Based in Abu Dhabi, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) added that it would set up a joint research facility with Nvidia, marking the launch of the first Nvidia AI Technology Center for the region. The new facility was unveiled on Monday and emphasises the growth of the United Arab Emirates' importance in the global competition to create artificial intelligence.

The new centre would expedite research and development in newer AI models and robotic platforms, said TII in its press note. The research centre would combine its multidisciplinary capabilities and Nvidia's leading-edge industry AI architectures and computational capability, it said, to develop revolutionary technologies in robotics, automation, and applied artificial intelligence, both areas critical to future industrial and economic transformation in both nations.

Strategic milestone for the Middle East

“Nvidia AI Technology Center in Abu Dhabi is also being pegged as an innovation anchor for this region. It'll concentrate on high-impact applications in robotic arms, four-legged robots, and humanoid robots,” says Najwa Aaraj, CEO at TII.

“This accord grants us access to Nvidia's latest edge GPU processors, and in particular to their new Thor chip, optimized for its cutting-edge robotic systems," Aaraj noted in an interview. "This is an inflection point in driving our research roadmap in robots."

UAE's multi-billion-dollar AI dream

UAE, one of the world's premier oil exporters, has been gradually diversifying its economy through massive investments in artificial intelligence and technology. Setting up an Nvidia AI Technology Center is an expression of such national policy to make it one of the world's premier AI destinations.

In the past year, the UAE agreed to construct one of the world's largest data centers in Abu Dhabi, which would have heavy dependency on American technology and Nvidia processors. While the agreement has been put on hold subject to geopolitical considerations, it evidentiates the Gulf state's eagerness to procure state-of-the-art AI infrastructure.

Global cooperation in competition

Nvidia, whose American chipmaking business has been at the heart of the global AI craze, has been working with TII for some years. The institute has been training its own large-scale language models utilizing Nvidia's GPUs and developing core skills for its AI activities.

“Installation of the Nvidia AI Technology Center is an official expansion of this partnership. The two partners will assign dedicated teams to this laboratory, news staff to be hired exclusively for this venture. The project negotiations commenced around one year ago,” explained Aaraj.

Future Prospects

Together, both the strengths of TII and those of Nvidia, Abu Dhabi's new facility will attract global talent and provide an unprecedented foundation for innovation in research in AI and robotics. The facility will also serve as a test ground to apply AI in production systems in day-to-day life, from industrial automation to cutting-edge service robots.

For the United Emirates, the opening of the Nvidia AI Technology Center represents not just a technological jump, but also a geopolitical indicator of its aspiration to be a leader in artificial intelligence, in tandem with classical leaders in North America, Europe, and Asia.