Invested $1.5 billion in G42, UAE AI firm chaired by National Security Advisor with DarkMatter ties
Apr 16, 2024In April 2024, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, an Abu Dhabi-based AI company chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's National Security Advisor. G42's CEO Peng Xiao previously led Pegasus, a DarkMatter subsidiary involved in surveillance operations. Microsoft VP Brad Smith joined G42's board. Congressional investigators raised concerns about G42's China ties and links to human rights abuses. The deal followed a secret agreement where G42 divested from China to satisfy U.S. security concerns.