Autonomous delivery vehicles and robotaxis are expanding across the UAE, with officials projecting thousands of autonomous taxis in operation by next year. Speaking at the AI Everything 2026 summit, officials stated the UAE aims to become the largest deployer of autonomous taxis outside China. Abu Dhabi is also targeting becoming an AI-native government by 2027.
At the Presight Future Forum in Abu Dhabi, Chief Executive Thomas Pramotedham stated that turning AI ideas into revenue and navigating corporate change remain the sector's primary challenges. The Abu Dhabi-based firm unveiled its FutureSight platform to connect international founders with enterprise customers, government entities, and capital providers. Industry data cited shows that while 89% of firms use AI, only 6% report significant financial returns.
Speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi, Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch claimed the French firm's new model outperforms Chinese competitors in cybersecurity. Mensch said Mistral's position outside the US and China could help it secure enterprise clients across the Gulf and Asia-Pacific. The startup raised €3 billion at a €21 billion valuation in September 2026 as it battles US rivals and lower-cost Chinese offerings.
French artificial intelligence startup Mistral has announced a new open-weight AI model named Mistral Large 4. Speaking at the Ai Everything conference in Abu Dhabi, CEO Arthur Mensch stated that the model outperforms certain Chinese models in cybersecurity. Mensch added that independence from US and Chinese suppliers is driving the company's growth in the Gulf and Asia-Pacific regions.
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