BlackRock chief Larry Fink, Microsoft’s chief Satya Nadella and Nvidia founder Jensen Huang met the UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser, in Washington on Thursday.
The meeting came a day after the announcement that the AI Infrastructure Partnership, an artificial intelligence consortium backed by Abu Dhabi-based technology company MGX, would receive a significant boost from Nvidia and xAI.
The two US technology companies will be joining BlackRock and Microsoft, which first announced support for the infrastructure investment partnership last year.
“I discussed with Larry Fink, Satya Nadella and Jensen Huang our shared commitment to harnessing AI’s transformative potential to accelerate global growth and drive groundbreaking innovation,” wrote Sheikh Tahnoon on X.
Mr Huang, who recently delivered a keynote address at the company's GTC conference in California, joined the meeting by video link.
“With new partners joining the AI Infrastructure Partnership, we are expanding our capabilities to address the increasing global demand for advanced data centres and sustainable energy solutions,” Sheikh Tahnoon added.
He said the meeting had helped to solidify the UAE’s vision for developing AI technologies that enhance global productivity, while also propelling “our collective progress toward a sustainable future".
Peng Xiao, group chief executive of UAE artificial intelligence company G42, also joined the discussions.
Earlier this week, Sheikh Tahnoon met President Donald Trump in Washington.
Mr Trump said the discussions – held as part of Sheikh Tahnoon's official visit – centred on efforts to strengthen co-operation on the economy and technology, and also served to highlight the “long-standing ties and bonds of friendship” between the nations.
In a post on his Truth Social platform shared on X, Mr Trump said he had hosted Sheikh Tahnoon for meetings and a dinner on Tuesday evening, which was also attended by prominent US officials.
On Wednesday, Sheikh Tahnoon met Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk.
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31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
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