AI sermon robots are automating Islam’s holiest mosques

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has introduced new robots to recite the Quran, deliver sermons, and give azan (call to prayer) at Islam's holiest mosque in Mecca.

The recitations, sermons, and azan robots will feature at the Grand Mosque in Makkah through the work of the imam and muezzin affairs authority, Arab News reported on Monday.

"The launch is part of a 'big strategic plan' to implement the smart Haramain project, according to Vision 2030 and the strategic 2024 plan of the presidency to provide improved services to visitors," said Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, chief of the presidency of the two holy mosques in the Kingdom.

"The attention of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is not limited to maximizing the utilization of modern technology in the Two Holy Mosques, but also aims at providing the same technology and sophisticated services in the service of visitors," added Al-Sudais, who is also one of the nine imams of the Grand Mosque Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.

The smart robots will show barcodes that allow visitors to download services to their cell phones. Users can also utilize orders to retrieve data on prayers, imams, muezzins, and weekly schedules, including the names of clerics delivering Friday sermons, by pressing buttons on the robots.

A fatwa(religious ruling) robot, a smart disinfection robot, and a robot that cleans the surface of the Holy Kaaba are just a few of the smart robots that Al-Sudais introduced during the launch of the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered robots.

"The presidency is determined to move forward and keep pace with digital transformation, support technological development, provide a strategy to create task forces, and ensure the sustainability of a creative culture," said Al-Sudais.

The purpose of the recitations, lectures, and azan robot is to share with guests "the teachings of the two holy mosques."

'Vision 2030'

To match the global technology advancements, the Kingdom has developed five-year goals to attain quality and efficiency, replacing conventional procedures with digital ones. To digitally reinvent the government to streamline services according to the Kingdom's "Vision 2030."

"The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosque is ensuring the facilitation of daily services for visitors by reducing physical efforts and enhancing smart technology to keep pace with Vision 2030," said Al-Sudais.

Millions of Muslim tourists from all over the world visit the Grand Mosque, and the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques is eager to offer them top-notch services.

'AI ecosystem'

On Tuesday, Arab News reported that the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) and China's SenseTime, a Hong Kong-based artificial intelligence company, announced a $776 million investment in the country's "AI ecosystem."

Ayman AlRashed, CEO of SCAI, made the announcement during an AI Summit in the capital of the country, Riyadh.

The agreement was inked to explore the development of AI-powered solutions for Saudi's healthcare sector.

Saudi has also claimed to have signed an agreement with Google on Tuesday to deliver cutting-edge technologies and sustainable AI solutions in the Kingdom.