TII
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a leading global scientific research center and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), today announced the launch of the ‘Falcon Foundation’. The non-profit Falcon Foundation is dedicated to advancing the development of open-source Generative AI models and to building sustainable ecosystems around open-source projects that accelerate technology development. As a founding member, TII is committing to provide US$300 million to fund these projects.
The launch of the Falcon Foundation took place at the prestigious World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024 and marks a critical juncture in convening stakeholder collaboration to establish transparent governance models and encourage knowledge exchange as AI continues to chart a relentless growth path.
Commencing with TII’s powerful homegrown Falcon AI models, the Foundation will convene stakeholders, developers, academia, and industry, as well as individuals, and will help realize the power of cooperative decision-making among the contributors. It will accelerate the democratization of AI with the help of notable Falcon Foundation Ambassadors – eminent AI professors in universities around the world, as well as key industry players in the field of AI.
The Foundation is to support the customization of the Falcon models to address specific industries or sectors. By enabling open computing resources for the continued research and development of Falcon AI, the Foundation will provide a robust ecosystem to ensure the adaptability of the models across a broad spectrum of applications and contexts.
Remarking on the announcement, H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of ATRC, said: “In a world where AI continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, initiatives like the Falcon Foundation play a crucial role in steering the trajectory of AI development towards greater transparency and accessibility.”
Dr. Ray O. Johnson, CEO of TII, stated: “We're committed to fostering transparency and collaboration in AI. Extending the UAE's collaborative spirit into AI development, we set new standards for openness and we encourage all other entities who support open source from around the world to join us.”
The Foundation’s beneficiaries will encompass all entities that work with and champion open-source responsible AI. In minimizing dependence on external vendors, the Falcon Foundation ensures business continuity through enabling independent technological choices. As an organization open to all and every stakeholder committed to open source, the Foundation will leverage global best practices as part of its regulatory and legal framework for artificial intelligence.
The Falcon Foundation's commitment to open-sourcing and innovation in AI reflects a forward-thinking approach that helps Abu Dhabi and the UAE leapfrog into a technology-driven future and supports the global community in harvesting cross-industry collaborations for seminal AI advancements.
Source: AETOSWire
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213101024/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
SES Acknowledges Fitch’s Rating Action and Reiterates Deleveraging Plan26.1.2026 19:07:00 CET | Press release
SES S.A. (“SES” or the “Company”), a leading space solutions company, acknowledges the credit rating action announced by Fitch today, which follows the release of SES’ Q3 2025 results and Intelsat integration update. SES continues to be rated investment grade by Fitch with a stable outlook. SES management reiterates that the Company continues to execute on its strategy with a clear plan to strengthen its key credit metrics over time. The Company also has a clear view of the multiple cash generating levers available to it that it believes can substantially support and accelerate the deleveraging plan. SES management will use these levers in a disciplined way and keep investors informed as they deliver on the strategic plan. Consistent with this plan, it remains management’s intention to delever, with a policy objective of reducing adjusted net leverage(1) to at least 3.0x or below. (1) Adjusted net leverage is defined as Adjusted Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted Net Debt is
A2RL Drone Championship Sets the Pace for AI in Autonomous Flight26.1.2026 18:17:00 CET | Press release
TII Racing set the fastest autonomous lap of the Championship, establishing a new benchmark for high-speed, vision-based autonomy MAVLAB secured the multi-drone title, showcasing robust multi-agent autonomy in complex, shared environments Human FPV pilot MinChan Kim narrowly defeated AI competitor in a decisive Human vs AI finale, in a down-to-the-wire showdown The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) Drone Championship delivered a decisive test of autonomous and human performance, as Technology Innovation Institute’s TII Racing set the fastest autonomous lap to win the AI Speed Challenge, while a human first-person-view (FPV) pilot, MinChan Kim – World FPV Champion, narrowly claimed victory in the Human vs AI finale. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126735530/en/ A2RL Drone Championship Sets the Pace for AI in Autonomous Flight (Photo: AETOSWire) Organised by ASPIRE, the innovation acceleration arm of
Zayed Sustainability Prize Opens Global Call for Submissions for 2027 Cycle26.1.2026 16:25:00 CET | Press release
With an increased prize fund of US $7.2 million, the Zayed Sustainability Prize supports enterprises, nonprofit organisations and schools delivering transformative solutions.Entries are now open, with applicants invited to submit innovative, scalable sustainability solutions.Now in its 18th year, the Prize has positively impacted over 400 million people by expanding access to clean energy, water, food, healthcare and improving climate resilience. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies and the UAE’s pioneering global award for sustainability and humanitarian innovation, has opened submissions for its 2027 cycle. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126912976/en/ Winners of the 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize (Photo: AETOSWire) The Prize carries forward the vision and legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by supporting those advancing a more incl
2026 Japan Prize: Two U.S. Scientists and One Japanese Scientist Awarded26.1.2026 15:00:00 CET | Press release
Presentation Ceremony to Take Place in Tokyo in April The Japan Prize Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 Japan Prize at 1:00 p.m. on 21 January 2026. Prof. Cynthia Dwork (USA) has been awarded the Japan Prize in the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication. Prof. Shizuo Akira (Japan) and Prof. Zhijian "James" Chen (USA) have been awarded the Japan Prize in the field of Life Sciences. For this year’s Japan Prize, Prof. Dwork is being recognized for her Contribution to leading research for building an ethical digital society, including differential privacy and fairness. Prof. Akira and Prof. Chen are being recognized for their Discovery of the nucleic acid sensing mechanism by the innate immune system. For the 2026 Japan Prize, the Foundation asked approximately 16,000 prominent scientists and engineers from around the world to nominate researchers working in this year’s fields. We received 107 nominations for the field of Electronics, Information, and Communication
Uzbekistan, the Engine of Central Asia: GDP Above USD 145 Billion and Exports Rising to USD 33.4 Billion – Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Italy26.1.2026 14:31:00 CET | Press release
With a GDP exceeding USD 145 billion, exports of USD 33.4 billion up 23 percent, and gold reserves surpassing USD 60 billion, Uzbekistan enters 2026 with solid and steadily strengthening macroeconomic indicators. The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Italy claims that the climate of confidence, reaffirmed in the State of the Nation Address delivered on 26 December by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is reflected in international trade data: total foreign investment has reached USD 43.1 billion, equal to 31.9 percent of GDP. This trajectory has also contributed to an improvement in the country’s sovereign rating, upgraded to BB by the leading international rating agencies. For the current year, the Government forecasts economic growth of 6.6 percent, with GDP estimated at USD 167 billion. A total of 782 new industrial and infrastructure projects will be launched, with an overall value of USD 52 billion, including 228 large production facilities as early as next year. The focus will
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom