UAE’s national security adviser oversees Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in AI firm G42

Microsoft’s recent $1.5 billion investment in a technology firm based in the United Arab Emirates has raised eyebrows due to the company’s ties to the country’s national security adviser. The deal between Microsoft and G42, a technology holding company in Abu Dhabi, was announced on Tuesday, with Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, set to join G42’s board of directors.

The agreement, which was developed in consultation with both the UAE and U.S. governments, will see G42 running its AI applications and services on Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. The two companies will also collaborate to bring digital infrastructure to countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa where G42 has a presence.

G42 has been at the center of controversy in the past, with allegations of spying and ties to the Chinese government. The company has previously stated that it would cut ties to Chinese hardware suppliers over concerns raised by the U.S. government.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, serves as the chairman of G42’s board, adding another layer of complexity to the deal. Despite these concerns, the U.S. Commerce Department described the UAE as a “global player in cutting edge technology” and emphasized the importance of responsible management in such investments.

Microsoft and G42’s partnership highlights the growing intersection of technology and geopolitics, raising questions about the implications of such collaborations in an increasingly interconnected world.