Promoting Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Middle East and Global South
Microsoft has announced the launch of a new foundation aimed at promoting responsible artificial intelligence (AI) in the Middle East and Global South. The foundation, which will be based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is part of a broader effort to establish the region as a hub for AI innovation and development.
Partnership with G42 and MBZUAI
Microsoft has partnered with Emirati AI developer G42 and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to advance the development of AI in the region. G42, which is controlled by Tahnoon bin Zayed, brother of the Emirati president and the country’s national security advisor, will receive a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft.
MBZUAI has taken a lead role in several initiatives launched around the Paris AI summit, which will bring together political and tech business leaders, as well as experts, to discuss the future of AI. The university will present a project mapping out the major risks arising from AI and solutions being worked on around the world.
Global Risk and AI Safety Preparedness (GRASP)
The university’s project, known as Global Risk and AI Safety Preparedness (GRASP), is also backed by the US-based Future of Life Institute, a think tank that has regularly warned of the dangers of AI development. The results of the project will be shared with the OECD club of rich countries and members of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), a group of more than 40 governments that will meet on Sunday.
UAE’s Ambitions in AI Development
The UAE is pushing for a leading role in the emergence of AI, with multiple collaborations in France. Paris’s Polytechnique engineering school has announced a research partnership with MBZUAI, while Emirates leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has signed a deal with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to build a vast AI campus and data centre in France worth up to $50 billion.
Conclusion
The launch of the Microsoft foundation marks an important step towards promoting responsible AI standards and best practices in the Middle East and Global South. The partnership with G42 and MBZUAI will help to drive innovation and development in the region, while also addressing the potential risks and challenges associated with AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the Microsoft foundation?
The foundation aims to promote responsible AI standards and best practices in the Middle East and Global South. - Who are the partners involved in the project?
G42, MBZUAI, and the Future of Life Institute are the key partners involved in the project. - What is the scope of the project?
The project aims to map out the major risks arising from AI and solutions being worked on around the world. - What is the significance of the UAE’s involvement in AI development?
The UAE is pushing for a leading role in the emergence of AI, with multiple collaborations in France, including a research partnership with MBZUAI and a deal to build a vast AI campus and data centre in France worth up to $50 billion.