The UAE is gaining attention for releasing a new AI model that is open-source. This move by a government-supported research institute is elevating the UAE’s status in the worldwide AI competition. In Abu Dhabi, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) introduced the Falcon 2 series. One of the models, Falcon 2 11B, is text-based, while another, Falcon 2 11B VLM, can create text descriptions from images. TII is managed by Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council.
The UAE, a big oil exporter in the Middle East, is heavily investing in AI. This has caused tension between the U.S. and China over technology choices. Following the U.S., Emirati company G42 stopped Chinese investments, got rid of Chinese equipment, and received a $1.5 billion investment from Microsoft. Faisal Al Bannai, from the Advanced Technology Research Council, highlights the UAE’s AI role. The Falcon 2 series release is part of the global push for advanced language models. While some keep their AI technology private, the UAE, like Meta’s Llama, makes its work accessible to everyone.
Al Bannai is excited about Falcon 3 generation and confident in UAE’s global competitiveness. He is proud they can compete strongly and make fast strategic decisions, which gives them an edge.
Abu Dhabi’s ruling family controls large funds, about US$1.5 trillion, used for technology growth. The UAE now plays a crucial role in making computer chips for AI. OpenAI’s CEO met with investors, like Sheik Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to talk about investing US$7 trillion in an AI chipmaker to rival Nvidia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Moreover, the UAE is showing strong support for generative AI through a recent release of a guide called Generative AI’ guide. This guide aims to unleash AI’s capabilities in various sectors like education, healthcare, and media. It offers a comprehensive look at generative AI, discussing the challenges and opportunities of digital technologies while highlighting the importance of data privacy. The guide is tailored to help government bodies and the public make use of AI technologies by presenting 100 practical AI examples for entrepreneurs, students, job seekers, and tech enthusiasts. This proactive approach demonstrates the UAE’s dedication to actively participating in and leading the global AI competition, establishing itself as a nation to keep an eye on in the fast-changing tech landscape.
