OpenAI, the creator of the widely used AI chatbot ChatGPT, has entered into a strategic partnership with Dubai-based technology holding group G42. The collaboration aims to enhance AI capabilities in the Middle East region, with a focus on sectors such as finance, energy, healthcare, and public services. G42's extensive connections and expertise in these industries will facilitate the integration of OpenAI's generative AI models, bringing advanced solutions to organizations in the United Arab Emirates and other regions.
OpenAI and Dubai-based technology holding group G42 have announced a strategic partnership to advance artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in the Middle East region. The collaboration, unveiled on October 18, aims to leverage OpenAI's generative AI models to enhance sectors of G42's expertise, including finance, energy, healthcare, and public services.
G42, known for its strong presence and connections in the Middle East, plans to integrate OpenAI's advanced AI capabilities into existing businesses more seamlessly. This partnership is expected to simplify the process of incorporating generative AI solutions for organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other regions using G42's business solutions.
As part of the collaboration, G42 intends to allocate its substantial AI infrastructure capacity to support OpenAI's local and regional inferencing. This support will be facilitated through Microsoft Azure data centers, enabling efficient and effective deployment of AI solutions.
Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, highlighted the significance of G42's industry connections in the Middle East. Altman emphasized that G42's expertise will play a crucial role in tailoring AI solutions to resonate with the nuances of the region. The collaboration is expected to contribute to the advancement of generative AI on a global scale.
The strategic partnership between OpenAI and G42 comes amid growing initiatives in the Middle East to harness the potential of AI. In a recent development, Saudi Arabia announced a collaboration between a local university and Chinese universities to develop an Arabic-based AI system named AceGPT. This large language model is designed to serve as an AI assistant for Arabic speakers, answering queries in Arabic.
However, the expansion of AI capabilities in the Middle East has also drawn attention from U.S. regulators. In August, concerns were raised about AI semiconductor chip exports, leading to the addition of "some Middle Eastern countries" to the list of areas subject to export restrictions for high-level semiconductor chips. The partnership between OpenAI and G42 aligns with the region's growing focus on integrating advanced AI technologies into key sectors, despite regulatory considerations.
(SAVANNAH FORTIS, COINTELEGRAPH, 2023)