UAE to push for AI cooperation in meeting with President Biden

As part of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s first official trip to the United States, the United Arab emirates (UAE) President was scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Monday with AI cooperation high on the agenda. 

There is a willingness to pursue closer UAE-US ties, in a bid to secure enhanced access to American technology. 

The dialogue will also include concerns about the wider regional conflict involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah, but it is primarily about self-interest. 

“The purpose of the visit is really from an Emirati perspective, it’s investing in our future through an economic lens,” said Anwar Gargash, the Emirati President’s most senior diplomatic advisor.

“We are more in a geo-economic phase” he added, in a sign of moving the conversation beyond oil and defense, toward emerging sectors such as AI, renewables, and climate. 

Security will continue to be an important aspect of the US-UAE relationship, but it is not confined to that strategic purpose. The Middle East nation hosts the American air base in Al Dhafra, while it has served as an ally to the US in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mohammed bin Zayed, who also serves as the ruler of Abu Dhabi, will meet with presidential hopeful, and incumbent VP, Kamala Harris. As part of a road map for growth,  the UAE wants to put firm foundations in place regardless of the outcome of the upcoming election.

There could be an obstacle in the way of progress on AI cooperation after the UAE was added to a list of countries restricted from freely importing US-made AI chips, last year. 

The block on the cutting-edge semiconductors is due to fears of tech leaks to China, meaning firms from the listed countries are required to obtain licenses for exports.

It is expected this issue will be discussed by the leaders, as part of a framework to be thrashed out for cooperation on AI.

Against this backdrop, Microsoft has invested $1.5 billion in the G42 Group, the UAE’s leading AI research project. Last week, the US tech multinational announced the creation of two centers in Abu Dhabi to work toward collective Responsible AI goals.

Image credit: Via Ideogram

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