The UAE has introduced an Arabic language model for artificial intelligence called ‘Falcon Arabic’ by the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) in Abu Dhabi. This project is an exciting movement toward the UAE’s aspiration to be a global leader in AI and digital innovation.
Falcon Arabic is created to account for the diverse linguistic landscape of the Arab world. Many existing models are based on translated data. Falcon Arabic used a certain high quality source of the native Arabic language which is more representative of the language itself. Notably, it performs similarly to models that are up to 10 times its size showcasing its efficiency and sophistication.
Strategic Positioning in the Gulf’s AI Race
The launch of Falcon Arabic highlights the growing competition among Gulf nations especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia to become the leader in AI development. The UAE’s significant investments in AI infrastructure and research and development are intended to make the UAE a regional center for technological advancement. The launch of the falcon AI application in Arabic is a consequence of the UAE’s expressed intention to diversify its economy and to enhance its global aspirations for soft power through its leadership in technological development.
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Falcon Arabic has the same technological capability as other AI models, but is also a fundamental contributor to the elevation and preservation of the Arabic language and culture in AI applications. The UAE is taking steps to identify the lack of Arabic in global AI models in order to ensure representation of its culture and heritage in the future digital world.
Alongside Falcon Arabic, ATRC also launched Falcon H1, a new system that is said to outperform the technologies developed by some of the largest tech companies globally, including Meta and Alibaba but with a less technical operational demand and less computing power. In this context, this illustrates that the UAE has taken a significant approach to AI by attempting to develop the best, most powerful practical tools that are accessible to everyone on the planet.
