Key Points
- Microsoft and G42 are opening two AI research centers focused on responsible AI in Abu Dhabi.
- The UAE invests heavily in AI to diversify its economy and compete with other regional AI hubs like Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
- The centers build on Microsoft’s earlier $1.5 billion investment in G42.
- One center will promote responsible AI practices, and the other will develop large language models, especially for underrepresented languages.
Microsoft and G42, an artificial intelligence company based in the United Arab Emirates, have announced plans to open two AI research centers in Abu Dhabi. The centers will focus on “responsible” AI development and serve as hubs for advancing AI technologies while promoting best practices for safe and ethical AI use.
With G42 at the forefront, the UAE is heavily investing in artificial intelligence as part of its long-term strategy to diversify its economy away from oil. The region is becoming increasingly competitive, with countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar positioning themselves as future AI hubs. It comes amid concerns from the U.S. about growing collaborations between Gulf states and China, particularly over potential technology transfers.
The partnership between Microsoft and G42 builds on an earlier agreement in April 2023, under which Microsoft committed to investing $1.5 billion in the Emirati AI company. G42, whose chairman Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the UAE’s national security advisor, has strong backing from major entities, including the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala and U.S. private equity firm Silver Lake.
The first of the two AI centers will focus on bringing together academic researchers and AI practitioners from the private sector and academia to develop and share best practices in responsible AI. The second center will concentrate on developing large language models and advanced AI programs that process vast amounts of text to generate human-like responses. This center will also emphasize creating models for underrepresented languages, helping to ensure more inclusive AI development.
The initiative aims to ensure the safe deployment of generative AI models and applications. Both companies emphasized that their collaboration adheres to security assurances made to the U.S. and UAE governments. Additionally, G42 confirmed that it does not conduct business with entities restricted by the U.S. government.
