AI’s Future Is Being Forged by the US and the UAE

The implications of a deal between Microsoft and G42, an Abu Dhabi-based AI company, to jointly research and develop artificial intelligence technologies. It argues that this partnership is a significant step in shaping the future of AI on the global stage and balancing both its promises and dangers.

Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to the US, writes that as data is replacing oil as the most valuable resource in the modern economy, AI is poised to transform every facet of life and geopolitics. However, he cautions that AI is also an exponentially growing technology that could spread in ways beyond control if not properly guided. 

The Microsoft-G42 deal is analyzed as one move in the competition between countries and companies to steer the development of AI and leverage its benefits. By combining Microsoft's expertise with G42's knowledge of the Middle East, both partners hope to make progress on priorities like using AI to enhance healthcare and education. 

At the same time, the collaboration aims to establish shared norms to ensure AI is designed and deployed safely and responsibly. The author argues this "coalition of the willing" approach can help address challenges that individual players cannot handle alone. By bringing together the innovation of Silicon Valley with regional insights, deals like this can forge a balanced and ethical future for an immensely powerful technology.