Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute sells data privacy product to US AI firm OPAQUE

TII, a government-backed research institute established in 2020, sold a data privacy product to San Francisco-based OPAQUE in the 'multi-million-dollar range.' According to TII, this marks the first time a US company has acquired AI technology of this kind developed in the UAE.

OPAQUE's customers include Anthropic and Accenture. The acquired technology enables AI models to train on sensitive data — such as patient records, financial transactions, and classified intelligence — while keeping that data private through encryption designed to withstand future quantum computers.

Faisal Al Bannai, adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and secretary general of TII's parent organization (the Advanced Technology Research Council), stated the acquisition 'reflects what the UAE has set out to do — produce foundational technology that the world adopts.'