G42 AI chips‘ safeguards win praise from a senior US official at a Congressional hearing, citing transparency, export compliance and oversight of Nvidia semiconductors.
G42 AI chips’ safeguards drew praise from a senior US official during a Congressional hearing on export controls and technology security.
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Abu Dhabi-based AI firm G42 AI chips has established a compliance framework to monitor advanced US semiconductors inside its data centers, aiming to ensure full adherence to export regulations.
Jacob Helberg, under secretary of state for economic growth, energy and environment, called the system “unprecedented” and “incredibly positive,” saying it could become a model for AI chip oversight among US partners.
“They agreed to build a common operating picture” to give US policymakers transparency and assurance that UAE-based computing clusters are not improperly accessed, Helberg told lawmakers.
The safeguards apply to AI infrastructure powered by chips from Nvidia.
The hearing reviewed the State Department-led Pax Silica initiative, which aims to secure critical mineral and AI supply chains while preventing sensitive US exports from reaching China.
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Members include the UAE, Qatar, Japan, South Korea, Israel, the UK, Australia and India.
Helberg said G42’s safeguards model could be expanded across the partnership if effective. Addressing past concerns about G42’s China ties, he said those relationships had been severed following due diligence and that the UAE had taken verifiable steps to meet US security expectations.
Under an AI Acceleration Partnership signed during President Donald Trump’s Gulf visit in May, the UAE may import up to 500,000 advanced AI semiconductors annually from 2025 to 2027.
The US Commerce Department approved the transfer of 35,000 chips to G42 in November. Helberg described the allocation as “substantial” and said he was unaware of plans to expand it.
Lawmakers also questioned him about an investment by Aryam Investment — linked to UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan — in a crypto venture associated with the Trump family, first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Helberg rejected suggestions of impropriety, calling the UAE an “incredibly important partner” and noting its investments in US firms, including GlobalFoundries and Cerebras Systems.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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