Microsoft and G42 establish AI hubs in Abu Dhabi

UAE boosts AI leadership through partnership between Microsoft and G42.
Microsoft is integrating Anthropic’s Claude models into Office 365, blending them with OpenAI’s to cut costs, reduce risks and improve performance across apps like Word and Excel.

The UAE’s AI ambitions take a leap forward with two new centres in Abu Dhabi, led by Microsoft and G42. The facilities will focus on developing responsible AI technologies and promoting best practices across the academic and private sectors.

One of the centres will address underrepresented languages in AI by creating large language models, while the other brings experts together to explore responsible AI usage. Both centres build on Microsoft’s recent $1.5 billion investment in G42.

Competition in AI is growing in the region, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia also seeking to emerge as key hubs. However, G42’s decision to divest from China ensures that the partnership aligns with US and UAE government security concerns.

By opening these new centres, the UAE hopes to bolster its position as a global AI leader, demonstrating its shift away from reliance on oil toward innovative technology development.