Trump, Musk, Altman, and Zuckerberg converge for a summit while a Saudi prince launches an AI venture

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made a strategic leap into artificial intelligence with the launch of Humain, a state-backed AI company poised to transform the Kingdom’s technological capabilities. This ambitious venture represents more than just another tech startup—it’s a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify its oil-dependent economy and establish itself as a global AI leader.

Inside the Humain Initiative

Infrastructure Development

Massive data center construction across strategic Saudi locations
Cloud computing capabilities to rival global hyperscalers
AI research facilities with cutting-edge hardware

Financial Backing

Funded by Saudi Arabia’s $940 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF)
Part of broader $40 billion AI investment plan announced earlier this year
Positions Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest AI investor

The Geopolitical Context

High-Profile AI Summit Coincidence

The Humain launch coincides with a major U.S.-Saudi investment forum attracting tech titans:

Elon Musk (Tesla, xAI, SpaceX)
Sam Altman (OpenAI)
Mark Zuckerberg (Meta)
President Trump’s scheduled visit to the region

Strategic Partnerships

American tech giants are already engaging with Saudi’s AI ambitions:

Google’s cloud partnership with Saudi Aramco
Salesforce’s Middle East expansion
Microsoft’s $2.1 billion Saudi cloud investment

Why This Matters for Global Tech

1. Shifting AI Power Centers

Saudi Arabia’s move challenges traditional tech hubs, offering:

Alternative funding sources beyond Silicon Valley VCs
Geopolitical neutrality in US-China tech tensions
Energy advantages for power-intensive AI operations

2. Economic Transformation

The PIF’s strategy mirrors successful sovereign wealth plays:

SoftBank Vision Fund model at national scale
Norway’s oil fund approach applied to tech
Singapore’s Temasek -style strategic investing

3. Technology Sovereignty

Humain addresses critical national priorities:

Reducing dependence on foreign tech
Creating high-value domestic jobs
Securing data localization compliance

Challenges and Considerations

Potential Roadblocks

Talent acquisition in competitive global market
Cultural adaptation for international tech workers
Regulatory environment for AI development

Ethical Questions

AI governance in authoritarian context
Surveillance technology concerns
Content moderation approaches

What’s Next for Humain?

Industry analysts predict several likely developments:

Major university partnerships for AI research
Acquisition of niche AI startups
Joint ventures with established tech firms
Saudi-specific AI applications for:
- Arabic language processing
- Islamic finance technology
- Smart city implementations

The Bigger Picture

This move positions Saudi Arabia at the center of three converging trends:

The AI arms race among nations
The petrodollar to tech-dollar transition
Middle East’s emergence as a tech hub

With Humain, MBS isn’t just investing in AI—he’s attempting to future-proof Saudi Arabia’s economy and influence in what may become the most strategically important technology sector of the 21st century.

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Mobile

Apple Launches New Web-Based App Store

by George Mensah 2025-11-06

Apple has quietly rolled out a major update to its App Store experience, officially launching a fully redesigned web-based App Store that allows users to browse and discover apps across all Apple devices from a single online hub. The move, first spotted by MacRumors and 9to5Mac, marks a significant expansion of Apple’s ecosystem — bringing the App Store’s signature design and features to the browser for the first time.

According to the company, it now has a modern, app-store-like interface that looks similar to the App Store on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other products. The domain was previously used as a holding place that hosted static information about apps or redirected users to in-device App Store pages.

A Centralized Experience Across All Apple Platforms

The new update allows them to easily search through apps across device categories like iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and even Apple TV. Each section provides curated app lists, editorial recommendations, and Apple’s popular “Today” tab to show off featured apps, developer spotlights, and trending downloads.

The interface also allows users to browse applications based on their categories, such as Productivity, Entertainment, Games, Education, and Health & Fitness, and provides a much more streamlined and searchable experience than in the past.

Search, Share, and Explore — But Not Download

While this new web-based App Store does introduce better navigation and search, Apple is retaining control over where the downloads actually happen: users cannot install apps directly from the web version of the store. Instead, the website offers quick options to share listings of apps or open them directly in the native App Store app on an Apple device.

This is a design choice in concert with Apple’s long-term ecosystem strategy: making sure all app installations continue to go through its official App Store infrastructure, where the company can enforce strict privacy, payment, and security controls.

Smarter Search Portal for Developers and Users

Another welcome improvement: A prominently placed search bar finally allows users to quickly find apps by name, category, and even developer. Apple’s web app pages were previously static, unindexed, and generally inaccessible unless directly linked to a page.

Now, with an interface that is entirely searchable, this latest Web App Store serves dually as a marketing tool for developers and a place of discovery for users, maximizing app exposure to bring developers’ creations in front of larger audiences outside of Apple’s devices.

Expanding Apple’s Ecosystem Online

Apple’s extension of the App Store’s web presence also comes at a time when regulators and users are increasingly pressing for more openness and accessibility across all digital platforms. In creating this new, more interactive web presence, Apple seems to be taking steps toward greater transparency and discoverability, if still through a tightly integrated ecosystem.

The update also comes amidst Apple’s growing focus on cross-device experiences – especially as it promotes new platforms like Apple Vision Pro, which integrates apps across immersive and traditional interfaces.

Looking Ahead: Apple’s Strategy in a Changing App Landscape

The launch of the web App Store might seem like a minor revision, but it shows that Apple is taking a long-term view to elevate discovery and engagement of apps beyond its hardware. By opening the App Store to any browser, Apple enhances the user experience and reinforces its developer ecosystem by providing greater visibility and traffic to millions of applications without compromising strict app distribution policies. This latest move by Apple strikes a careful balance between innovation, control, and accessibility in a world of rapidly evolving digital ecosystems and increasing regulatory pressures. This is where the App Store, as the linchpin of the Apple experience, is now more connected than ever.

Mobile

Signal’s latest Windows version stops the system from taking chat screenshots

by George Mensah 2025-05-22

Signal has rolled out a critical privacy-focused update for its Windows app, introducing a “screen security” setting that prevents the system from capturing screenshots—directly countering Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature.

This move reinforces Signal’s commitment to user privacy, ensuring sensitive conversations remain protected even against AI-powered background surveillance. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Signal Is Blocking Windows Screenshots

Microsoft Recall: A Privacy Concern

Microsoft’s Recall feature (announced in 2023) continuously captures and stores screenshots of user activity, allowing Windows 11 users to “scroll back in time” and revisit past actions.

Despite Microsoft pausing Recall’s rollout after backlash, the company reintroduced it in April 2024 via the Windows Insider Preview Channel with key changes:
✔ Opt-in requirement (users must enable it manually)
✔ Pause functionality (temporary deactivation)

However, Signal argues that Recall still poses risks:
🔴 Potential exposure of sensitive chats (even if encrypted)
🔴 Lack of granular app-level control (Recall captures everything by default)

How Signal’s “Screen Security” Works

When enabled, this setting:
✅ Blocks Windows from screenshotting Signal’s window (shows a blank screen instead)
✅ Prevents Recall from storing private conversations
✅ Maintains end-to-end encryption integrity

⚠ Trade-off: Some accessibility tools (like screen readers) may not function properly with this setting active.

How to Enable (or Disable) Signal’s Screen Security

Step-by-Step Guide

Open Signal Desktop
Go to Settings > Privacy > Screen Security
Toggle “Block screenshots” (enabled by default)

🔹 Disabling the feature requires confirmation (to prevent accidental deactivation).
🔹 A warning appears reminding users of potential privacy risks.

Signal’s Critique of Microsoft’s Approach

In a blog post, Signal expressed frustration with the need for such workarounds:

“We hope that AI teams building systems like Recall will consider these implications more carefully. Apps like Signal shouldn’t need a ‘one weird trick’ to protect user privacy—developers deserve better tools.”

Key Issues with Recall

🔸 No API for apps to opt out (forcing manual workarounds like Signal’s)
🔸 Potential security vulnerabilities (stored screenshots could be accessed by malware)
🔸 Privacy vs. convenience imbalance (users may not fully understand the risks)

What This Means for Windows Users

✔ Signal users gain stronger privacy protection against Recall.
✔ Other encrypted apps (like WhatsApp, Telegram) may follow suit.
✔ Microsoft faces continued scrutiny over AI-powered surveillance features.

Should You Disable Recall Entirely?

If privacy is a priority:

Avoid enabling Recall (if using Windows Insider builds).
Use Signal’s screen security for encrypted chats.
Monitor future Windows updates for improved privacy controls.

Final Verdict: A Necessary Move for Privacy

Signal’s update highlights the growing tension between AI convenience and user privacy. While Microsoft positions Recall as a productivity tool, its always-on screenshotting raises legitimate security concerns.

By proactively blocking Recall, Signal sets a precedent—tech companies must prioritize privacy by design, not as an afterthought.

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