According to The Financial Times, the administration of US President Joe Biden has mediated negotiations between Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, and the UAE. Washington’s goal is to gain an advantage over China in the AI technology race.
The US government actively encourages American technology companies to engage in AI-related deals and establish partnerships in the United Arab Emirates, seeking to create an alliance that would give it an edge over China in developing revolutionary technologies.
This week, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, a group of companies in the field of artificial intelligence based in Abu Dhabi and led by influential Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to people familiar with the negotiations, the deal was completed after a series of meetings held last year with the mediation of the US government between investors and companies from the UAE, as well as American technology companies.
Today, oil-rich Abu Dhabi seeks to leverage its vast oil wealth to become a hub for global AI development as it aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The company has launched MGX, a fund that deals with AI transactions, and is expected to spend billions of dollars on research and development through government organizations such as the Advanced Technology Research Council.
Leaders in the field of artificial intelligence, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, have become frequent visitors to the Gulf countries. This month, Altman traveled between the UAE and Washington, meeting with government officials and investors to discuss how AI companies and governments of both countries can work together.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, the founder of OpenAI discussed plans with Sheikh Tahnoun to create an ambitious chip project aimed at attracting billions of dollars for the development of semiconductors needed for AI model training and creation. Altman also met with US Ambassador to the UAE Marina Strong, members of Congress, and representatives of the US national security community to ensure that there are enough data processing centers in the country to support the AI boom.