G42 and Cerebras to deploy AI supercomputer in India as countries seek greater control over artificial intelligence infrastructure
India has taken a significant step towards strengthening its artificial intelligence capabilities through a new partnership with the United Arab Emirates, a move that could challenge the dominance of major US cloud providers such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google.
Abu Dhabi-based technology company G42, backed by sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, signed an agreement on 15 May to deploy an AI supercomputer in India using 64 systems built by US chipmaker Cerebras. Under the arrangement, G42’s Core42 unit will oversee installation, operations and maintenance, while Cerebras will provide technical support.
The project offers India an alternative to the traditional cloud-computing model, where governments and organisations rent AI processing power from large technology companies. Instead, the new system will be located in India and operate under Indian governance rules.
India has already attracted substantial AI investments from US firms. Microsoft has announced plans to invest $17.5 billion over four years, while Google and Amazon Web Services have committed $15 billion and $12.7 billion respectively. The country’s national AI programme, valued at $1.25 billion, currently relies on Nvidia processors and aims to expand its computing capacity to 100,000 chips by the end of the year.
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The partnership will see India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing collaborate with Core42, with data remaining subject to Indian regulations
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Financial details of the deal and ownership arrangements for the hardware have not been disclosed
Industry experts say G42 faces strong competition from established cloud providers, which offer integrated ecosystems combining hardware, software and developer services. However, the use of Cerebras technology could prove attractive for applications requiring fast AI deployment in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and public services.
The agreement is also the first deployment under G42’s “Intelligence Grid” initiative, a global network of AI facilities designed for governments seeking greater control over their AI infrastructure. As more nations pursue AI sovereignty, the deal may signal a broader shift away from reliance on foreign-owned cloud platforms.
