Microsoft continues to pursue its global expansion in artificial intelligence, and two centers will be established in Abu Dhabi to propel the development of AI technology forward.
On April 16, Microsoft announced its partnership with G42, an AI tech holding company based in the United Arab Emirates. The company said it had invested $1.5 billion in G42 to accelerate AI development and expand global accessibility to AI.
On Sept. 17, the company announced that it will establish two new AI centers in Abu Dhabi to further pursue its plans.
Developing industry standards for responsible AI use
The technology company said its first AI center will be co-founded and co-funded with G42. According to Microsoft, the initiative is endorsed by Abu Dhabi’s Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), an organization responsible for developing AI policies in the UAE.
On Jan. 23, the UAE president established the AIATC to create policies for investments, research and infrastructure in AI technology. The council is also tasked with collaborating with local and global partners to develop research programs and plans to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status in the AI sector.
Microsoft said its first AI center to be built in Abu Dhabi will focus on identifying, developing and advancing best practices and industry standards for responsible AI use in the Middle East and the Global South.
Meanwhile, the second AI center expands the company’s AI for Good Research Lab into Abu Dhabi. The center will support AI projects that address “key societal goals.”
Establishing AI centers will enable the development of policies that govern the use and design of AI-powered applications. It also aims to create rules incorporating digital safety and cybersecurity plans for model training and deployment. It would also establish processes to “harden AI systems against probing, testing and attacks.”
Microsoft’s global AI expansion
Besides the UAE, Microsoft has pledged investments in other regions to boost AI development. On Feb. 15, the company said it would invest 3.2 billion euros ($3.44 billion) in Germany to develop AI infrastructure.
On Feb. 20, the tech firm made a similar move in Spain, investing $2 billion in the region to establish data centers and AI and cloud infrastructure.
On April 9, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman said that the company also plans to make long-term investments in the United Kingdom.
Magazine: AI Eye: $1M bet ChatGPT won’t lead to AGI, Apple’s intelligent AI use, AI millionaires surge