Sheikh Tahnoon, Zuckerberg, G42 Chief Discuss UAE-US AI Collaboration

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser, met with G42 CEO Peng Xiao and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, as revealed in a social media update.

The location of the meeting was not specified, but it follows Sheikh Tahnoon’s recent engagements with leading US tech figures, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Jensen Huang, and Satya Nadella, along with senior officials from the US administration.

A representative from G42 stated that Sheikh Tahnoon and Zuckerberg had an insightful discussion on artificial intelligence, robotics, and the future of technology. In a LinkedIn post, G42 highlighted how recent meetings with global leaders, including Alex Karp, Musk, Bezos, Huang, Larry Fink, and Nadella, signal AI’s shift from concept to reality.

The post also emphasised that AI development is evolving into a global movement, ensuring inclusivity for the Global South and promoting AI as an interconnected intelligence network rather than a competition.

The White House announced a UAE-led $1.4 trillion investment framework for US AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing over the next decade. This initiative emerged following extensive discussions between UAE and US officials, spearheaded by Sheikh Tahnoon.

During Sheikh Tahnoon’s official visit, former US President Donald Trump commended the UAE’s role in fostering regional stability, noting that discussions focused on strengthening economic and technological cooperation, reinforcing the strong bilateral ties.

The UAE, the Arab world’s second-largest economy, has been heavily investing in AI. In 2023, Microsoft committed $1.5 billion to G42 and launched its first Middle East AI for Good Lab in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the UAE has developed advanced AI models like Jais, with Jais Chat—a bilingual mobile app—gaining significant traction.