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Republican lawmakers are asking the Biden administration for an intelligence briefing on Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in UAE-based artificial intelligence firm G42, citing concerns about sensitive technology transfers and G42’s ties to China.
Congressman Michael McCaul, who chairs the House foreign Affairs Committee, and John Moolenaar, who leads the Select Committee on China, wrote to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to request the briefing before the agreement can proceed.
Unresponsive G42 and Microsoft spokespeople were contacted.
“We remain deeply concerned by attempts to move quickly to advance a partnership that involves the unprecedented transfer of highly sensitive, U.S.-origin technology, without congressional consultation or clearly defined regulations in place,” the senators wrote in a July 10 letter.
U.S. export limitations on AI technology components are being considered due to the possibility of foreign adversaries acquiring them. U.S. officials fear AI might transform military and spy capabilities, sparking a worldwide arms race to create the disruptive technology.
Experts claim the UAE and China collaborate in many scientific domains.
“Given the ties between (China) and G42, as well as (China’s) continued interests in the UAE, we ask that the National Intelligence Council prepare an official Intelligence Community assessment on the ties between G42… to the Chinese Communist Party, the People’s Liberation Army, or any part of (China’s) apparatus, before this partnership proceeds further,” the note says.
From China’s lead to ChatGPT’s security breach,
A request for feedback from the White House National Security Council was delayed.
G42’s “digital surveillance” operations and UAE firms’ transfer of intellectual property to China were other concerns for the committee.
“G42 has extensively partnered with Huawei, and the U.S. position is basically that Huawei technology wherever it is located amounts to PRC surveillance,” said a Select Committee on China staffer.
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