- This strategic investment will enhance the UAE's position as
a global AI hub and provide further opportunities for
partners and customers to innovate and grow.
- G42 and Microsoft will collaborate to ensure the benefits of
secure AI technologies and cloud capabilities are responsibly
shared with growing economies globally.
- Microsoft's Vice Chair and President Brad Smith will take a seat on the G42
Board.
- Both companies will support the establishment of a
$1B fund for developers.
- The partnership includes a first of its kind
Intergovernmental Assurance Agreement as both parties commit to
world-leading standards in AI safety and security.
ABU DHABI, UAE and DALLAS, April 16,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- G42, the leading UAE-based artificial
intelligence (AI) technology holding company, and Microsoft today
announced a $1.5 billion strategic
investment by Microsoft in G42. The investment will strengthen the
two companies' collaboration on bringing the latest Microsoft AI
technologies and skilling initiatives to the UAE and other
countries around the world. As part of this expanded partnership
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President
of Microsoft, will join the G42 Board of Directors.
This expanded collaboration will empower organizations of all
sizes in new markets to harness the benefits of AI and the cloud
while ensuring they are adopting AI that adheres to world-leading
standards in safety and security.
Building on the two organizations' long-standing collaboration
in AI and digital transformation initiatives, Microsoft's
investment deepens the reciprocal commitment to this strategic
partnership. G42 will run its AI applications and services on
Microsoft Azure and partner to deliver advanced AI solutions to
global public sector clients and large enterprises. G42 and
Microsoft will also work together to bring advanced AI and digital
infrastructure to countries in the Middle
East, Central Asia, and
Africa, providing these nations
with equitable access to services to address important governmental
and business concerns while ensuring the highest standards of
security and privacy.
H.H. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Chairman of G42, said: "Microsoft's investment
in G42 marks a pivotal moment in our company's journey of growth
and innovation, signifying a strategic alignment of vision and
execution between the two organizations. This partnership is a
testament to the shared values and aspirations for progress,
fostering greater cooperation and synergy globally."
The partnership will also support the development of a skilled
and diverse AI workforce and talent pool that will drive innovation
and competitiveness for the UAE and broader region with the
investment of $1B in a development
fund for developers.
"Our two companies will work together not only in the UAE, but
to bring AI and digital infrastructure and services to underserved
nations," said Brad Smith,
Microsoft Vice Chair and President. "We will combine
world-class technology with world-leading standards for safe,
trusted, and responsible AI, in close coordination with the
governments of both the UAE and the
United States."
The commercial partnership is backed by assurances to both
governments through a first of its kind agreement to apply
world-class best practices to ensure the secure, trusted, and
responsible development and deployment of AI. Microsoft and G42
will work closely and elevate the security and compliance framework
of their joint international infrastructure. Both companies will
move forward with a commitment to comply with US and international
trade, security, responsible AI, and business integrity laws and
regulations. The work on these topics is governed by a detailed
Intergovernmental Assurance Agreement (IGAA) between G42 and
Microsoft that was developed in close consultation with both the
UAE and US governments.
Peng Xiao, Group Chief
Executive Officer of G42, said: "Through Microsoft's
strategic investment, we are advancing our mission to deliver
cutting-edge AI technologies at scale. This partnership
significantly enhances our international market presence, combining
G42's unique AI capabilities with Microsoft's robust global
infrastructure. Together, we are not only expanding our operational
horizons but also setting new industry standards for
innovation."
Samer Abu-Ltaif, Microsoft
Corporate Vice President and President, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, added: "Our investment in G42
stands as a testament to the thriving and dynamic tech landscape in
the UAE and the broader region. This strategic partnership is
well-positioned to ignite opportunities for our customers and
partners, accelerate innovation, and fuel economic growth. With
G42, we will introduce cutting-edge technologies that will empower
countries and markets to advance their digital agendas by
harnessing the power of Cloud and AI."
The collaboration between G42 and Microsoft has expanded through
several milestones over the last year. This includes a joint plan
announced in April 2023 to develop AI
solutions tailored for the public sector and industry, leveraging
Microsoft's extensive partner ecosystem and cloud capabilities. In
September 2023, the companies entered
into an agreement to introduce sovereign cloud offerings and
collaborate on unlocking the potential of advanced AI capabilities
on the Azure public cloud platform. Lastly, in November 2023, Microsoft announced the
availability of G42's Jais Arabic Large Language Model on the new
Azure AI Cloud Model-as-a-Service offering.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft)
enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud
and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and
every organization on the planet to achieve more.
About G42
G42 is a technology holding group, a global
leader in creating visionary artificial intelligence for a better
tomorrow. Born in Abu Dhabi and
operating worldwide, G42 champions AI as a powerful force for good
across industries. From molecular biology to space exploration and
everything in between, G42 realizes exponential possibilities,
today.
To know more visit www.g42.ai
Media contacts
For Microsoft
Microsoft Media Relations, WE
Communications for Microsoft, (425) 638-7777
rapidresponse@we-worldwide.com
For G42
Ulviyya Hasanzade, Director of Corporate
Communications, G42
ulviyya.hasanzade@g42.ai
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