Responsible AI Foundation launched by G42 and Microsoft
Foundation to advance responsible AI in the Middle East and Global South
#France #UAE #ResponsibleAI – Abu Dhabi-based AI and cloud computing company G42, and the world’s largest software company Microsoft have launched the Responsible AI Foundation, the first centre of its kind in the Middle East. Announced at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, the initiative is supported by research partner Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). The new foundation aims to set AI governance standards for the Middle East and the Global South. G42’s applied research lab Inception will serve as the Programme Lead.
SO WHAT? – Responsible AI has risen up the agenda for governments, large organisations and the technology sector, as they seek to mitigate risk from the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence. The UAE has purposefully increased its participation in global discussions about Responsible AI, AI ethics and potential AI regulation over the past five years and aims to be a leading voice in global debate on the subject. Although a number of Responsible AI meetings and forums have been held by the UAE over the years, there is certainly room for a more permanent initiative such as the new Responsible AI Foundation.
Highlights from this announcement:
G42 and Microsoft have partnered to establish the Responsible AI Foundation in Abu Dhabi, focusing on ethical AI standards and governance.
The foundation has been formed with the support of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) as the official research partner, contributing to AI safety methodologies, bias mitigation, and explainability tools. Meanwhile, G42 subsidiary Inception will lead the foundation’s programs to translate ethical principles into actionable AI frameworks.
The foundation will focus on two core areas: Responsible AI research (advancing fairness, transparency, and accountability) and Responsible AI implementation & Governance (developing risk models and ethics guidelines).
The first hires for the new foundation include Dr. Laura Haaber Ihle, an expert in AI governance and ethics, who will lead governance, policy, and ethical frameworks.
AI for Good Lab, Microsoft’s initiative for AI-driven social impact, is also expanding to Abu Dhabi, targeting projects in the Middle East and Global South.
The lab will begin work in March 2025, collaborating with NGOs and governments on AI solutions for social challenges.
ZOOM OUT – G42 and Microsoft first announced plans for a Responsible AI centre in September 20244, in collaboration with the emirate’s policy and planning body, the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC). The original announcement was made just a few months after the news that Microsoft had invested $1.5 billion in the G42, adding Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft to the group’s board of directors. Comprehensive AI governance is a priority for the G42 group, which this month published its new Frontier AI Safety Framework, reinforcing its commitment to the AI Seoul Summit’s Frontier AI Safety Commitments and the Bletchley Declaration.
Read more about G42 and Microsoft:
Microsoft to open Global Engineering Dev. Centre (Middle East AI News)
G42 & Microsoft prioritise responsible AI (Middle East AI News)
Microsoft & G42 announce $1b digital investment in Kenya (Middle East AI News)
Microsoft's $1.5 billion investment a pivotal moment for G42 (Middle East AI News)