Peng Xiao, group chief executive of G42, and Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, during a signing ceremony for the partnership. Photo: G42
Peng Xiao, group chief executive of G42, and Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, during a signing ceremony for the partnership. Photo: G42
Peng Xiao, group chief executive of G42, and Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, during a signing ceremony for the partnership. Photo: G42
Peng Xiao, group chief executive of G42, and Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, during a signing ceremony for the partnership. Photo: G42

ChatGPT maker OpenAI teams up with Abu Dhabi's G42 in Middle East expansion push


Alvin R Cabral
  • English
  • Arabic

OpenAI, the maker of the generative artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT, has teamed up with Abu Dhabi cloud and AI company G42 as it seeks to expand its footprint in the Middle East.

The partnership will focus on using OpenAI’s generative AI models in verticals where G42 operates, including financial services, energy, health care and public services, G42 said on Wednesday.

The companies will collaborate to develop solutions and establish them for specific uses, as well as to grow the advancement of generative AI. These solutions aim to simplify the adoption of generative AI services.

The partnership was signed by Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, and Peng Xiao, group chief executive of G42, on the sidelines of the Gitex Global technology conference in Dubai on Wednesday.

The collaboration will lay the foundation for “equitable advancements” in generative AI across the globe, Mr Altman said.

“Our partnership with G42 is a significant commitment to further harnessing AI's transformative power. Leveraging G42's industry expertise, we aim to empower businesses and communities with effective solutions that resonate with the nuances of the region,” he said.

The AI industry, long used in businesses and society, was brought forward by the emergence of ChatGPT, created by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

The praise for the technology, due to its advanced conversational skills, sparked a race between the biggest technology companies and personalities, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle and Elon Musk.

Generative AI is expected to hold immense economic potential. GCC countries are expected to reap about $23.5 billion in economic benefits by 2030 as investments in generative AI continue to grow, PwC unit Strategy& Middle East said last month.

The UAE has also been considered to be leading the GCC's “enthusiasm” towards the use of generative AI and its adoption of the emerging technology is standing out on the global stage, a top executive of PwC Middle East said last week.

The Middle East and the Arabic-speaking world present a significant opportunity for generative AI.

Arabic is one of the most widespread languages worldwide – spoken by more than 400 million people, according to WorldData. It is the official language in 22 countries and partly spoken in 11 others.

However, its online presence is minuscule, with only about 1 per cent of content in Arabic.

The UAE has made strides in the industry, having already unveiled major large language models – the underlying algorithm that powers generative AI – to stress its intentions of becoming a leader in the industry.

Abu Dhabi government-backed research centre Technology Innovation Institute launched its Falcon flagship LLM and its advanced iteration to grow generative artificial intelligence capabilities in the region.

Abu Dhabi AI company G42's unit Inception, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Silicon Valley-based Cerebras Systems launched Jais, an open-source bilingual Arabic-English model.

The TII, the research and applied research unit of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council, last year launched Noor, which at the time was the world’s largest Arabic natural language processing.

The OpenAI-G42 partnership is positioning AI as a “transformative force for good, fuelling innovation and progress”, Mr Xiao said.

“It transcends technological synergy; it's a convergence of value and vision … to shape a future where AI benefits all of humanity.”

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tell-tale signs of burnout

- loss of confidence and appetite

- irritability and emotional outbursts

- sadness

- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue

- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more

- impaired judgement

- excessive and continuous worrying

- irregular sleep patterns

 

Tips to help overcome burnout

Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’

Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do

Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones

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Top financial tips for graduates

Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:

1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.

2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.

3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.

4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.

The low down on MPS

What is myofascial pain syndrome?

Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (­connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).

What are trigger points?

Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft ­tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and ­sustained posture are the main culprits in developing ­trigger points.

What is myofascial or trigger-point release?

Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle ­sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in ­connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. ­Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.

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Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

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Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

T20 World Cup Qualifier

Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets

Qualified teams

1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman

T20 World Cup 2020, Australia

Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

Updated: October 18, 2023, 5:06 PM`