• Microsoft has partnered with AI company G42 to launch two data centres aimed at promoting responsible AI.
  • This collaboration seeks to enhance AI development with a focus on ethical and sustainable practices, ensuring responsible AI use and innovation.

OUR TAKE
This news marks a significant step in promoting responsible AI, particularly in underserved areas like the Global South. Microsoft’s partnership with G42 to establish data centres focused on ethical AI development is commendable.The aim to develop large language models for underrepresented languages will enhance inclusivity, allowing diverse communities to benefit from AI technologies. Additionally, the collaboration, backed by both the UAE and US governments, demonstrates a commitment to safe and responsible AI deployment.
-Tacy Ding, BTW reporter

What happened

According to the companies, the first data centre, co-founded by both parties and supported by the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), will focus on identifying, developing, and promoting best practices and industry standards for responsible AI in the Middle East and Global South.

The second data centre will focus on expanding Microsoft’s AI for Good Research Lab in Abu Dhabi. This centre will concentrate on AI projects aimed at addressing significant societal challenges.

In coordination with the Lab’s team in Nairobi, the expansion will place emphasis on developing large language models (LLMs) for underrepresented languages, aiming to enhance AI accessibility and inclusivity for diverse linguistic communities.

The partnership will collaborate with the Abu Dhabi Center for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology, which was established in January, to develop research plans and programmes alongside local and global partners. The goal is to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in artificial intelligence and advanced technology, fostering innovation and progress in these critical fields.

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Why it’s important

Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, stated: “By advancing Responsible AI together with Microsoft, we are creating a framework for AI to serve all of humanity. These new centres reflect our shared vision of using technology to address real-world challenges, positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for AI innovation that prioritises safety, trust, and collaboration, particularly across the global south.”

Since Microsoft and G42 launched their partnership in April, the two companies have been working under the commitments outlined in the Intergovernmental Assurance Agreement, with support and oversight from both the UAE and US governments.

This partnership offers a strategic opportunity to bring world-class technology to underserved regions, such as the Global South. G42’s efforts to create a regulated and monitored environment for deploying US-developed advanced technology systems are crucial for meeting international AI demands. The collaboration aims to bridge the digital divide, tackle pressing social challenges, and promote democratic norms in cyberspace. G42 and Microsoft have already announced a US$1 billion investment in Kenya, leveraging geothermal energy, and are actively exploring other strategic markets.