Nvidia is expanding its influence in the UAE by providing free AI models designed to run on its hardware. The company recently invested $7 billion in the startup Poolside to license its tools for model development. A new model, expected to be named Nemotron 4, is scheduled for release by the end of the year.
The UAE is currently building a flagship data center equipped with 400 000 Nvidia chips. The state-backed AI firm G42, which recently severed ties with Chinese technology companies to secure access to U.S. hardware, has joined an Nvidia-led alliance focused on open-weight models. This move signals a potential shift in the country's technology strategy.
The Technology Innovation Institute, another key player in the UAE, continues to prioritize developing sovereign AI models from scratch, such as the Falcon model released in 2023. Officials at the institute emphasize the importance of mastering the entire technology stack to maintain control, though they remain open to integrating external solutions.
Nvidia is also moving to strengthen its ecosystem by agreeing to acquire the AI platform Hugging Face for nearly $13 billion. This strategy aims to compete with Chinese models, which saw approximately 2 billion downloads this year. By offering free models, Nvidia seeks to ensure its hardware remains the primary choice for global AI infrastructure.
