At an AI research lab on the edges of Abu Dhabi last year, an international team of 25 computer scientists were putting the finishing touches on a deep learning algorithm before sending it to be trained on 4,000 powerful computer chips. The AI system, which cost several million dollars to train, was funded by an arm of the Abu Dhabi government called the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). Despite the government's substantial investment, ATRC director Faisal Al Bannai decided to release the finished model online for free. If it was as good as the team believed, the boost to the United Arab Emirates' reputation would be all the return the government needed on its investment, he reasoned. When the AI, named Falcon after the UAE's national bird, was publicly released last September, it became a sensation. By some measures it was the best open-source large language model (LLM) available in the world at that point, outperforming top offerings from Meta and Google.

Dubai aims to become a hot bed for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. The city has invested billions of dollars to realise those ambitions. Over the years, the Gulf metropolis has unveiled a string of programmes to attract startups and established companies to set up shop in the city. On paper, those initiatives have born fruit. Capital is flowing into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in general and into Dubai in particular.

Humans are not going to be completely replaced by technology in the UAE, said Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. "We don't believe in the UAE that humans are going to be completely replaced by technology… We have seen certain sectors that have completely transformed such as aviation, automobiles, and transport as well. They are increasingly becoming technology-driven sectors and no longer dependent on humans," Al Olama said at the launch of the National Digital Talent Programme. Launched by Emirates NBD, the programme will nurture a pool of 300 young future-ready interns over the next four years. The programme has been launched in cooperation with the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, Higher Colleges of Technology and the University of Sharjah.

The world's first minister for artificial intelligence says the United Arab Emirates isn't only looking for economic benefits as it seeks to become a leading nation in the sector. The UAE's minister of state for AI, Omar bin Sultan al-Olama, said "quality of life" considerations were key, and also stressed the importance of a "responsible" rollout -- with impacts potentially reverberating for decades. "We are looking at AI as a tool," he told AFP in an interview in Dubai. "It's a tool that we need to use to unleash the quality of life aspect." The UAE also calls AI "machine intelligence", defining it as a branch of technology enabling systems to "think, learn, and make decisions like humans", which can support everything from virology to transport.

The world's first minister for artificial intelligence says the United Arab Emirates isn't only looking for economic benefits as it seeks to become a leading nation in the sector. The UAE's minister of state for AI, Omar bin Sultan al-Olama, said "quality of life" considerations were key, and also stressed the importance of a "responsible" rollout--with impacts potentially reverberating for decades. "We are looking at AI as a tool," he told AFP in an interview in Dubai. "It's a tool that we need to use to unleash the quality of life aspect." The UAE also calls AI "machine intelligence", defining it as a branch of technology enabling systems to "think, learn, and make decisions like humans", which can support everything from virology to transport.

Dubai has emerged as a leading centre for research and development in emerging industries with a primary focus on embracing new technologies. Digital transformation in the government and private sector across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is further strengthening Dubai's position as a global tech hub. The Emirate is building momentum as a knowledge-based economy by large-scale adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which is benefiting businesses in multiple ways. "AI is a game-changer for businesses since it improves productivity, lowers cost, unlocks job expansion and creates growth opportunities," states Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. Al Olama, in fact, is the first minister dedicated to AI by any government in the world.

AI leads to'great return on investment' in dealing with pandemic The UAE approached the COVID-19 pandemic "as a scientist," said Omar Al Olama, the UAE's Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. Al Olama was appointed by the UAE as the first artificial intelligence (AI) minister in the world in 2017, when he was just 27 years old. That year, his ministry launched a strategy "to become one of the world leaders in AI by 2031." The COVID-19 pandemic, it turns out, may have accelerated the UAE's applications of AI to governance and public health, and to establishing the Emirates as a world leader in AI, as Al Olama, now 31, explained in an exclusive Zoom interview with Al-Monitor on Nov. 18. Al Olama describes a policy response to the pandemic by the UAE that has been data- and analytics-driven and characterized by openness to different ideas, nimbleness in response to changing events, and willingness to accept calculated risks. "We actually were very open to many different solutions, and many different theories out there," he said. "And we worked with everyone, from the East and the West, to try to find the right solutions that can be deployed in the UAE to make us go back to living a relatively normal life. Not the normal life that we're used to. People still need to wear masks. There's still a lot of focus on the general community's safety, but AI played a big role in getting us to this point."

There will be a "new world disorder" if nations don't adapt to artificial intelligence (AI), a top government official told a digital conference in Abu Dhabi. Speaking at the Digital Next Summit which kicked off on Sunday, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, said the world is witnessing a shift in all aspects of society. "AI is now being used in all spheres and it is transforming every walk of life. This requires all governments to adapt to new technologies as fast as possible to cope with the changing world," Al Olama said. "AI is applied in national security, finance, healthcare, education, criminal justice, transportation, smart cities, and elsewhere."

The UAE launched a new initiative to boost the country's status as a "global leader" in artificial intelligence. The project, titled the UAE AI Network,will bring together public and private sector organisations and academic institutions to help shape the nation's ambitious strategy to successfully integrate the technology. Artificial intelligence isn't coming to the UAE - it is already here World's first artificial intelligence university to open in Abu Dhabi "The UAE has made significant growth in its AI development and adoption road map globally, by connecting governments, private entities and international organisations to provide supportive platforms for this technology," said Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, after launching the initiative. "The UAE AI Network is a concrete step towards achieving our leadership's vision in positioning the UAE as a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031, as well as developing an integrated system that employs artificial intelligence in vital areas in the UAE." He said the project sought to bring together governments, private entities, international organisations, start-ups, research centres, academic institutions, business incubators and accelerators under one roof to discuss AI.

As of late, the UAE has turned out to be synonymous with progression and cutting-edge advancement. So, it does not shock to see the nation driving the path with artificial intelligence (AI), which is set to play an important job in the nation's Centennial 2071 undertaking. The Emirati country is positioned as the first in the Arab world with regards to receiving AI in all parts of life. In the previous couple of years, its authorities have been centered around acquainting AI advances with the nation. The UAE's Cabinet has adopted another'National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031' planned for situating the UAE as a worldwide pioneer in AI.