The firm G42 is at the forefront of the UAE’s drive to become a major player in AI. Controlled by the country’s national security advisor, the startup is signing deals around the world, working with technology companies in the U.S. including both Microsoft and OpenAI. Following the Abraham Accords, it became the first UAE company to announce an international office in Israel, all the way back in 2020. And it also has many business relationships in China.
That latter country is reportedly sparking concerns among U.S. officials. Biden officials have pushed the AI company to sever its ties with Chinese companies such as Huawei, which provided the G42’s technology infrastructure, The New York Times reported on Monday, citing government officials speaking on background. (The U.S. sanctioned Huawei in 2020, alleging the tech firm had close ties to China’s military.) The CIA has even issued a classified report on CEO Peng Xiao, according to the report. Xiao was asked about the report at Fortune's Global Forum in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
