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Nvidia and Abu Dhabi institute launch joint AI and robotics lab in the UAE - The Economic Times
Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute and Nvidia have launched a joint research lab in the United Arab Emirates that will focus on developing next-generation AI models and robotics platforms, TII said on Monday. The joint research hub is the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East, TII said in a statement, combining its multidisciplinary research with the U.S. company's AI models and computing power, which are fuelling a global artificial intelligence boom. Under the agreement, the institute will be able to use specific edge GPU chips to advance its research on robotics among other areas, said Najwa Aaraj, the CEO of TII, which is working on humanoids, four-legged robots and robotic arms. "It will be a chip that we will newly use...It's called the Thor chip, and it is a chip that enables advanced robotic systems development," Aaraj said in an interview. TII is the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, an Abu Dhabi government entity that is part of the UAE's efforts to become a global AI player. The Gulf country, a major oil exporter, has been spending billions of dollars in recent years on its AI push, looking to leverage its strong relations with the United States to secure access to technology. During a Gulf visit by US President Donald Trump in May, the UAE signed a multi-billion dollar deal to build one of the world's largest data centre hubs in Abu Dhabi with U.S. technology, including the most advanced Nvidia chips. However, the deal has not been finalised amid security concerns due to the UAE's close ties to China, Reuters previously reported citing sources. TII has worked closely with the US company for some time, Aaraj said, adding that TII has been using Nvidia chips to train its own language models. Discussions for the joint lab started around a year ago and the hub will host teams from both parties, Aaraj said, with more staff to be hired specifically for the project.
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Nvidia and Abu Dhabi institute launch joint AI and robotics lab in the UAE
DUBAI (Reuters) -Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute and Nvidia have launched a joint research lab in the United Arab Emirates that will focus on developing next-generation AI models and robotics platforms, TII said on Monday. The joint research hub is the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East, TII said in a statement, combining its multidisciplinary research with the U.S. company's AI models and computing power, which are fuelling a global artificial intelligence boom. Under the agreement, the institute will be able to use specific edge GPU chips to advance its research on robotics among other areas, said Najwa Aaraj, the CEO of TII, which is working on humanoids, four-legged robots and robotic arms. "It will be a chip that we will newly use...It's called the Thor chip, and it is a chip that enables advanced robotic systems development," Aaraj said in an interview. TII is the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, an Abu Dhabi government entity that is part of the UAE's efforts to become a global AI player. The Gulf country, a major oil exporter, has been spending billions of dollars in recent years on its AI push, looking to leverage its strong relations with the United States to secure access to technology. During a Gulf visit by U.S. President Donald Trump in May, the UAE signed a multi-billion dollar deal to build one of the world's largest data centre hubs in Abu Dhabi with U.S. technology, including the most advanced Nvidia chips. However, the deal has not been finalised amid security concerns due to the UAE's close ties to China, Reuters previously reported citing sources. TII has worked closely with the U.S. company for some time, Aaraj said, adding that TII has been using Nvidia chips to train its own language models. Discussions for the joint lab started around a year ago and the hub will host teams from both parties, Aaraj said, with more staff to be hired specifically for the project. (Reporting by Federico Maccioni; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute and Nvidia have established the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East, focusing on next-generation AI models and robotics platforms. This collaboration marks a significant step in the UAE's efforts to become a global AI player.
Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and Nvidia have joined forces to establish a cutting-edge research lab in the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant milestone in the region's artificial intelligence landscape. This collaboration, announced on Monday, aims to develop next-generation AI models and robotics platforms, combining TII's multidisciplinary research capabilities with Nvidia's advanced AI models and computing power
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.Source: Economic Times
The joint research hub holds the distinction of being the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East. This strategic partnership is set to leverage Nvidia's expertise in AI and GPU technology, which has been instrumental in fueling the global artificial intelligence boom
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.Under the agreement, TII will gain access to specific edge GPU chips, enhancing its research capabilities in robotics and related fields. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, highlighted the introduction of the Thor chip, a specialized component designed to enable advanced robotic systems development. TII's current projects include work on humanoids, four-legged robots, and robotic arms, which will benefit significantly from this new technology
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.The establishment of this lab aligns with the UAE's broader ambitions to become a global AI player. As a major oil exporter, the Gulf country has been investing billions of dollars in recent years to advance its AI capabilities. The Technology Innovation Institute, operating as the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, plays a crucial role in this national strategy
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While the UAE has been actively pursuing partnerships with U.S. technology companies, some initiatives have faced challenges. During a Gulf visit by U.S. President Donald Trump in May, the UAE signed a multi-billion dollar deal to construct one of the world's largest data center hubs in Abu Dhabi, incorporating advanced Nvidia chips. However, this deal has not been finalized due to security concerns arising from the UAE's close ties to China, as reported by Reuters
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.TII and Nvidia have a history of collaboration, with TII already utilizing Nvidia chips to train its own language models. The discussions for this joint lab began approximately a year ago, and the facility will host teams from both organizations. Aaraj mentioned that additional staff would be hired specifically for this project, indicating a long-term commitment to the initiative
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