‘Selective’ UAE courting US, not China, on AI: minister

 
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is fully aligned with the United States in advancing artificial intelligence (AI), marking a shift away from previous ties with China, according to the UAE’s AI minister speaking to AFP.
Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, affirmed this stance following a significant investment in a UAE AI firm by Microsoft, which reportedly involved divesting from Chinese partnerships.
“In today’s AI landscape, it’s crucial to be selective about our partnerships,” Olama stated in an interview regarding UAE’s engagements with Chinese AI firms. “There will be extensive discussions between the UAE and the US on what collaborations are acceptable with other global players.”
“On the AI front, I anticipate complete alignment between the UAE and the US,” he added.
Abu Dhabi-based G42, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of the president and national security advisor, secured a substantial $1.5 billion investment from US tech giant Microsoft in April. This move followed negotiations between the US and UAE governments, during which G42 agreed to terminate its Chinese affiliations in favor of American technologies, as reported by the New York Times and Bloomberg.
AI as a Top Priority
AI has emerged as a critical arena in the competition between the US and China, with the US striving to maintain its leadership and prevent Beijing from accessing sensitive data.
Olama, aged 34 and appointed the world’s first AI minister in 2017, emphasized that AI is a top priority for the UAE as it seeks to diversify its economy away from oil.
“AI is arguably the foremost priority for our investments and focus in the UAE,” Olama affirmed.
Last month, G42 unveiled Falcon 2, an open-source generative model powered by the world’s largest supercomputer, aiming to rival American equivalents like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Regulatory Challenges and Future Prospects
Olama expressed confidence that UAE-developed models, including Falcon 2 and the Arabic-language model Jais, would overcome regulatory hurdles posed by the European Union’s stringent AI laws.
“For the EU, we are prepared to engage in discussions to facilitate European companies operating in the UAE,” Olama stated, acknowledging the novelty of the EU’s AI regulations and the ongoing efforts to understand and comply with them.
Talent Development and Semiconductor Industry
Addressing concerns about talent gaps in the UAE, Olama highlighted the significant progress made in attracting and nurturing talent over the past five years.
“We have seen considerable talent influx into the UAE, which reassures me that we can quickly bridge any remaining gaps,” he noted optimistically.
With ambitions to capitalize on the growing demand for AI chips, the UAE aims to establish its semiconductor industry. Olama affirmed the UAE’s openness to partnerships worldwide, whether from Europe, the US, or elsewhere.
Regarding reports of potential US restrictions on exporting AI chips to the region, Olama expressed optimism about finding a mutually beneficial solution.
“We are hopeful and confident that we will reach a resolution that satisfies all parties’ requirements,” he concluded.
Source: france24.com
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