Microsoft And G42 Establish Two New AI Centres In Abu Dhabi To Promote Responsible AI Practices

Microsoft Corp. and G42 are collaborating to establish two new centres in Abu Dhabi, aiming to further their Responsible AI initiatives. These centres are part of a partnership announced earlier this year. The first centre will focus on developing best practices for AI use in the Middle East and Global South, while the second will expand Microsoft's AI for Good Research Lab into Abu Dhabi.

The first centre, co-founded by G42 and Microsoft with support from the UAE's Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), will bring together academic researchers and AI experts from various sectors. Their goal is to create, document, and share emerging best practices for Responsible AI. This initiative aims to foster collaboration among individuals and organisations across the Middle East, Global South, and beyond.

Simultaneously, Microsoft's AI for Good Lab will open its first Middle East centre in Abu Dhabi. This lab will work with nonprofit organisations and partners to tackle economic and societal challenges in the Middle East and Africa. By collaborating with the existing team in Nairobi, the lab will focus on developing large language models for underrepresented languages, enhancing food security, and improving climate resilience through high-resolution geospatial data analysis.

The partnership aligns with the AIATC's mission to develop plans and research programmes that enhance Abu Dhabi’s status in artificial intelligence and advanced technology. Established in January, the council collaborates with local and global partners to achieve these goals. The two new centres build on Microsoft and G42's efforts to implement Responsible AI standards.

This includes ensuring safe development, deployment, and use of generative AI models and applications. Microsoft has developed policies that govern AI application design, incorporating digital safety measures for model training and deployment. G42 is adopting these policies as part of their commitment to both US and UAE governments.

Strengthening Global AI Hub

G42’s adoption of these policies aims to solidify the UAE’s position as a trusted global AI hub. It ensures that Microsoft and G42 technologies running on Azure are responsibly shared with their expanding joint customer base worldwide. "Today’s steps will add to the important progress Microsoft and G42 are making," said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft.

"We are committed to additional steps with G42 that advance responsible AI use for customers," Smith added. 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." He emphasised that these new centres reflect a shared vision for leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges.

The collaboration between Microsoft Corp., G42, and other stakeholders highlights a commitment to advancing Responsible AI practices globally. By establishing these centres in Abu Dhabi, they aim to position the city as a leading hub for innovation in artificial intelligence while prioritising safety, trust, and collaboration across regions like the Global South.

With inputs from WAM