The first of its type in the Middle East, the Responsible AI Foundation has been officially launched by G42 and Microsoft.

The foundation, which is backed by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), seeks to advance ethical AI best practices and standards throughout the Global South and Middle East.

As the foundation's Program Lead, Inception, a G42 subsidiary, will further the organization's objective to guarantee that AI development stays morally and inclusively sound.

To further solidify the UAE's standing as a global center for ethical AI development, Microsoft and G42 have also announced the extension of their AI for Good Lab to Abu Dhabi.

The Responsible AI Foundation will launch with two key areas:
Responsible AI research: The foundation will lead cutting-edge research into both the technical and ethical elements of Responsible AI. This includes developing methodologies for AI safety, bias mitigation techniques, and explainability tools. Collaboration with global and regional research institutions will set new standards for AI fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Responsible AI implementation and governance: The foundation will design frameworks to ensure the ethical development and deployment of AI systems that account for cultural diversity. These frameworks will involve risk assessment models, external ethics boards, technical audit tools, and adaptable governance guidelines to ensure that AI adoption is responsible, inclusive, and tailored to regional needs.

Furthermore, the AI for Good Lab in Abu Dhabi will act as a regional center, collaborating with governmental and non-governmental groups to use AI to address social issues in the Global South and Middle East.

In March of this year, the first researchers will start working at the Abu Dhabi hub.