Source: AFP
The United Arab Emirates is in “full alignment” with the US when it comes to developing artificial intelligence, the oil-rich country’s artificial intelligence minister told AFP, confirming a shift from China.
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, spoke on Tuesday after a state-owned Emirati artificial intelligence company secured a major investment from Microsoft, reportedly divesting Chinese interests as part of the deal.
“The honest truth is in the AI space today, I think we have to be selective about who we work with,” Olama said in an interview when asked about the UAE’s dealings with Chinese AI companies.
“There will be a lot of discussions between the UAE and the US about what they feel comfortable doing with other players around the world and what they don’t feel (with),” he added.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/9ff28c50752a0630.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/9ff28c50752a0630.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
Chinese robot developers hope for way out of ‘uncanny valley’
“But on the AI front, I think there will be full alignment between the UAE and the US.”
The Abu Dhabi-based G42, chaired by the president’s brother and national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, won a $1.5 billion strategic investment from US tech giant Microsoft in April.
According to the New York Times and Bloomberg, the deal followed talks between the US and UAE governments where the G42 agreed to abandon Chinese partnerships in favor of US technology.
AI “top priority”
Artificial intelligence has become a major battleground between the two powers as the United States moves to maintain its leadership in the transformative field and stop Beijing from accessing sensitive data.
Olama, 34, who became the world’s first AI minister in 2017, said the UAE — which is struggling to wean its economy off oil — was “very bullish” on AI.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/1264d9a419723484.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/1264d9a419723484.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
Samsung workers in South Korea stage first strike: union
“Artificial intelligence is probably the top priority for the UAE in terms of our investments, in terms of our focus,” he said.
Source: AFP
Last month, G42, powered by the world’s largest supercomputer, unveiled Falcon 2, an open-source production model that seeks to compete with American products such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
G42’s subsidiary Inception and Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence also produced Jais, billed as the world’s highest-quality large-tongue Arabic model.
Olama was confident the models would overcome any potential regulatory hurdles from the European Union, which has introduced a new artificial intelligence law and has strict standards for data collection, including from government and healthcare sources.
“I think for Europe, for the bloc as a whole, you will see that the UAE is a partner that is willing to talk to see how we can help European companies come to the UAE and operate,” Olama said.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/0e4946d21de02700.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/0e4946d21de02700.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
Palau confirms ‘major’ cyber attack, points to China
“But the EU AI law is very new. We’re still going through it, understanding it and seeing what needs to be done there,” he added.
“Big Challenge”
Industry and government officials met at the AI Retreat on Tuesday, a brainstorming event at the ellipse-shaped, Arabic-inscribed Museum of the Future in Dubai.
In a keynote address, Olama said the UAE wanted to be a “global player” with companies “taking the world by storm”.
Source: AFP
Answering questions about a potential talent gap in the UAE, he remained optimistic.
“If you look at the progress that has been made in the last five years and the avalanche of talent that has moved to the UAE, I’m not worried that we will be able to bridge that gap very quickly,” he said.
The United Arab Emirates, which has some of the world’s largest state assets, also plans to develop a semiconductor industry to take advantage of growing demand for artificial intelligence chips.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/f5945541173f5bb3.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/f5945541173f5bb3.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
Microsoft to invest $3.2 billion in artificial intelligence in Sweden
“There are certainly discussions and we are open to working with the right partners wherever they come from, whether it’s in Europe or the US,” Olama said.
Responding to reports that the US is slowing exports of AI chips to countries in the region, he commented: “We would like to not be lumped in with other countries in this area.”
“I am optimistic and believe that we will reach a solution that will meet the demands of all parties,” the minister added.
Source: AFP