The UAE’s 50 chief artificial intelligence officers are on a 10-day US tour, visiting leading technology companies to gain early exposure to frontier AI innovations. The programme, which began on September 14, has taken them from Silicon Valley to Seattle, with stops at Google, Meta, OpenAI, Palantir, Nvidia, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Dr Abdelrahman Al Mahmoud, director at the AI, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office, said the aim is to ensure UAE officials are among the first to access and pilot unreleased technologies, some expected to launch within three to five years. The trip, organised with the Dubai Centre for AI, is part of Vision 2031 to position the UAE as a leading digital economy.
Amal Abdulrahim, chief AI and innovation officer at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, highlighted how companies like Google and Nvidia showcased AI solutions for climate action, biodiversity, and food security. She noted the UAE’s unique context makes it ideal for piloting early-stage technologies.
The delegation also met over 180 executives through the US-UAE Business Council, with discussions on co-development, investment, and cyber risk collaboration. While no agreements were disclosed, officials hinted at forthcoming MoUs. The tour concludes in Seattle with a focus on cloud services, generative AI, and enterprise applications, after which UAE officers will convene to set priorities for implementation.
