CEO CHAT

G42’s Peng Xiao says AI coordination on track with U.S.

Xiao at GITEX: 'What I can tell you right now is that the relationship bilaterally, between the U.S. and the UAE cannot be stronger'

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai, visited GITEX on Monday. (Abu Dhabi Media Office)

Robots ambled through the vast exhibition halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre today, capturing the attention of thousands of participants during Day 2 of the GITEX Global 2024 conference, The Circuit’s Omnia Al Desoukie reports.

Racing through the international crowd were late arrivals for panel discussions featuring some of the top luminaries in AI research, many delayed by the bumper-to-bumper traffic that annually accompanies the Middle East’s biggest tech conference.

Those who squeezed into today’s showcase session heard Peng Xiao, CEO of the UAE’s G42 artificial intelligence company, back from a trip to the U.S. after recently completing deals with Nvidia, Microsoft and Open AI.

“What I can tell you right now is that the relationship bilaterally, between the U.S. and the UAE cannot be stronger,” Xiao said. “Everything from defense to technology collaboration – we reached a new height.”

Calling attention to a new Climate Technology Center that he announced earlier with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, the G42 chief said the two companies are using advanced hardware and software capabilities “to unlock the mystery of weather forecasting and the prevention and handling of extreme weather,” adding, “We are right now working with the best and brightest.”

Among those visiting the conference during its opening day on Monday was Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai and the UAE’s vice President Prime Minister, who pointed to a 40% increase in international participation at the event as an indication of Dubai’s global importance in AI. Among the pavilions at which he stopped were those of G42, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Etisalat, Huawei and H3C.

“We have a clear vision to advance the UAE’s leadership in the global digital and technology landscape, making it the world’s most future-ready nation,” Sheikh Mohammed said.