DUBAI, Sep 20 (Askume) –United Arab Emirates-based artificial intelligence company G42 has signed a deal with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, G42 (NVDA.O) said on Friday, ahead of its first visit to the White House.
The two companies will jointly develop artificial intelligence solutions aimed at improving the accuracy of global weather forecasts, and will establish an operational base and climate technology laboratory in Abu Dhabi, the Gulf-based company said in a statement.
Led by the government-backed G42, the UAE is investing heavily in artificial intelligence to help diversify its economy away from oil, and Emirati companies have recently struck a number of deals with US companies.
Microsoft (MSFT.O) announced in April it would invest $1.5 billion in G42 and this week the companies said they would open two centres in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi-backed investment firm MGX has also joined BlackRock as a general partnerBLK.N) and Microsoft have created a joint $30 billion fund to invest in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Still, Washington is concerned that the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries could serve as conduits for advanced US artificial intelligence technology to reach China. Last year, China implemented new restrictions on the export of artificial intelligence chips, imposing licensing requirements on chips shipped to these countries.
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday.
He will meet US President Joe Biden to discuss security issues in the Middle East and the development of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, the White House said.
UAE President’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Anwar Gargash told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that he will also meet Vice President Kamala Harris and business officials. He said the main focus of the visit will be cooperation in economic and other areas.
“Sometimes people like to talk about some tensions in the relationship, but the bottom line is that this is our most important strategic relationship,” Gargash said.
