will not just reshape the region, but will reimagine the future of sustainable urban living around the world.”
Source: https://www.constructionweekonline.com/projects-tenders/parsons-the-line-at-neom
An interesting look at the overall project and how it is being viewed in the US.
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2232971/saudi-arabiaAn exhibition showcasing a smart city being built as part of the NEOM project in northwestern Saudi Arabia has gone on display in Riyadh.
The Line development will be constructed using revolutionary architectural designs and urban planning concepts and the exhibition will run until April 29 at the Diriyah Biennale Foundation for Contemporary Art in Riyadh’s Jax district.