Microsoft is ramping up its AI initiatives in the Middle East and Africa with Abu Dhabi-based tech company G42. This partnership is part of Microsoft's broader global strategy to shape AI technology, focusing on developing nations. The effort underscores the competition between U.S. and Chinese companies to influence the future of artificial intelligence worldwide.
The two companies will co-fund a new center to develop standards and best practices for the ethical use of AI in the Middle East and the Global South. Abu Dhabi’s Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council supports this initiative. Microsoft is also opening an AI for Good research lab in Abu Dhabi, similar to other labs the company has established globally.
This partnership, announced last year, is central to Microsoft's global vision of competing with China in the race to power AI systems in regions outside the U.S., Europe, and China. The stakes are high, particularly in developing countries where AI is expected to impact significantly. While it's assumed that U.S. and European companies will dominate AI systems in their regions, China is pushing its homegrown technologies elsewhere. The competition is not just about technology but also about the values these systems represent.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, emphasized the importance of building a coalition of like-minded countries, particularly in the Global South. He noted that G42 has already committed to removing equipment from China's Huawei and adhering to U.S. export controls. This positions Abu Dhabi as a strategic hub that can bridge Washington with the rest of the world.
Smith also highlighted that the global contest over AI is not only about technology leadership but also about technology values. As the race intensifies, the debate over whose AI systems reflect the right values—whether American, European, or Chinese—will become even more pronounced.
Next week, Smith will speak at the Clinton Global Initiative, where he is expected to address these issues further.
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