Sam Altman bets on the UAE, believes it will become a ‘regulatory sandbox’ for AI

Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, has suggested that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could become a global “regulatory sandbox” for testing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and eventually shaping international regulations governing their use.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in a virtual appearance, Altman highlighted the challenges of devising effective AI regulations in isolation. He proposed that the UAE could provide a controlled environment for experimenting with AI innovations, allowing for insights into what works and what doesn’t.

Altman, known for his leadership in bringing AI technology to the forefront through initiatives like ChatGPT, emphasized the necessity of unified global policies to manage future advancements in AI. He identified the UAE as a potential leader in these discussions, citing its strong commitment to AI development.

These remarks coincide with Altman’s efforts to attract investors in the Middle East for a semiconductor project aimed at advancing AI capabilities. While the UAE has made significant investments in AI and prioritized it as a key policy area, its connections with China have raised concerns in the United States.

Earlier, the CEO of G42, an Emirati AI firm affiliated with UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced plans to reduce its presence in China in response to pressure from Washington. G42 has partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft Corp., and Cerebras Systems Inc.

Altman also revealed that OpenAI intends to release additional large-language models as open source, although specific models are yet to be determined. Additionally, the company aims to develop tools tailored for developing countries that lack the resources to invest heavily in AI development.

Altman stated, “We want to provide solutions that are accessible to countries seeking to leverage AI services,” underscoring OpenAI’s commitment to fostering AI innovation globally.

(With inputs from agencies)