The Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) of Abu Dhabi has formally introduced a newly unveiled artificial intelligence company dubbed AI71. This launch signifies a substantial advancement in reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s status as a global hub for state-of-the-art technologies.
The announcement was made at an exclusive launch event held in the Emirate, where Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, officially introduced the initiative.
Founded in 2020 by former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) was established as an autonomous authority to expedite innovation and exploration. Its mission includes implementing essential regulations and standards to facilitate, fund, and undertake research and development contracts.
VentureOne, the technology commercialization division of ATRC, played a crucial role in the establishment of AI71. This initiative reveals the country’s dedication to rivaling top AI laboratories on a global scale.
As per the statement, the company will focus on the marketing and support of the Falcon Large Language Model (LLM), aiming to democratize AI access, particularly in crucial economic sectors.
During its initial phase, AI71 will introduce LLMs tailored for the medical, legal, education, and government domains. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the council, highlighted that additional sectors would be addressed in the near future.
The newly established AI entity is not only focusing on local partnerships but also intends to establish alliances on a global level. Prominent local entities, such as the office of Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, have already entered into agreements with AI71.
Furthermore, collaborations with global leaders, including Amazon Web Services, PwC, World Wide Technology, CNTXT, and Google Cloud, are anticipated to elevate AI71 onto the international platform.
Al Bannai emphasized the importance of AI71 in advancing the digital economy and promoting the utilization of AI across various sectors. He stated during the launch event that: “We will not be shy in our objectives, we will not be humble in our goals. We are determined to be a key player in shaping where AI is going globally. AI71 will play a pivotal role in this journey,”
He also mentioned that the models created by AI71 would guarantee the privacy and security of user data, with clients retaining firm control.
The UAE has been a leader in groundbreaking generative AI advancements, having previously introduced the Falcon flagship Large Language Model (LLM) and Noor, the world’s largest Arabic natural language model, through TII.
The nation’s progress in this field was further underscored by the recent introduction of Jais, an open-source bilingual Arabic-English model developed collaboratively by G42’s unit Inception, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and Cerebras Systems.
With the increasing global adoption of generative AI, it is expected that the Middle East will experience substantial economic advantages. According to a recent PwC report, Gulf countries are projected to potentially gain approximately $23.5 billion in economic benefits by 2030 through investments in generative AI.
A noteworthy facet of AI71’s strategy is its dedication to ensuring user data privacy and security. In the swiftly changing domain of AI technology, the emergence of AI71 stands as a pivotal development for Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE, propelling the region even closer to the forefront of the global AI competition.
