We see eye to eye with US on AI: UAE Minister

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States “really see eye to eye with regards” to cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.

“I think the UAE and the US really see eye to eye with regards to how these technologies are pushed forward,” UAE AI Minister Omar Al Olama, who was appointed in 2017, told CNN in a recent video interview. “I think we’re going to see more alignment there.”

Olama is the world’s first AI minister.

Some alignments have already materialized. A big one came in April when Microsoft announced a $1.5-billion investment in G42, an AI group based in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi. The company is chaired by an influential member of the ruling royal family.

This is reported to be the result of the Biden administration’s endeavor to curtail Beijing’s influence in the region. It is well known that the US is having a tough time in maintaining its lead over China in the AI race. It is a matter of comfort that the UAE-based company is into the orbit of the United States.

The UAE is famous for its oil wealth, but it is also keenly diversifying its economy away from fossil fuels. According to PwC Middle East’s estimates, AI could contribute $96 billion to the UAE economy by 2030, equivalent to nearly 14 per cent of its gross domestic product.

“We want to ensure that we are at the frontier of the technology, and that’s why we work with partners around the frontier,” said Olama, “and play by the rules that are set by the market leaders.”

Olama, whose ministerial remit includes digital economy and remote work applications, wants to make the UAE a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031.

The UAE has chalked out a national strategy to attain that goal. Its objectives include deploying AI in priority sectors such as energy and logistics, developing an ecosystem and attracting talent. The country is putting public officials through AI training, and Dubai is aiming to teach a million citizens effective prompt engineering, instructing AI models to produce high-quality output.