OpenAI CEO Talks AI with UAE

OpenAI's CEO reportedly engaged in discussions with the president of the UAE regarding the nation's aspirations in artificial intelligence (AI), according to Reuters, citing the UAE state news agency.

Cooperation on AI

The dialogue between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman centered on enhancing collaboration between OpenAI and its UAE counterparts, notably in AI research and its practical uses. According to the agency, this partnership aligns with the UAE's goal to create a comprehensive AI ecosystem that bolsters the country's development initiatives and its pursuit of a knowledge-based economy.

UAE's AI Development

Reuters highlighted the UAE's efforts, as a major oil producer, to establish one of the world's largest AI data centers, alongside the creation of an Arabic-language AI model. The UAE also seeks to leverage its strong ties with the U.S. to gain access to AI technology. A previous agreement was signed in May for the UAE to build one of the largest AI campuses outside the U.S.

Middle East AI Race

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are both actively constructing data centers to compete for AI leadership in the Middle East. Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia had a data center capacity exceeding 300 megawatts, surpassing the UAE's capacity of over 250 megawatts. Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia has planned capacity of 2,200 megawatts, while the UAE anticipates around 500 megawatts.

AI Preparedness

Data from the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) reveals varying levels of AI preparedness in the region. Israel leads, followed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Other countries, excluding Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, rank considerably lower.

Last week, a new version of OpenAI's ChatGPT was launched, aligning with Altman's vision of building infrastructure to make intelligence widely available. This ambition is supported by significant investments, including Nvidia's planned investment to expand OpenAI's compute capacity.