In conversation with Adrian Hobbs, Chief Technology Officer, Core42 as he discusses their GITEX Global 2024 presence, AI opportunities in the Middle East, partnerships and announcements.
Tell us about your GITEX 2024 showcase, what was on showcase this year?
GITEX Global marks a significant milestone for us, as it was the platform we selected to launch Core42 last year. This year, we showcased our advanced AI infrastructure and cloud solutions, designed to address evolving industry needs and drive digital transformation.
These include our Core42 Sovereign Public Cloud offering, our AI Cloud, and the Compass suite platform, all engineered to empower enterprises and the public sector to scale and innovate. We also announced several strategic partnerships with public and private stakeholders such as AMD Qualcomm, and the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, highlighting our commitment to accelerating AI deployment, predictive analytics, machine learning, and cloud transformation across the UAE. Additionally, we showcased our support to major initiatives, such as the migration of Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority and the UAE Accountability’s systems to Core42’s Sovereign Public Cloud offering, which leverages Microsoft Azure, and similarly enhancing the cloud solutions of Nawah Energy Company.
How do your offerings respond to market needs and challenges, and how are you helping organizations achieve their AI Adoption goals?
We are immensely proud of the contributions that we have made as an organization in the last one year of our launch in enabling AI innovation. We aim to fuel the insatiable curiosity of humanity by providing next generation digital infrastructure in cloud and AI compute. As part of the broader G42 family, we are collectively in the business of manufacturing, and deploying intelligence, and are on a mission to bring what we call the “Intelligence Grid” to life, the infrastructure that will redefine how artificial intelligence is distributed, accessed, and utilized, much like electricity is today.
We are committed to enabling a secure digital future for entities across the UAE and beyond, contributing to a sustainable, advanced digital economy. A key differentiator for Core42 is our heterogeneous infrastructure, which provides optimal price performance for specific workloads – whether leveraging NVIDIA GPUs, Cerebras AI accelerators, or other advanced solutions. These offerings eliminate the need for customers to own physical infrastructure and provide the tools necessary to navigate complex data sovereignty and regulatory requirements. By customizing on-demand access to AI compute, we help businesses scale their AI efforts rapidly, driving innovation across industries
Ultimately, our focus is on building innovative, secure, and scalable solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and help shape the digital future of the UAE. As we look ahead, Core42 will continue to push the boundaries of what AI and cloud technology can achieve, with the goal of empowering our partners and contributing to the region’s growth and success.
The tech landscape in the Middle East is rapidly evolving. How do you plan to optimize opportunities in this region?
It has been incredible to witness the Middle East emerge as a dynamic and vibrant technology powerhouse, driven to lead in the digital era through advanced national strategies that prioritize digital transformation and innovation. At Core42, we are proud to support this vision by delivering the digital infrastructure necessary for sustained innovation. By delivering tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of the Middle Eastern market, Core42 is supporting the region’s aspirations to become a global AI hub
To optimize our presence, we have entered into strategic partnerships with local enterprises and government entities, aligning our solutions with the region’s vision for digital transformation. We are committed to providing customized solutions that cater to the unique needs of the public sector and highly regulated industries, in particular. For example, our partnerships with NVIDIA, VAST, Qualcomm, Cerebras, and Microsoft, to name a few, have been instrumental in our journey to empower the region with advanced technologies. We carefully evaluate each situation and deploy the appropriate solution, as different challenges require tailored approaches.
Additionally, we are investing in local talent, ensuring our innovations are tailored to meet regional needs. Leveraging advanced market intelligence and data analytics, we pinpoint regions with thriving tech ecosystems and target our recruitment efforts strategically. This broadens our talent pool and helps us attract diverse candidates who can drive innovation at Core42.
Sustainability is a key focus for tech companies worldwide. Can you share your sustainability approach?
Certainly. Today, sustainability is a crucial priority for individuals and organizations, including those in the technology industry, given the immense energy demands associated with AI and cloud computing. At Core42, we recognize the need to address this challenge and are committed to minimizing its environmental impact through several key initiatives.
We prioritize using clean and green energy across our operations, focusing on reducing the carbon footprint of our data centers and associated infrastructure. To ensure transparency and traceability in our energy usage, Core42 also participates in the Energy International Recognized Energy Certificates (EI-REC) program. This initiative certifies that the energy powering our data centers is derived from clean, renewable sources, aligning our efforts with global sustainability practices.
By setting a benchmark for responsible energy use, we are doing our part to address the immediate environmental concerns and lead the way in establishing industry standards for sustainable operations. Our commitment to clean energy reflects our broader mission to support the long-term health of our planet while advancing technological innovation.
How was the response from visitors and industry peers at GITEX this year?
The response at GITEX was overwhelmingly positive. Visitors and industry peers have expressed strong interest in our innovative solutions, particularly our AI-driven technologies that address the evolving needs of various sectors. We made some significant announcements with government entities and organizations across industries that highlight our commitment to empowering organizations with advanced tools that drive digital transformation. We look forward to continuing these engaging conversations and exploring new partnerships to further elevate the region’s technological landscape.
