Dubai, UAE — In a landmark dialogue at GITEX Global 2025, Sam Altman, Co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, and Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, issued a joint call for global collaboration to democratize artificial intelligence. Their message was clear: the true AI divide is not technological—it’s about access.
A Call for Universal Intelligence
Altman emphasized that to prevent inequality from deepening, intelligence must become “abundant and cheap.”
“Every country will need to have an AI strategy,” said Altman. “The best way to avoid an AI divide is to make it available everywhere, to teach people how to use it, and to make it accessible to all.”
He envisioned a world where the cost of intelligence converges with the cost of energy, transforming AI into a universal resource and a new cornerstone of global development.
Peng Xiao’s Vision: The Intelligence Grid
Peng Xiao described a bold new framework — “the intelligence grid” — where AI functions as a super-utility, flowing through economies and powering education, healthcare, and governance.
“It converts AI into impact to achieve what seemed impossible,” said Peng. “It transforms how we live, work, heal, and connect.”
Through G42’s “AI for Countries” initiative with OpenAI, Peng revealed plans to deploy frontier models across every societal layer — a network of “intelligence tokens” distributed through massive data centers forming a “superhighway of intelligence.”
Education at the Core: From Age 7 to 70
Recounting an interaction with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Peng highlighted the leadership’s insistence that AI education begin early.
“His Highness told us, ‘Go down to the age of seven, go up to seventy,’” said Peng.
This inspired the “7 to 70” national AI education programme, aiming to empower an entire generation of Emiratis to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
A New Era: Convergence of Energy and Intelligence
The two leaders introduced a profound idea — the merging of energy and intelligence as the next phase of global progress.
Altman predicted that computing power, not oil, will become the world’s most valuable commodity, with nations competing to harness and share digital intelligence just as they once did with energy.
Shared Responsibility for a Shared Future
Altman cautioned that while AI is advancing rapidly, its benefits risk being concentrated among a few.
“We all believe AI will be awesome for the people of the world,” he said, “but this is not something any one of us can do alone. It takes the partnership of many countries, companies, and people.”
Peng echoed this urgency:
“AI cannot be one of the top twenty priorities for a government. It has to be in the top three — maybe even number one.”
He urged policymakers to “experiment boldly but keep humans at the center of this revolution.”
The Human Equation
Both leaders underscored that AI’s destiny is not merely technological — it’s human.
“AI is not just another technology,” said Peng. “It is a new lifestyle we all must embrace.”
Altman added, “Technology and society co-evolve. That is far more stable and far better for everyone.”
Their shared message at GITEX 2025 was not one of competition, but of cooperation — building an inclusive future where every nation and citizen can access the benefits of intelligence.
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Sources
- Gulf News, “Sam Altman and Peng Xiao say the real AI divide is about access, not algorithms,” October 14, 2025.
https://gulfnews.com/technology/sam-altman-and-peng-xiao-say-the-real-ai-divide-is-about-access-not-algorithms-1.500306564 - GITEX Global 2025 Official Event Coverage – www.gitex.com
- G42 & OpenAI AI for Countries Initiative – www.g42.ai
