Sam Altman Views UAE as Potential Global AI Regulatory and Testing Ground

The AI Boom has made AI research and development an endeavor explored by numerous countries. As of 2024, 60% of the biggest AI researchers belong in the US with $249B of private funding in total, and China has dedicated about $95B on AI investments. In addition to these two countries, the UK, Canada, France, and the UAE have greatly dedicated their resources to AI development.

Early this year, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, HH Skeikh Mohamed, unveiled the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council, created as an initiative to embrace and shape AI in the country while still recognizing AI risk. This council further cements the country’s commitment to the cause of AI advancements and the innovation that comes with them.

In light of this show of commitment, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recognizes UAE’s potential competence and ability as a leader in the testing and regulation of AI, shown through the discussion and testimony of turning the country into an AI “regulatory sandbox.”

AI Risk and Regulations

During his virtual appearance at the World Government Summit (WGS) last February, Altman highlighted the importance of AI regulation. This view has certainly become familiar to many in the AI community as Altman testified in front of the US Congress last May with a request to build AI regulations.

The request was prompted by his belief that though the tech is vital for innovation, it has become much too powerful and difficult to control, making the regulation of AI greatly vital. Altman was also one of the signees of the Center for AI Safety’s “Statement on AI Risk,” showing that Altman’s views of AI being an entity that could pose a risk if unregulated is still one of the same.

After witnessing the UAE’s dedication to AI development, along with the country’s capability to do so, Altman developed a sense of trust and confidence that the UAE could potentially become a testing ground for AI technologies and shape AI regulatory frameworks at a global scale, lessening AI risk.

Research and Development

During the summit, Altman emphasized that making the UAE the “regulatory sandbox” for AI would open up the world to the societal impacts of AI far greater than if one chooses to develop regulatory ideas in isolation.

If pragmatic regulations were to be made by a country with much impact in the field and an advantageous location in the world economy, Altman believes that international laws could be influenced and informed at a greater scale with more ease, which he hopes would eventually lead to the safer use and development of artificial intelligence.

While there are no particular AI laws or regulations in the UAE at the moment, Altman’s trust in the UAE might also be heavily supported by the country’s decision to create the “Ethical AI Toolkit,” which essentially outlines the requirements for AI systems to be considered safe, transparent, and accountable.

Aside from his testimony of the UAE’s ability in AI regulatory matters, Altman unveiled OpenAI’s plans to make some of its large language models open-source. He also disclosed OpenAI’s goal of developing AI tools for undeveloped countries that cannot afford the exorbitant expenses that AI development is known to demand from creators.

Source: Digital Dubai

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