Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang said that in the race for artificial intelligence superiority, the US and China are "neck and neck", but Beijing is ahead in terms of accumulating data to build models.
"China has had large-scale government programmes to win on data," Mr Wang said on Wednesday during at the AI+ Expo in Washington. But he said privacy is not a top priority for Beijing.
"So you know, there are all these ways that naturally they will be ahead on data, and we need to make sure that we can match that."
The race for AI dominance is not over, Mr Wang said: "We're ahead on compute, they're ahead on data and we're neck and neck on algorithms.
He blamed "legacy reasons" for the US lagging behind China on data, the backbone of large-language models that make AI so powerful.
To catch up to China, he suggested that the US create a national data reserve, and think of data in the same way as petroleum or other natural resources.
"The first priority [in the reserve] should be national security data," he said. "There's so much incredibly useful and valuable data that right now is fragmented and not leveraged for building powerful capabilities."
Mr Wang also insisted that the US has "much more" military data than China, but that data was segregated and fragmented.
Mr Wang's discussion about AI came on the third and final day of the technology conference in Washington. While his was one of the more high-profile talks at the event, his company Scale AI – whose technology helps to train AI applications – has been criticised by those concerned about the junction between artificial intelligence and the defence industry.
It already has some of the world's technology giants as its clients, including Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI. The company also works with the US Air Force and US Army.
Mr Wang has openly stood behind his company's defence contracts. During a discussion at Centre for Strategic and International Studies in May, he insisted that the company's work and the use of AI for US military solutions was a "moral imperative".
“We’re at the brink of this incredibly powerful new technology and the applications for national security are obvious," Mr Wang said.
He said that a visit to China, where he saw AI companies working on facial recognition and surveillance, bolstered his belief that Scale AI should work with US defence.
“At that moment it was clear for me that the US would need to have the highest quality human capital and the best companies focused on this problem."
The buzz around Scale AI continues to grow as the self-described "data-centric end-to-end solution" AI infrastructure company expands its footprint.
Originally from New Mexico, Mr Wang founded Scale AI in 2016 shortly after dropping out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology when he saw AI developments creating the need for ways to provide and manage high-quality training data for technology companies and other large businesses.
His company has more than 900 employees and secured at least $1.3 billion in financing, resulting in a $13.8 billion valuation.
At the AI+ convention, he spoke highly of the AI partnerships recently announced during US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
"Now what we're seeing is that we want to get ahead in this AI age and that's the motivating idea behind what you saw in the Middle East," Mr Wang said.
He said that he expects similar partnerships and announcements with other countries in the years ahead.
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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Sarfira
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
While you're here
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• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
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Saudi National Day
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RESULT
Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')
While you're here
Neighbourhood Watch
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
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Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
War on waste
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Whiile you're here
Damien McElroy: Anti-science attitudes in America are proving lethal
Editorial: What makes the UAE such a good place to test vaccines?
Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science
Our commentary on Brexit
- Alistair Burt: Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
- Con Coughlin: Choice of the British people will be vindicated
On Women's Day
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action
Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?
Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality
The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
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Our commentary on Brexit
- Con Coughlin: Choice of the British people will be vindicated
- Sam Williams: Departure is influenced by its sense of place
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
World Mental Health Day
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Tomorrow 2021
Tomorrow 2021
Transgender report
Tomorrow 2021
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
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The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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Tomorrow 2021
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
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Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
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• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
