The Trump administration is clearing a path for two key Persian Gulf allies to pursue their artificial intelligence ambitions — and some of the biggest US tech companies are seizing on that opening with plans to spend billions of dollars in the region.

A number of U.S. technology firms on Tuesday announced artificial intelligence deals in the Middle East as U.S. President Donald Trump secured $600 billion in commitments from Saudi Arabia to U.S. companies during a tour of Gulf states.

Donald Trump kicked off his diplomatic tour of the Gulf with the announcement of a $142 billion defense deal with Saudi Arabia. The White House has hailed the deal as “the largest defence sales agreement in history.