Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII launch first AI & robotics research hub in Middle East

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Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) have unveiled a joint artificial intelligence and robotics laboratory in the United Arab Emirates, the first Nvidia AI Technology Center in the Middle East. The hub will combine Nvidia’s cutting-edge computing power with TII’s applied research to accelerate work on advanced AI models and robotics platforms.

Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said the lab will leverage Nvidia’s new Thor chip, designed for next-generation robotic systems. The collaboration will support TII’s work on humanoids, quadruped robots, and robotic arms, with both existing staff and new hires contributing to the effort.

TII is the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council, which drives the UAE’s long-term strategy to become a global AI leader. The Gulf nation has poured billions into AI initiatives, including plans for one of the world’s largest data center hubs in Abu Dhabi, built with U.S. technology and Nvidia’s most advanced chips. That project, announced during President Donald Trump’s May visit, remains pending amid U.S. security concerns over the UAE’s ties with China.

Aaraj noted that TII has been using Nvidia’s GPUs to train large-scale language models for some time, with discussions on the joint lab beginning about a year ago. The new hub will host researchers from both organizations and expand staff as projects scale.

The initiative underscores both Nvidia’s push into global AI partnerships and the UAE’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence and robotics innovation.

Trump expected to greenlight TikTok U.S. deal via executive order this week

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President Donald Trump is expected to approve a long-awaited deal to secure TikTok’s future in the U.S. through an executive order later this week, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior White House official. The move would bring months of tense U.S.–China negotiations to a close and establish the legal framework for the app to continue operating in America.

The agreement requires TikTok’s U.S. assets to shift under American ownership and management. According to officials, the app’s core algorithm will be “secured, retrained, and operated in the United States outside of ByteDance’s control.”

Key details of the deal include:

  • A new U.S.-based entity will oversee TikTok operations, with a board comprised of directors experienced in national security and cybersecurity.

  • American investors—including media executive Lachlan Murdoch, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, and Dell chairman Michael Dell—will play a major role.

  • U.S. firms Oracle and Silver Lake will control about 50% of the new company.

  • Existing investors, such as Susquehanna International, will hold around 30%.

  • ByteDance’s ownership stake will drop below 20%.

To safeguard user data, all information from American TikTok accounts will be stored on U.S.-based cloud infrastructure run by Oracle.

The expected approval reflects Trump’s insistence on limiting Chinese influence over TikTok while keeping the popular video app available to its tens of millions of U.S. users.

Meta’s Llama AI approved for use across U.S. government agencies

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The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has approved Meta Platforms’ artificial intelligence system, Llama, for use by federal agencies, marking a milestone in the government’s adoption of commercial AI. The move comes as the Trump administration pushes to expand the integration of AI into federal operations.

Josh Gruenbaum, GSA’s procurement lead, confirmed that Llama will now be available as part of the agency’s catalog of authorized AI tools. Agencies can experiment with the model—free to use—with GSA’s assurance that it complies with legal and security requirements.

Llama, Meta’s large language model, can process multiple forms of data, including text, audio, video, and images. The approval gives government workers access to a tool that can assist in areas like accelerating contract reviews, handling IT troubleshooting, and managing vast amounts of information.

The GSA has also approved rival AI products from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI in recent months. Those firms agreed to offer their paid tools at steep discounts while meeting strict federal security standards.

Gruenbaum emphasized that the deals are not about political influence but about collaboration: “It’s about that recognition of how do we all lock in arms and make this country the best country it could possibly be.”

The approval reflects Washington’s accelerating interest in embedding AI across agencies to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and strengthen the government’s technological footing against global competitors.