White House AI chief says Biden hurt Gulf AI ambitions
David Sacks made the comments on Tuesday during a round-table discussion at the Pennsylvania Energy and AI Summit, which President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend.
He said former president Joe Biden's push to increase export controls that limited access to processing units deemed critical to pro-AI countries such as the UAE that are seeking to be leaders in the sector.
Those export controls sought to prevent countries such as China from taking the lead in the AI arena but other nations, many of them US allies, were disproportionately affected by the policies.
'We already have hostile relations with a country on one side of the Persian Gulf,' Mr Sacks said, referring to Iran. 'Do we have to alienate everybody?'
Alleviating some of these concerns, however, was Mr Trump's announcement in May during a visit to the UAE of a partnership in the form of a new 5-gigawatt UAE-US AI campus.
Proponents of the deal highlighted security guarantees that would prevent the misuse of US technology, CPUs and GPUs.
'I know that our Gulf state partners will honour our security agreement,' Mr Sacks said. He added that stories of chip smuggling to other countries were overblown and oversimplified.
'The stories give people the impression that the chips are like diamonds in a briefcase that can be smuggled,' he explained.
'They're not, they're mainframe computers, it's not easy.' Mr Sacks added that inspectors can easily keep track of servers at data centres to ensure that US technology is accounted for.
He also accused the Biden administration of placing too many burdens on US tech companies with the executive order that sought to put guardrails on AI development by emphasising data privacy and labour protection. Mr Sacks pointed out that in the days after inauguration, Mr Trump rescinded Mr Biden's executive order.
Ahead of the conference, Nvidia, which has been a vocal critic of export control policies under the Biden administration, announced that following meetings with Mr Trump and other US officials, the company would soon be able to sell its Nvidia H20 GPU in China again.
'Nvidia hopes to start deliveries soon,' the company said.
Also taking part in the summit was Khaldoon Al Mubarak, managing director and chief executive of UAE-based Mubadala Investment Company, who highlighted Mubadala's push to have an AI member as a consultant on its investment committee.
'The AI co-pilot that sits with us in the committee with all the board members, and all the investment committee members, obviously get to interact directly agent,' he said.
Mr Al Mubarak said the UAE's economic history – from the rise and fall of the pearl industry that preceded a boom in oil and natural gas that helped propel the country to unprecedented prosperity – serves as a compass as it navigates its AI ambitions.
'At some point, this [oil and gas] was going to be disrupted, and I think that was the wise approach that our leadership and my government took,' he said, pointing out the UAE's push over the last decade to invest in AI.
Mr Al Mubarak highlighted the creation of the UAE's Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) – where he currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees – in 2019 as proof the country was ahead of the curve in identifying AI as an economic game-changer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
29 minutes ago
- The National
Epstein saga deepens after revelation of birthday letter allegedly from Trump
Controversy surrounding Donald Trump 's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has deepened, after the publication of a story about an alleged letter the US President wrote to the disgraced financier. The Wall Street Journal late on Thursday published a bombshell article on the letter Mr Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein – who died in jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges – featuring a sketch of a nude woman and other sexually suggestive content. The letter was part of an album of letters from friends the WSJ said had been collected for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The album was reportedly created by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's long-time girlfriend who was jailed for sex trafficking in 2022. The WSJ said the letter bore Mr Trump's signature and ends with: 'Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.' The outlet did not publish a photo of the letter. Mr Trump swiftly took to Truth Social and promised to sue the WSJ, calling the story 'false, malicious, and defamatory'. He also said he would take legal action against WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch and publisher News Corp. 'It's a made up story. Not my words, not my form of speaking. Also, I don't draw pictures,' he said. He also suggested that the WSJ was 'warned directly' by him that the letter was 'fake' but published it anyway. The alleged letter is the latest chapter of a scandal that has been increasingly difficult for the Trump administration to move past. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on charges of solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a child for prostitution. Witnesses and victims had previously revealed a pattern of abuse of minors – partially enabled by Maxwell – and said that powerful men had been involved in the abuse. The disgraced financier died in prison awaiting trial in 2019. Officials ruled his death as a suicide, but it fuelled conspiracy theories, particularly in the Make America Great Again movement, that Epstein was murdered to conceal his wealthy and powerful friends implicated in his crimes. Attorney General Pam Bondi had months ago pledged to release the now infamous Epstein 'client list' and 'a lot of flight logs'. But last week, a Justice Department memo concluded that after an 'exhaustive review' of materials related to Epstein, there was no secret client list and his death was indeed a suicide. Mr Trump – whose administration includes officials who, as private citizens, helped to spread these conspiracy theories – lashed out at his own base, calling them 'weaklings' and 'stupid people' for continuing to question the narrative on Epstein. In a rare rupture, his Maga supporters have turned on him, demanding the release of all the files. The President directed Ms Bondi on Friday to unseal Epstein's grand jury transcripts. Elon Musk, the billionaire former ally of Mr Trump, questioned the authenticity of the letter, saying it 'didn't really sound like something Trump would say tbh.' But he also called for the full release of the Epstein material and joined some Maga loyalists in portraying the Trump administration as conspiring in a cover-up. 'Wow I can't believe Epstein killed himself before realising it was all a hoax,' Mr Musk, who had a public rift with Mr Trump after he left the administration in May and soon after accused the President of being named in the files, said on X.
Khaleej Times
29 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai airport: Emirates opens new first class experience with luxurious upgrades
'Emirates First' was opened today at Terminal 3, Dubai International (DXB), offering a luxurious and unique airport experience for Emirates' First Class customers and Skywards Platinum members. The check-in area has been meticulously upgraded with an opulent and refined private seating area, offering an exclusive check-in process. The experience has been reimagined with premium customers in mind. From the moment customers reach the dedicated Emirates Terminal 3 departures area, and just a few steps inside, a grand golden entryway now signifies the entrance to the private space, where a dedicated Emirates host verifies guest eligibility for entry. With a neutral palette of warm earth tones subtly blended with accents of Emirates' signature rich bronze and gold, Emirates First is both visually relaxing and luxurious to the eye, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the airport. While grand columns flank the space, wooden floors are mixed with elegant marble flooring, while soft carpeting lies underfoot in the seating areas, and plush leather and soft fabric armchairs and sofas await. In a nod to Emirates' premium First Class Lounges, renowned Emirates' Rolex clocks indicate the time in major world cities and adorn a feature wall behind a podium with an extravagant fresh flower arrangement. As the world's largest operator of international First Class travel — offering 26,800 seats a week and the largest inventory of international First Class seats in the industry, Emirates continues to invest and uplift its customers' experience at every touchpoint on the ground and in the air. Adel al Redha, Emirates' Deputy President & Chief Operating Officer remarked, "We invest heavily in upgrading our ground products, and Emirates First is one of the areas that will offer a unique and private environment to our First Class customers and Skywards Platinum members. We know our customers value privacy and convenience, and this will provide another level of hospitality to the check-in experience, as part of our efforts to continuously uplift the overall travel journey." "Customers can enjoy a sleek transfer with the Chauffeur Drive Service, a swift check-in at the exclusive Emirates First, explore a world-class lounge before boarding, and relax into a multi award-winning inflight experience with Emirates, " Redha said. Echoing the interior cabins of Emirates' newest aircraft, a magnificent back lit Ghaf Tree honours the national tree of the UAE. Within the new area, all digital screens and advertising have been removed, soft integrated lighting has been curated to ensure a tranquil ambience, and natural greenery adds a soothing yet vibrant touch. Check-in formalities can be performed on iPads while guests are seated. Families can relax in the seated areas, while one member is assisted with the check in process for all. Customers can also utilise the counters to check in if preferred and drop baggage at the marble and brass desks, where they are loaded onto dedicated First Class baggage belts. Customers can then breeze through Security and Immigration and proceed to one of the three dedicated Emirates First Class Lounges in Terminal 3, DXB to enjoy chef-crafted à la carte meals, fine wines, spirits and Champagne, complimentary spa treatments, business centres and kids' areas, and concierge duty free shopping. Across the world, the journey for Emirates First Class customers is curated from start to finish, with complimentary access to 43 dedicated Emirates Lounges across the globe, and complimentary chauffeur drive for seamless door-to-door transfers across most destinations. In May of this year, Emirates announced an array of new enhancements that finesse the finer details of hospitality and service onboard, from a keepsake menu which tells an explorative story of Emirates' wine selection and culinary inspirations, to new Emirates engraved Robert Welch bowls designed for unlimited caviar, to rustic cheeseboard slates to enhance Emirates' renowned artisan cheeseboard. Emirates First Class cabin crew now also provide a gloved service for exceptional hospitality onboard.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
EU sets talks with GCC states on strategic partnerships
The EU on Friday said that it had received the mandate to launch negotiations with the Gulf Co-operation Council's six countries on concluding bilateral strategic partnership agreements. Negotiations will start 'as soon as possible,' the EU Commission, the bloc's legislative arm, said. The complementary agreement negotiations are expected to go ahead with UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 'There is huge untapped potential in the EU's relationship with the Gulf region. As of today, we will negotiate bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements with the six Gulf partners,' the EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Friday. The aim of the strategic partnership agreements 'is to provide for an ambitious, modern, comprehensive and effective framework for bilateral co-operation tailored to the shared priorities and objectives of the EU and each respective GCC partner,' the press statement read. Commissioner for trade and economic security Maros Sefcovic said that the agreements would provide a 'major boost' to trade and investment relations. The negotiations framework includes a wide range of topics, including foreign and security policy, justice and law enforcement, and trade and investment. The EU has also struck strategic partnership agreements with allies including Canada in 2016 and Japan in 2019. Strategic partnership agreements with GCC countries 'will also allow for strengthening our co-operation at regional level to build peace and promote stability and prosperity in the broader Middle East,' said Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica. The talks will complement existing EU – Gulf co-operation frameworks, including continuing regional and bilateral negotiations on free trade agreements. The EU and GCC have sought in recent years to revive talks on a free-trade agreement that stalled in 2008. In 2023, the EU was the GCC's second largest import partner, at €93.8 billion ($102 billion), and fourth-largest export partner, at €76.3 billion. In April, the UAE and the EU separately agreed to begin talks on a potential free trade deal.
