California-based AI chip designer Cerebras Systems is set to deploy its advanced AI infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, a significant move that deepens its strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi’s G42. The deployment, announced by CEO Andrew Feldman, will support the ambitious Stargate UAE project and marks a major step in expanding the nation’s sovereign AI capabilities.
Strengthening the Core42 Alliance
This expansion builds upon the foundational partnership between Cerebras and Core42, G42’s sovereign AI and cloud services company. In 2023, the two firms collaborated to launch the Condor Galaxy network, a constellation of AI supercomputers designed to offer cloud-based AI model training on a global scale. The network, which currently delivers over 20 exaFLOPS of AI compute capacity, was initially deployed exclusively across US locations due to export regulations. G42 is also a key investor in Cerebras, having acquired a 1% stake in 2021 and signing agreements for further share acquisitions.
Navigating US Export Regulations
The plan to establish a physical AI infrastructure presence in the UAE signifies a breakthrough in international tech collaboration. Previously, tightening US export regulations had prevented such an expansion. However, a more favorable regulatory climate has emerged following the announcement of a US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership framework earlier this year. This optimism is further supported by recent US approvals for several billion dollars worth of NVIDIA AI chip exports to the UAE, signaling a new era of strategic AI cooperation.
Expanding the Condor Galaxy
The UAE deployment will see an international extension of the Condor Galaxy network, which connects multiple supercomputers to function as a single, easy-to-use AI training resource. The original partnership began with a $100 million deal for Condor Galaxy 1, a 4 exaFLOP system that was the largest of its kind at the time of its launch. The new UAE-based infrastructure will bring “megawatts worth of equipment” to the region, providing immense computational power for regional and global enterprises and positioning Core42 as a leading provider of distributed supercomputing services.
About Cerebras Systems
Founded in 2016, Cerebras Systems is an AI company dedicated to accelerating artificial intelligence work. The company builds computer systems for complex AI research, from training large language models to powering scientific computation. Its flagship product, the Wafer-Scale Engine, is the largest chip ever built, designed to power its CS systems and deliver performance that significantly reduces the time and cost of AI training.
Source: Middle East AI News
