Microsoft Expands AI Presence with 2 New Abu Dhabi Centers

Microsoft is pursuing its AI worldwide expansion strategy, and the company plans to construct two labs in Abu Dhabi to advance AI technology development.

While the other center will sponsor initiatives that address “key societal goals,” the first center will concentrate on creating industry standards for safe AI use.

Microsoft and G42, an AI tech holding firm headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, announced their collaboration on April 16. According to the corporation, it has invested $1.5 billion in G42 to expedite the development of AI and broaden its reach globally.

To move on with its goals, the business said on September 17 that it would open two new AI centers in Abu Dhabi.

Establishing industry guidelines for ethical AI applications

The IT giant said that G42 will co-found and co-fund its first AI center. Microsoft claims that the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC) in Abu Dhabi, responsible for creating AI regulations in the United Arab Emirates, has approved the project.

To develop regulations for infrastructure, research, and investment in AI technology, the president of the United Arab Emirates founded the AIATC on January 23. The council also works with regional and international partners to create plans and research initiatives that will improve Abu Dhabi’s standing in the AI industry.

According to Microsoft, the Middle East and the Global South will benefit from its first AI center, which will be developed in Abu Dhabi. Its primary goal will be discovering, creating, and promoting industry standards and best practices for responsible AI use.

The company’s AI for Good Research Lab will be expanded into Abu Dhabi by the second AI center. The institute will fund AI initiatives that tackle “important societal objectives.”

The creation of AI centers will facilitate the creation of regulations governing the application development and use of AI. In addition, rules incorporating cybersecurity and digital safety strategies for model deployment and training are intended to be established. Procedures to “harden AI systems against probing, testing, and attacks” would also be established.

The worldwide AI expansion of Microsoft

Microsoft has promised to invest in additional areas to further AI development in addition to the UAE. On February 15, the business said it would invest $3.44 billion (3.2 billion euros) in Germany to build AI infrastructure.

The IT company took a similar move on February 20 in Spain, where it invested $2 billion to build data centers, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman announced on April 9 that the business intends to invest long-term in the UK.