Abu Dhabi-based G42 and Microsoft have jointly launched the Responsible AI Future Foundation, the first institution of its kind in the Middle East dedicated to advancing ethical and inclusive AI practices. Announced on February 9, 2025, at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris, the foundation is backed by research partner Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and marks a significant milestone in responsible AI governance for the region.
What Is the Responsible AI Future Foundation?
The Responsible AI Future Foundation is designed to ensure that AI development serves people across all geographies — not only in the West. G42's subsidiary Inception will serve as the institution's Programme Lead, directing research and implementation efforts. MBZUAI will contribute research capacity, including 15 faculty professors working on the foundation's initiatives.
Dr. Andrew Jackson, Group Chief Responsible AI Officer at G42, described the launch as "a defining moment in shaping the future of Responsible AI."
Two Core Focus Areas
The foundation is structured around two pillars:
Responsible AI Research focuses on developing AI safety methodologies, bias mitigation techniques, and explainability tools. It will work alongside global institutions to establish new standards of fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems.
Responsible AI Implementation and Governance will create flexible ethical guidelines, risk assessment frameworks, and external ethics review boards tailored to diverse cultural contexts — ensuring AI technology is deployed appropriately across different societies.
Dr. Laura Haaber Ihle has been appointed Vice President of Governance, Policy and Ethics as the foundation's first senior hire.
Microsoft Expands AI for Good Lab to Abu Dhabi
Alongside the foundation launch, Microsoft announced the expansion of its AI for Good Lab into Abu Dhabi. The regional hub will collaborate with NGOs and government organisations to deploy AI solutions addressing critical societal challenges in the Middle East and Global South. The first researchers at the Abu Dhabi hub were set to begin work in March 2025.
Natasha Crampton, Microsoft's Vice President and Chief Responsible AI Officer, said the initiatives "will help ensure that AI serves humanity, not just in the West."
Why Abu Dhabi?
The launch reflects Abu Dhabi's growing role as a global AI hub. G42 has emerged as one of the world's leading AI and cloud technology groups, while MBZUAI — founded in 2019 — is one of the world's first graduate-level universities dedicated entirely to AI research and education. Together, they position the UAE as a central player in shaping responsible AI governance frameworks at a global level.
Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, called the Responsible AI Future Foundation "a transformative step in ensuring AI addresses critical societal challenges."
