Microsoft has infused a sizeable investment of $1.5 billion into the Emirati company G42 based in Abu Dhabi, aiming to enhance artificial intelligence development operations and support the company’s global expansion plans.
Today, G42, a giant in the field of artificial intelligence in the UAE, and Microsoft unveiled Microsoft’s strategic investment of $1.5 billion in G42.
This investment aims to strengthen the partnership between the two companies in bringing the latest innovations in artificial intelligence offered by Microsoft and developing skill enhancement projects for the UAE and other countries.
As part of expanding this partnership, Brad Smith, the Vice Chairman of the Board and President of Microsoft, will join the board of G42. This broader collaboration will enable entities of all sizes in new markets to benefit from the advantages of artificial intelligence and cloud technology, while adhering to high international standards of security and safety. Microsoft’s investment is intended to deepen the shared commitment between the two companies in this strategic partnership, based on their longstanding cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital transformation. G42 will utilize the Microsoft Azure platform to operate artificial intelligence applications and services, collaborating with Microsoft to develop advanced AI solutions for global public sector clients and large enterprises.
Furthermore, G42 and Microsoft will work together to revolutionize the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa by providing cutting-edge digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence technologies, allowing these countries to achieve equitable access to services. This will help address major governmental and economic challenges while maintaining the highest levels of security and privacy. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of G42, commented:
saying:
“The investments made by Microsoft in our company represent a qualitative leap in our growth and innovation trajectory, reflecting the strategic harmony of visions and practices between the two institutions. This partnership also embodies shared values and aspirations towards progress, enhancing collaboration and solidarity globally.”
This partnership aims to build skilled and diverse workforce in the field of artificial intelligence and create a talent hub that elevates innovation and competitiveness in the UAE and the region as a whole, through allocating a billion dollars to the Developer Development Fund.
Brad Smith, Vice Chairman of the Board and President of Microsoft, added:
“The collaboration between the two companies will not be limited to the UAE alone, but we will also work on extending artificial intelligence services and digital infrastructure to emerging countries. We aim to integrate advanced technologies with high international standards for secure, trustworthy, and responsible artificial intelligence, in close coordination with the governments of the UAE and the United States.”
It is worth mentioning that this trade partnership will receive full support from both governments through an exceptional agreement to ensure the adoption and deployment of artificial intelligence in a secure, accredited, and responsible manner.
Microsoft will closely collaborate with G42 and jointly strive to strengthen the foundations of security and compliance in the shared international infrastructure between them. They are committed to following laws and regulations of trade, security, responsible artificial intelligence, as well as honesty in business practices according to American and international standards.
Business operations in these sectors will be arranged based on theThere is a specific international government guarantee agreement between the company G42 and Microsoft, which was formed after thorough discussions between the governments of the United Arab Emirates and the United States. In this regard, Xi Ping, the CEO of the G42 group, spoke:
On the other hand, Samer Abu Latif, Vice President of Microsoft and its President for Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa regions, mentioned:“As a result of strategic funding from Microsoft, we offer advanced artificial intelligence technology on a wide scale. This partnership contributes to enhancing our presence in global markets significantly, uniting the distinctive artificial intelligence capabilities of G42 and the strong infrastructure of Microsoft globally. We are not only seeking to expand our operations, but also aiming to set new standards for innovation within the industry.”
The collaboration between G42 and Microsoft has made significant progress during the past year, including, for example, a joint plan announced in April 2023 to develop artificial intelligence solutions designed for both the public and industrial sectors, leveraging Microsoft’s extensive ecosystem and cloud capabilities. In September 2023, the two companies formalized their cooperation by signing an agreement to start providing cloud and collaborative services with the aim of leveraging advanced artificial intelligence capabilities through the renowned Azure cloud platform. Finally, in November 2023, Microsoft unveiled the broad Arabic version of the Jais model developed by G42 within its new Azure AI cloud service under the name “Model-as-a-Service”. This deliberate investment will enhance the UAE’s role as a prominent global hub in the field of artificial intelligence, providing new opportunities for partners and customers to innovate and achieve development. (Emirates News Agency-WAM)“Our investment in G42 reflects the strength of the technological climate in the UAE and the entire region. This strategic partnership is in a perfect position to create new opportunities for our customers and partners, accelerate innovation, and drive economic growth. Together, we will work with G42 to deliver cutting-edge technologies that enable countries and markets to strengthen their digital goals using the power of cloud computing and artificial intelligence.”
