Falcon and past: Abu Dhabi’s blueprint for nationwide AI governance
As governments around the globe race to outline nationwide synthetic intelligence (AI) methods, Abu Dhabi has emerged as one of the crucial structured and deliberate examples of how AI will be developed responsibly, at scale and with long-term nationwide sovereignty in thoughts.
On the coronary heart of this method is a know-how ecosystem that tightly hyperlinks analysis, governance and deployment. Because the early levels of its AI journey, the UAE has embedded duty, transparency and security into its nationwide technique, with Abu Dhabi enjoying a central position by means of establishments such because the Expertise Innovation Institute (TII).
“From the outset, Abu Dhabi has centered on advancing AI analysis that’s secure, clear and sovereign by design,” stated Ray O Johnson, chief government of TII. “Our aim is to make sure governments, trade and society can undertake AI with confidence.”
TII’s work spans AI security, analysis and deployment frameworks, alongside large-scale analysis programmes. A flagship end result of this effort is Falcon, the UAE’s homegrown massive language mannequin, first launched by TII in 2023. Falcon shortly gained worldwide consideration for its efficiency and for being launched as an open supply mannequin, reflecting Abu Dhabi’s perception that openness and governance can coexist.
Falcon will not be positioned merely as a technical achievement, however as a part of a broader nationwide system for AI improvement. By combining scientific analysis with agile decision-making at a authorities stage, Abu Dhabi goals to speed up adoption whereas sustaining oversight and belief.
This technique has taken an extra step ahead with the launch of the Falcon Basis, a non-profit entity established to spearhead the open-sourcing of generative AI fashions and to construct sustainable ecosystems round them. Starting with Falcon, the muse brings collectively builders, academia, trade and policymakers to collaborate on accountable AI innovation.
“In a world the place AI continues to advance at an unprecedented tempo, initiatives just like the Falcon Basis play an important position in steering AI improvement in direction of better transparency and accessibility,” stated Faisal Al Bannai, secretary normal of the Superior Expertise Analysis Council.
The inspiration is designed to help the customisation of Falcon fashions for particular industries and sectors, whereas offering open computing sources for ongoing analysis and improvement. By lowering dependence on exterior suppliers, it additionally strengthens technological sovereignty and enterprise continuity for organisations working within the UAE and past.
Crucially, the Falcon Basis additionally integrates world finest practices into its regulatory and authorized frameworks, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s emphasis on governance alongside innovation. This alignment of open supply improvement, nationwide oversight and worldwide cooperation displays a particular mannequin for AI at a time when many international locations are nonetheless debating the best way to stability innovation with management.
TII, Falcon and the Falcon Basis illustrate how Abu Dhabi is constructing a coherent AI system, one which helps speedy technological progress whereas prioritising belief, sovereignty and long-term societal influence. In doing so, the emirate is positioning itself not solely as a client of superior AI, but in addition as a world contributor to shaping the way forward for accountable synthetic intelligence.
