The UAE and India announced Saturday a beginning of a strategic partnership in research, investment and emerging companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. They both signed an agreement, which would spur discussion and allow both parties to explore options for the UAE and India to grow their artificial intelligence economies. The partnership is expected to generate an estimated $20 billion in economic benefits over the next decade. "Artificial Intelligence will lead human development in the coming years. The UAE and India will be at the forefront of the change to come," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said human objectives and intentions will determine AI’s progress. He has previously highlighted India’s need to develop AI-based solutions to serve his country’s interests. “The road ahead for AI depends on and will be driven by human intentions. It is our intention that will determine the outcomes of artificial intelligence," Modi stressed. The Indian government has been launching multiple initiatives to create an environment for digital growth through which the potential of AI can be realized in the areas of agriculture supply, healthcare, disaster management services, etc.. "How a country chooses to embrace artificial intelligence will have a tremendous impact on a country’s ability to innovate and prosper,” said UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar al-Olama. “In the coming years, data and processing will be a catalyst for innovation and business growth and will serve as the backbone of more effective and efficient service delivery systems," said Olama. Deepak Bagla, Managing Director and CEO of Invest India, for his part, said that India today is considered the world’s fastest expanding market with its talent pool of human capital, which is well acknowledged for innovation. He said that his country’s partnership with the UAE, which is a hub for advanced technology, is necessary and natural to achieve growth in the technology sector. "AI is going to play a critical role in our lives, and this partnership will provide solutions not only for the citizens of India and the UAE but for the entire world." Notably, the UAE-India collaboration will seek to evaluate the dynamic nature of innovation and technology by convening a UAE-India AI Working Committee (TWG) between the UAE Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, Invest India and Startup India. The TWG will meet once a year with the mandate to increase investment in AI startups and research activities in partnership with the private sector.