The UAE and France are pioneering the future of AI

Since the founding of the UAE, the country’s partnership with France has been booming in all fields, from culture to education, from space to clean energies. President Sheikh Mohamed’s visit to France last Thursday has led to a new, historic milestone in this unparalleled partnership. Sheikh Mohamed and French President Emmanuel Macron announced an important framework agreement on artificial intelligence that will have long-term effects and will greatly benefit our two countries. The agreement provides for investments from a consortium of Franco-Emirati champions, with the aim of creating a 1GW data centre dedicated to AI in France. The two leaders expressed their desire to create a strategic partnership in the field of AI and committed to exploring collaborations on projects and investments supporting the development of the AI value chain. This includes the acquisition of cutting-edge chips, data centres and talent development programmes. The scale of activities envisaged under this framework agreement illustrates the richness and dynamism of the relationship between the two countries. It is not a coincidence that the UAE is playing a prominent role in AI. In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, it has emerged as a formidable force and a global leader in this realm. The country has been greatly successful in this endeavour by investing in talent and fostering innovation – notably through the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, which is recognised as a top research institution – paving the way for a future where AI serves as a force for good. Likewise, France positions itself as a leader in AI in Europe with a strong ecosystem made up of nearly 1,000 start-ups, skilled AI engineers and renowned research institutions that include the Paris-Saclay University. Last, but not least, France benefits from affordable, decarbonised electricity, thanks to a vast network of nuclear power plants that offers a key competitive advantage to develop AI. France and the UAE share a common vision of AI, not only when it comes to business opportunities but also the need to ensure that technological progress benefits people while addressing ethical and regulatory challenges. AI is not just a technical evolution, it profoundly changes our relationship to knowledge, work, health, access to information, and even language. This is the reason why Paris is set to host the two-day “Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence” beginning today. This summit aims to put the AI conversation on the centre stage by gathering about 1,000 participants across different sectors, including government, business, research and development and civil society, from around the world. The objectives of this summit are three-fold. First, to reduce the digital gap worldwide to ensure that every individual can benefit from AI. Second, to work together on a more sustainable AI , particularly given that the latest forecasts suggest AI will require 10 times more energy in 2026 than in 2023. Third, there is a need to design an effective and inclusive governance framework for AI, including areas of key importance such as intellectual property. Together, in an atmosphere of trust, there is immense potential to build an AI that serves all, unlocking the full potential of technology and creating a prosperous, open and inclusive world. In an era in which AI is reshaping economies and societies, the historic partnership between France and the UAE has entered a new era and serves as a model of international co-operation, shaping an innovative, knowledge-driven future. This is the future France and the UAE are preparing together.