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Microsoft CEO Brad Smith will join the G42 board in Abu Dhabi.
London
CNN
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Microsoft will invest $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence group G42, which has come under question over its ties to China.
The two companies will collaborate on AI and digital infrastructure, marking the first time Microsoft's AI empire will expand into the Middle East.
The move could attract significant regulatory scrutiny.
The G42, led by Peng Xiao, a Chinese businessman and former CEO of cybersecurity company Pegasus, is reportedly facing questions over its relationship with the Chinese government.
In November, the New York Times reported that U.S. officials feared the G42 could be used to share U.S. technology and data with the Chinese government. Hsiao denied these claims in an interview with CNN in January, calling them “misinformation.”
G42 and Microsoft say they are committed to complying with U.S. and international trade regulations as part of their partnership.
Microsoft President Brad Smith will join the G42 board as part of the agreement. “Our two companies will work together to bring AI and digital infrastructure and services to underserved countries, not just the UAE,” he said.
Last year, G42 launched an Arabic AI model It's called “Jais” and is available on Microsoft's Azure platform.
Microsoft has forged high-profile partnerships with several AI companies to position itself as a technology leader.
The partnership with OpenAI is believed to be one of the main drivers of Microsoft's growth over the past year, but it has also faced interest from regulators in the US and Europe who are concerned about Microsoft becoming too dominant. are collecting.
In recent months, Microsoft has made a number of AI investments that have attracted attention overseas. In February, it announced a partnership with Mistral, a leading French AI startup. That same month, it pledged billions of dollars in funding to AI projects in Spain and Germany.
“It's all about this new AI era,” Smith told CNN in February. “Essentially, a new sector of the economy is emerging.”
