After OpenAI and ChatGPT, Microsoft has decided to invest $1.5 billion in another company, this time from the United Arab Emirates. Named G42, it specializes in artificial intelligence.
Microsoft definitely does not mind allocating large sums to different players in the artificial intelligence sector. The American giant will in fact invest $1.5 billion in G42, an AI company based in the United Arab Emirates. If this participation is currently a minority, it will allow Microsoft to sit on the board of directors of this company. Let’s see what’s underneath this deal.
Microsoft asked G42 to cut ties with China
The operation was only possible after finding common ground around strict reciprocal standards of security and reliability. But ultimately, G42 will use Microsoft Azure cloud services to bring its artificial intelligence applications to life and run it.
The agreement was undoubtedly encouraged by Washington, which in a remote technological struggle with Beijing added four Chinese companies (LINKZOL, Xi’an Like Innovative Information Technology, Beijing Anwise Technology and SITONHOLY) a few days ago to its export blacklist. The latter attempted to seize American artificial intelligence technologies on behalf of the Chinese army and intelligence.
If we are talking to you about this, it is because G42 until now had links with China. The Emirati company has thus ended its investments in the country, and it is in the process of selling off its Chinese equipment, more particularly the Huawei equipment that it uses. Constraints imposed by the United States directly.
A common vision for the future of AI in several regions of the world
Each country therefore had its requirements, and an agreement was eventually reached. As for G42, we know that the sovereign fund Abu Dhabi Mubadala, which holds shares in the company, is particularly active in the world of new technologies, with investments in data centers. The American private equity fund Silver Lake also owns shares in G42.
Together, G42 and Microsoft aim to bring advanced AI and digital infrastructure to countries in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Before this significant investment by the firm at the window, the two companies were already partners, which facilitated discussions. With this agreement, Microsoft continues to assert itself in the AI field.
Source : Reuters
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