Microsoft.. UAE Leads the World in AI Use

  " AI Tour"

Microsoft.. UAE Leads the World in AI Use

Brad Smith, Vice Chairman and President of Microsoft, affirmed that the UAE is leading the world in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and serves as a model for the world to learn from in developing digital skills.

In his opening remarks today at the AI ​​Tour event in Dubai, Smith said, "There is a country that is literally leading the world, with 59.4 percent of its population already using AI. It's the UAE, which uses AI more than any other country."

He added, "We live in a challenging time. There are tensions, debates, disagreements, and even wars between nations. We must assume that some challenges will remain with us for a long time. Some will always be unpredictable, beyond our control. But at the same time, in this challenging time, there is a world full of opportunities and hope. One of the things I love about coming to the UAE is seeing hope increasingly becoming a reality." He noted that he sees the UAE as a beacon of hope.

He pointed out that the adoption of AI is accelerating, but it is not yet... Globally, he said, “If you look at the study released by Microsoft, there are some regions of the world where 25% to 35%, or even 59%, of the population uses artificial intelligence, and there are other regions where the percentage is less than 10%, sometimes even less than 5%.”

He added, “These gaps should make us think about how technologies like AI can close these gaps or widen them, just as happened with electricity, which appeared 150 years ago, yet 700 million people, mostly in Africa, still lack access to it.”

He emphasized that the successful use of AI depends on specific fundamentals, saying, “There are 8.1 billion people living on Earth today, of whom only 1.2 billion are using AI at the rate of adoption. You can’t use AI as a country, a society, or an individual unless there’s a solid foundation, starting with electricity. There are 700 million people without electricity, so that number automatically drops to 7.4 billion. Then you need internet access, and there are more than 2 billion people without that.” The number then becomes only 5.5 billion, and even if you have electricity and internet access, you still need digital skills, bringing the total down to just 4.3 billion.

Smith noted that Microsoft began the week by announcing a major investment between 2023 and 2029: $15.2 billion to boost artificial intelligence in the UAE.

He said, “We will have spent $7.3 billion by the end of December, with the other half to be invested later. This investment includes $1.5 billion in G42, over $5 billion to build AI infrastructure, and the remainder to support people’s employment and strengthen the network of partners in the UAE.”

He pointed out that investment is not just about numbers; it’s based on strategy and philosophy. Investment is good, but ultimately, it comes down to three elements that go together: technology, talent, and trust.

On the topic of technology, Smith said, “If there’s any reason to be optimistic that the future might be better than the past, it’s that artificial intelligence will reach the world faster and more equitably than electricity. Major technology companies, including Microsoft, are investing heavily in data centers around the world, including…” The UAE.

On the talent front, Smith praised the UAE’s vision since 2017, when it appointed its first Minister of Artificial Intelligence. He noted that the minister’s first priority was to develop the skills of government employees, emphasizing that this vision and the UAE’s investment in this area could benefit the world.

He also affirmed Microsoft’s commitment to talent development, highlighting its program in the region to train one million people by the end of 2027.

Speaking during a panel discussion with Peng Xiao, CEO of G42 Group, and Samer Abu-Ltaif, President of Microsoft for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Smith addressed the next phase of the partnership between the two companies and Microsoft’s recent $15.2 billion investment in the UAE. Smith emphasized that this investment contributes to strengthening the country’s AI infrastructure, developing local capabilities, and expanding growth opportunities across all economic sectors.