TII
13.2.2024 10:35:27 CET | Business Wire | Press release
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
ProcureTEX Returns for Its Second Year, Bringing AI and Best-of-Breed Procurement Technology to Amsterdam14.10.2026 18:26:00 CEST | Press release
Founding partners Beroe, Keelvar and Zip bring back the community-driven event with a practitioner-shaped agenda spanning real-world AI use and the future of procurement ProcureTEX, the community-driven event for best-of-breed procurement technology, returns for its second year on November 3, 2026, at Circa in Amsterdam. Following its London debut in 2025, the event sharpens its focus on how AI is reshaping procurement. It will bring together over 250 procurement leaders and digital transformation teams from large enterprises, with vetted best-of-breed technology providers, to see AI agents and interoperable tools working together on real enterprise challenges. Co-founded by Beroe, Keelvar and Zip, the event is built on the belief that the future of procurement isn’t a monolithic all-in-one suite, but an ecosystem of best-of-breed tools working together. It is designed for procurement and enterprise leaders seeking scalable, modern solutions, whether they’re driving transformation, fru
eM Client 11 Launches: A European Outlook Alternative Bringing AI Freedom, Digital Sovereignty, and Next-Generation Productivity14.10.2026 18:16:00 CEST | Press release
eM Client, the European developer of the popular email and productivity application used by millions worldwide, today announced the release of eM Client 11, its most significant update yet. The new version introduces advanced AI capabilities, and major productivity improvements, strengthening its position as an independent alternative to Microsoft Outlook. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014945464/en/ eM Client 11 main window AI Without Vendor Lock-In eM Client 11 introduces a powerful AI Assistant that enables users to search, summarize, organize, and manage emails using natural language. Additional features include personalized AI writing, context-aware quick replies, automatic task and event detection, and AI-powered email rules. Unlike traditional AI integrations, eM Client 11 supports Bring Your Own Key (BYOK), allowing organizations to connect compatible AI providers and models of their choice. The re
iQmetrix and Stratus HR Partner to Give Wireless Retailers a Complete, Outsourced HR Department14.10.2026 17:15:00 CEST | Press release
New integration connects the employee lifecycle to the store – new hires, terminations, rehires, position moves, and security-role updates flow straight into the POS, with payroll, benefits, and compliance handled by Stratus HR’s certified experts. Stratus HR, a full-service human resources outsourcing provider, today announced a partnership with iQmetrix, the Intelligent Commerce Operating System for telecom. As a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), Stratus HR becomes the complete, outsourced HR partner for wireless retailers on iQmetrix – payroll, benefits, compliance, and on-call HR experts – so retail teams stay focused on selling and serving customers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014178512/en/ Fully integrated with iQmetrix, Stratus HR’s custom-built technology connects the employee lifecycle to the store: new hires, terminations, rehires, position moves, and security-role updates flow straig
New Study Brings Ketogenic Therapy for Bipolar Disorder Directly to Rural Alabama Homes14.10.2026 17:00:00 CEST | Press release
Leveraging Alabama’s agricultural strength, a new Baszucki Group-funded pilot study uses food bank delivery to expand metabolic psychiatry research into resource-poor rural areas Baszucki Group today announced funding for a clinical study to examine the impact of ketogenic therapy on people living with bipolar disorder in rural Central Alabama. This study, led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine Montgomery Regional Campus, will partner with Heart of Alabama Food Bank (HAFB), sourcing Alabama-raised meats and produce to introduce metabolic psychiatry to a region characterized by a high prevalence of serious mental illness and severe shortages in psychiatric care. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014955753/en/ A new study led by Will Rutland of UAB Montgomery and funded by Baszucki Group aims to improve access to psychiatric treatment in rural areas. By partner
Ant International Obtains Key Licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE to Support Digital Payments in the AI Era14.10.2026 16:32:00 CEST | Press release
Ant International, a leading global provider of digital payments and financial technology, has secured a Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes (Category II) (RPSCS) license and Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), aligning with the UAE’s broader agenda for innovation and digital transformation in the financial sector. “The RPSCS and SVF licenses mark a crucial milestone in Ant International’s efforts to support the UAE’s fintech ecosystem, aligning with the nation’s ‘We are UAE 2031’ digitalisation and fintech strategy,” said Leiming Chen, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Ant International. “In accordance with the applicable CBUAE regulatory framework, we look forward to launching AI-powered global payment and account solutions to make cross-border payments and financial management more accessible." Obtaining the RPSCS license is an important step towards Antom, a leading merchant payment and digitisation services p
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