UAE and Microsoft Promote Ethical AI Practices
UAE and Microsoft Launch Foundation for Ethical AI
In collaboration with Microsoft, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has established a new foundation aimed at promoting responsible artificial intelligence (AI) standards and practices in the Middle East and Global South regions. The "Responsible AI Foundation" is the first of its kind in the Middle East, presented at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris. The foundation's creation is significantly supported by G42, a leading UAE technology company, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), which will assist the initiative as a research partner.
Furthermore, Microsoft announced the expansion of its AI for Good Lab initiative to Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with G42. These new steps reinforce the UAE's position as a global hub for the development of responsible artificial intelligence.
Goals of the Responsible AI Foundation
The new foundation will focus on two main areas:
Addressing Technical and Ethical Challenges: The foundation will advance responsible AI's technical and ethical elements through pioneering research. This includes developing AI security methodologies, reducing bias, and creating transparency tools. It will also collaborate with global and regional research institutions to establish new standards for AI fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Building Ethical Frameworks: The foundation also aims to develop frameworks that ensure the ethical development and deployment of AI systems, considering cultural diversity. This involves designing risk assessment models, creating external ethical committees, developing technical audit tools, and crafting adaptive governance guidelines that address regional needs. The goal is to ensure inclusive and responsible AI deployment.
Expert Opinions
Dr. Andrew Jackson, Head of Responsible AI at G42, emphasized that the foundation's establishment is a defining moment in shaping the future of responsible AI. “By collaborating with researchers, policymakers, and industry experts, we are creating a platform that promotes the development of ethical AI on a global scale. Our mission is to put principles into practice and create frameworks that ensure safe, fair, and socially aligned AI usage.”
Microsoft’s Responsible AI leader also expressed satisfaction with the new initiative: “Through the Responsible AI Foundation and the AI for Good Lab in Abu Dhabi, we aim to ensure that AI serves not just the Western world but all of humanity. Sharing Microsoft’s eight years of experience, we are committed to fostering a robust, competitive AI economy based on good governance practices, alongside safe, reliable, and ethical AI principles.”
The president of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence believes the foundation is a transformative step towards addressing society’s most critical challenges while adhering to ethical AI standards.
Role of the AI for Good Lab
The AI for Good Lab in Abu Dhabi will collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government institutions to use AI to address social challenges, focusing particularly on projects in the Middle East and Global South regions. Initial researchers will begin work at the new center by March.
The Role of UAE in Global AI Development
The UAE has long been a center of technological innovation, and new initiatives further bolster this status. The establishment of the Responsible AI Foundation and the AI for Good Lab benefits not only the region but the entire world as the development of ethical and responsible AI is in everyone's interest. With this initiative, the UAE clearly indicates its commitment to the social and ethical implications of technological advancement and actively works to ensure AI benefits everyone.
Summary
The creation of the Responsible AI Foundation and the AI for Good Lab signifies that the UAE and Microsoft are taking the ethical and social impacts of artificial intelligence seriously. These new initiatives not only support technological advances but also ensure AI is applied responsibly and fairly. This move strengthens the UAE's position on the global technology map, guiding us towards a future where AI truly serves humanity.
