RIYADH: Diriyah made history on Saudi Arabia’s 94th National Day by setting a mark recognized by Guinness World Records for the largest display of virtual assistant devices.
The show, featuring more than 500 Amazon Echo devices and Alexa voice assistants, was part of Diriyah’s celebrations of the Kingdom’s national day.
According to the Diriyah Gate Development Authority news release, the Echo devices were orchestrated to harmonize Saudi Arabia’s national anthem and other patriotic songs at Bujairi Terrace.
Officials from Guinness World Records were on hand to witness the extraordinary feat.
“Congratulations on achieving the Guinness World Records’ title for the largest display of virtual assistant devices,” said Kanzy El-Defrawy, senior adjudicator for Guinness World Records.
“Diriyah has consistently been at the forefront of introducing cutting-edge entertainment to the people of Saudi Arabia, and this achievement reflects your relentless drive to fuse artificial intelligence with cultural celebrations.”
The DGDA’s chief executive, Jerry Inzerillo, said: “This historic moment underscores Saudi Arabia’s innovative spirit and Diriyah’s commitment to preserving and promoting our rich heritage and culture.”
Raf Fatani, Amazon’s regional general manager of Alexa in the Middle East and North Africa, said the attempt to set a world record was “a celebration of our deep reverence for the Kingdom’s rich culture and heritage. Through this collaboration, we weave a tapestry that intertwines artificial intelligence with the timeless threads of Saudi culture.”
The celebrations in Diriyah exhibited a rich display of Saudi culture and heritage, as well as an embrace of the modern-day.
South African visitor Karien told Arab News: “I feel energized. The atmosphere is just really so relaxed, and it is inviting.”
Arab News
