After ditching Chinese funding, UAE forges AI alliance with US in ‘tech hedging strategy’
While the UAE seeks to diversify its tech options, it is unlikely to completely abandon AI collaboration with China, opting for a ‘tech hedging strategy’
The agreement was formalised last Monday, with the two countries’ national security advisers endorsing “common principles for cooperation on AI” during a meeting in Washington.
Under these principles, state-owned Emirati tech companies will avoid partnerships with Chinese AI firms flagged by the US for national security concerns.
But analysts expect collaboration with Chinese firms to continue in politically neutral fields like renewable energy.
Biden highlighted the pact, along with deepening defence ties and the nations shared interests in “preventing conflict and de-escalation”, as grounds for formally recognising the UAE as a “major defence partner” – a status that will enhance military cooperation, interoperability and advanced weapons transfers between the two.
