The White House is facing questions about Chinese investment in artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the Middle East, as China-based firm SenseTime seeks to leverage its presence in the region to take advantage of regional markets.
Over the past few months, SenseTime has been making a push to become a major player in the regional AI sector, having signed deals with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and others. The company also has a research and development center in Saudi Arabia.
White House officials are concerned that this presence could potentially give China access to sensitive data and enable the Chinese government to influence the region’s political and economic decisions.
The Trump administration has raised similar concerns in the past about Huawei’s involvement in 5G wireless deployments in the US and other countries, regarding the potential for Chinese surveillance on sensitive data and communications.
The government is asking questions about SenseTime’s presence in the Middle East, including what data the firm has access to and whether the company is providing information to the Chinese government.
Meanwhile, the firm has been trying to assuage concerns by saying that it respects local regulations and that its involvement does not pose any security risks. SenseTime is also making a case that its involvement is helping to advance the digital transformation in the region.
However, questions remain about whether the White House will be able to adequately address the security issues that could arise from Chinese involvement in the region’s AI sector. The administration has taken steps to limit Chinese investment in the US’s tech industry, recently introducing a new ban on investments in foreign firms linked to the Chinese military.
It remains to be seen whether these measures will also apply to foreign AI companies operating in the region. In the meantime, SenseTime will no doubt continue to try and position itself as an important AI player in the Middle East.
