Microsoft Expands Partnership with G42 AI in Middle East

Microsoft and G42 Join Forces to Propel AI Innovation

In a landmark development for artificial intelligence (AI), Microsoft has fortified its alliance with G42, an eminent AI entity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), introducing an expanded suite of advanced AI solutions that harness the power of Microsoft Azure. This move encompasses a varied array of industries and geographies, specifically targeting the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Strengthening this strategic union, Microsoft plans to invest $1.5 billion in G42, acquiring a minority interest in the company. Additionally, Microsoft Vice Chair and President, Brad Smith, will bring further depth to the G42 board of directors, complementing the mutual cooperation and synergy that these tech giants share.

This financial commitment will also support the establishment of a $1 billion development fund aimed at nurturing AI prowess within the UAE and the broader region. This investment epitomizes the focus on building a robust AI-savvy community, propelling the region into the forefront of digital transformation.

The dynamism of Microsoft Cloud’s vast functionalities, coupled with its nuanced AI capabilities, is set to revolutionize G42’s ambitious strategy. The objective: to birth generative AI, alongside trailblazing infrastructure and services, catering to an assortment of customers from sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and government to education. Ensuring this technological leap adheres to strict guidelines, there’s a pledge made by both corporations to uphold a high-security and compliance framework for their international infrastructure. This will be governed by a detailed Intergovernmental Assurance Agreement, which draws upon inputs from both UAE and U.S. authorities.

The groundwork of the partnership lies in G42’s confidence in Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem. By expanding its commitment to deploying Microsoft Cloud solutions, G42 reiterates its belief in Microsoft’s capacity to reinforce its offerings and deliver refined solutions to its clientele. As part of the drive, G42 will transition its data platform and critical tech infrastructure to Microsoft Azure, taking full advantage of the latter’s unmatched performance, scalability, and security features.

With its eyes on the future, G42, through this transition to Azure, aims to bolster its AI product development, consequently accelerating service delivery to global customers. Microsoft Azure stands out with its ability to facilitate the creation of AI images generator, which opens a myriad of possibilities across different sectors, demonstrating the transformative potential of AI tools.

In the realm of language processing, a significant step forward taken by G42 is the introduction of Jais, the world’s inaugural Arabic Large Language Model (LLM). Developed through a partnership with Cerebras, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and Med42, Jais is set to be integrated into the Azure AI Model Catalog. Offering a pioneering platform for over 400 million Arabic speakers, Jais has the ability to explore the depths of generative AI, a testament to the latest AI news & developments.

Taking a leap in healthcare, G42 subsidiary M42, along with partners such as the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Microsoft, and the International Center for Genetic Disease (ICGD), is facilitating precision medicine through AI applications on Terra—a secure platform for biomedical research on Azure. Here, anonymized genomic data from extensive projects such as the Emirati Genome Program contribute to global clinical research, disease prevention, and precision medicine.

Furthermore, the Microsoft and G42 partnership aims to accelerate digital innovation beyond UAE borders. By setting up low-latency data center infrastructure in emerging markets, they plan to catalyze digital metamorphosis across pivotal industries, ensuring these regions have access to state-of-the-art services.

Last but not least, the collaboration promises to cultivate a skilled, diverse AI workforce that will bolster innovation and competitiveness within the UAE and neighboring regions. This is exemplified by the substantial $1 billion invested in a developer fund, nurturing the talent necessary to propel the region to AI excellence.

Through such endeavors, Microsoft and G42 are not only reshaping technological landscapes but also deeply committed to democratizing AI capabilities, ensuring secure, trusted, and responsible advancement that benefits all.