G42, an Abu Dhabi-based firm, aims to increase its presence in the U.S. market, fostering advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).
Stepping Up the AI Game: G42's US Expansion
Gulf state powerhouse, Abu Dhabi, is ratcheting up its AI game, with artificial intelligence group G42 setting its sights on a significant expansion in the US. The oil-rich emirate is planning to sink tens of billions of dollars into the country, aiming to cement its position as a global leader in this emerging technology.
Recent corporate filings reveal that G42 has established a US company, marking a move to intensify its presence in the tech-savvy nation. The AI group, supported by Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala, has confirmed its commitment to the US market expansion.
Some of G42's subsidiaries, such as AI applications, cloud computing, and data center companies, are set to unveil their US business plans in the forthcoming months. This push comes as the United Arab Emirates accelerates its bet on AI, integrating the technology into its economic diversification plans and even lawmaking. This heightened investment in the US is part of an endeavor to foster deeper collaboration over the powerful technology.
The influential national security adviser of the UAE, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who chairs G42, has vigorously spearheaded Abu Dhabi’s AI initiatives with Washington. He views the US as the primary source of AI technology and sees this greater US presence as crucial for ensuring these investments materialize.
This increased US presence became evident in March, when Sheikh Tahnoon met with President Donald Trump at the White House, a trip aimed at fortifying bilateral collaboration. As a result of this meeting, the White House announced that the UAE was committed to a $1.4 trillion, 10-year "investment framework" in the US, surpassing the $600bn promised by regional rival Saudi Arabia over four years.
A new US-based company, G42 USA, was registered in Delaware back in January. Subsidiary Core42 has already kicked off operations in the US and has announced plans for launching its services in the country.
Last year, G42 made a $335M investment in US chipmaker Cerebras, an investment that was cleared by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) just last month, albeit with restrictions, allowing it to only purchase non-voting shares. The Abu Dhabi group's increased expansion under the Trump administration comes after its China-born CEO, Peng Xiao, sought to distance G42 from Chinese hardware suppliers, including Huawei, following scrutiny from US lawmakers.
While further details about G42’s expansion in the US remain vague, it is clear that this expansion serves a multi-faceted strategy involving investments, partnerships, and infrastructure development. G42's data center company, Khazna, has revealed plans to build "tens of gigawatts" of global AI data capacity but does not have immediate plans to kick off work in the US. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, so too will G42's role in this dynamic space.
Additional reporting by Tim Bradshaw in London and George Hammond in San Francisco
- G42, an artificial intelligence group backed by Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala, is planning to invest tens of billions of dollars into the US as part of its significant expansion, aiming to further develop their business in the tech-savvy nation.
- The UAE, accelerating its bet on AI, is integrating the technology into its economic diversification plans and even lawmaking, with this investment in the US serving to foster deeper collaboration over the powerful technology.
- Last year, G42 made a $335M investment in US chipmaker Cerebras, an investment that was cleared by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) just last month, albeit with restrictions, allowing it to only purchase non-voting shares.
- The establishment of a US company, G42 USA, was registered in Delaware back in January, and a subsidiary, Core42, has already started operations in the US, announcing plans for launching its services in the country.
- Gulf state powerhouse, Abu Dhabi, is ratcheting up its AI game, with this increased US presence being a crucial part of an endeavor to ensure these investments materialize, as spearheaded by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who sees the US as the primary source of AI technology.
