UAE Pushes Ahead with AI-Powered Automation of Government Services

The United Arab Emirates is accelerating its efforts to automate government work using artificial intelligence. The country aims to meet a self-imposed deadline to have at least half of public sector tasks automated, and Microsoft’s technology is playing a key role in this endeavor.

A significant milestone has already been reached with the deployment of Microsoft’s Copilot software on 35,000 computers belonging to Abu Dhabi government employees. This move marks an important step towards streamlining administrative processes and improving efficiency.

The UAE’s ambitions for AI-powered automation are being driven by Inception42, a subsidiary of G42, which is building agents that can work in conjunction with Microsoft’s AI platform. These digital assistants will help with tasks such as procurement, ensuring the right quantities of goods and services are purchased at competitive prices to keep the country running smoothly.

The success of this initiative is measured not by its visibility but by its invisibility, according to Ashish Koshy, CEO of Inception42. ‘Success is when it’s invisible,’ he told Semafor in an interview.

With a population of around 11 million, the UAE serves as a testing ground for automating government services at a time when many countries are taking a more cautious approach. Microsoft has already committed $15.2 billion to the country by 2030 and taken a stake in G42, demonstrating its commitment to the region.

Microsoft President Brad Smith previously stated that the company views the UAE as a gateway for computing power and data storage across the wider region. This strategic partnership is expected to have far-reaching implications for the development of AI-powered automation in government services.