Two months ago, Microsoft and G42, a United Arab Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm, announced plans to invest $1 billion in Kenya. The centerpiece of this deal is a massive geothermal-powered data center, seen as a potential blueprint for future government-business partnerships aimed at boosting US economic and political clout in the Global South (which comprises Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean).
This initiative, negotiated with input from both the US and UAE governments, coincided with a Washington summit between President Joe Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto. It represents a strategic push into regions where China has already established a strong foothold through its Digital Silk Road initiative.
What is G42?
- G42 is a prominent technology holding company based in the UAE, specializing in artificial intelligence and playing a pivotal role in the UAE’s ambitions to become a global AI leader. Founded in 2018, G42 operates across various sectors, including biotechnology, surveillance, healthcare, and data centers.
- The company is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a key member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family and the UAE’s national security adviser.
- So far, G42 has forged partnerships with numerous tech giants and industry leaders, including OpenAI, Dell, IBM, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Cerebras, AstraZeneca, Illumina, and Mercedes.
Kenya, nicknamed “Silicon Savannah,” has emerged as a logical starting point for this expansion. With its growing, tech-savvy youth population and vibrant startup ecosystem, the East African nation has become a rival tech hub to Nigeria and South Africa. Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, likened Kenya’s potential to that of Southeast Asia in the early 1990s.
However, the deal has not been without challenges. Kenya’s recent political unrest, endemic corruption, and infrastructure deficiencies pose operational hurdles. Moreover, Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE have already made substantial inroads in the region, offering state-backed loans, discounted hardware, and technical support.
More pressing are the growing concerns in Washington about potential national security risks. The partnership hinges on a $1.5 billion investment by Microsoft in G42, contingent on the UAE firm severing ties with Chinese companies. Pentagon officials remain skeptical about G42’s ability to fully disengage from China, and Microsoft’s recent cybersecurity failures have amplified fears about foreign access to sensitive US networks.
A key point of contention is the export of advanced AI technology, particularly Nvidia’s H100 chips, to the Gulf region. Some US officials view this as akin to nuclear proliferation, leading to a slowdown in approving high-volume AI chip shipments to the area.
The resistance to the Microsoft-G42 deal could impede the Biden administration’s efforts to help US companies lead in AI development, a critical front in the ongoing technological Cold War with Beijing. US officials aim to ensure that American firms, not their Chinese rivals, benefit from Gulf states’ AI ambitions.
