In the escalating global race towards AI dominance, G42, an AI technology company based in the United Arab Emirates, has secured a massive $1.5 billion investment from tech giant Microsoft. This investment marks a significant expansion of the long-standing partnership between the two companies, aiming to enhance the deployment of cutting-edge AI technologies and cloud services across the UAE and other emerging markets worldwide.
The strategic infusion of funds is part of a broader initiative to integrate Microsoft’s advanced AI technologies and capabilities into G42’s operations. With this collaboration, G42 will migrate its AI applications and services to Microsoft Azure. The partnership is set to deliver sophisticated AI solutions not just to the public sector in the area but also to large enterprises globally, with a special focus on regions like the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
These regions, often seen as underserved in terms of technological infrastructure, according to G42 and Microsoft, are poised to benefit immensely from equitable access to AI-driven services. This would address a range of critical governmental and business needs while maintaining the highest standards of security and privacy.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, who will join the G42 Board of Directors as part of the agreement, highlighted the partnership’s commitment to ethical standards. “Our collaboration is built on a foundation of ensuring safe, trusted, and responsible AI deployment. Working closely with governments in the UAE and the US, we aim to set a global benchmark in AI ethics and security.”
Echoing this sentiment, H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of G42, regarded the investment as a pivotal moment in the company’s journey, emphasizing the alignment in vision and execution between G42 and Microsoft. “This is more than a financial transaction,” said Sheikh Tahnoon. “It’s about creating synergies that will propel global progress in AI technology and infrastructure.”
Boosting AI Expertise in the UAE and Globally
The partnership would also underscore a commitment to fostering a skilled AI workforce. An impressive $1 billion will be directed towards a development fund specifically aimed at nurturing talent and enhancing AI skills among developers in the UAE and beyond. This initiative aims to bolster innovation and competitiveness within the region, setting a precedent for similar investments in human capital across the technology sector.
The collaboration between G42 and Microsoft has already borne fruit in several significant projects over the past year. Notable among these is the development of AI solutions tailored for the public sector, leveraging Microsoft’s vast partner ecosystem and cloud capabilities. The partners have also worked on introducing sovereign cloud offerings and have collaborated on advancing AI capabilities on the Azure public cloud platform. A recent highlight in their joint initiatives includes the November 2023 launch of G42‘s Jais Arabic Large Language Model, which is now available on Microsoft’s Azure AI Cloud Model-as-a-Service.
Peng Xiao, Group Chief Executive Officer of G42, noted that the partnership is set to revolutionize the company’s reach and capabilities in AI. “With Microsoft’s backing, we are poised to scale our cutting-edge AI technologies globally, setting new standards in the industry and enhancing our international market presence,” Xiao stated.
Samer Abu-Ltaif, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President and President for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, emphasized the strategic value of the investment. “This partnership is not just about financial investment; it’s about sparking innovation, accelerating economic growth, and opening up new opportunities for our customers and partners across a dynamic tech landscape,” Abu-Ltaif said.
