What is the story
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Nvidia, has established a joint research laboratory in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The facility, the first NVIDIA AI technology center in the Middle East, will focus on developing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models and robotics platforms. The collaboration combines TII's interdisciplinary research capabilities with NVIDIA's cutting-edge AI models and computing power.
Technological advances
TII using tall chips for robot research
Under collaboration, TII will access specific GPU chips to enhance robotic research. TII CEO Najwa Aaraj said he will use a new chip called Thor Chip. “This is a chip that enables advanced robotic systems development,” Aaraj said. Reuters In an interview. As part of this effort, the lab is already working on humanoids, four-legged robots and robot arms.
The UAE's AI Ambition
TII, the applied research division of the Abu Dhabi government entity, Advanced Technology Research Council, is a key player in the UAE's ambition to become a global leader in AI. Gulf countries have invested heavily in AI pushes over the past few years, leveraging strong ties with the US to access advanced technology.
Datacenter trading implementation is pending
During President Donald Trump's Gulf visit in May, the UAE signed a multi-billion dollar deal and built one of the world's largest data center hubs in Abu Dhabi using US technology. This includes some of the most advanced Nvidia chips. However, the transaction has not yet been finalized due to security concerns regarding the UAE's close ties with China.
TII and Nvidia have been working together for a while
Aaraj revealed that TII has been working closely with Nvidia for some time, even using processors to train its own language models. The joint lab discussion began about a year ago and hosts a team of both parties. As part of the future plans, many staff will be hired specifically for this project.
