G42 and Publicis Sapient have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the creation of a joint venture designed to accelerate enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) at scale.
The proposed venture would bring together G42’s sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure with Publicis Sapient’s enterprise AI platforms and digital transformation expertise, positioning the partnership to support organisations transitioning from AI experimentation to full deployment.
If finalised, the collaboration would target enterprises and governments across the United Arab Emirates and emerging markets in the Global South, where demand for scalable, outcome-driven AI solutions continues to grow.
As organisations increasingly move beyond pilot projects towards operational AI systems, the partners say the venture will address a persistent gap between technical AI capability and real-world business value.
What you need to know
By combining infrastructure, platforms and implementation expertise, the initiative aims to deploy AI agents at enterprise scale, enabling data-driven operations, process automation and personalised customer experiences.
Services under the partnership would span cloud modernisation, AI use-case development, intelligent agent creation, enterprise software engineering and large-scale AI deployment and optimisation.
The companies argue that this integrated approach will help organisations tackle operational challenges while embedding AI into core workflows.
Combining infrastructure depth with enterprise platforms
G42 is expected to contribute its end-to-end AI technology stack, ranging from sovereign cloud infrastructure and foundation models to AI-native engineering talent.
The company has built a presence across the UAE and several emerging markets, where governments and enterprises are investing in domestic AI capabilities and digital sovereignty.
Publicis Sapient, meanwhile, brings enterprise-grade platforms and global programme delivery experience. Its Sapient Slingshot platform focuses on accelerating software development and modernisation cycles, while Sapient Bodhi is designed to orchestrate industry-specific AI agents and workflows.
The company has delivered large-scale digital transformation programmes across more than 50 markets, giving the partnership a global implementation footprint.
Executives highlight focus on scale and operational impact
Commenting on the agreement, His Excellency Mansoor Al Mansoori, CEO of G42 International, described the collaboration as an expansion of the company’s AI services ambitions.
“This partnership marks the next evolution of our AI services platform. By combining our sovereign infrastructure and models with Publicis Sapient’s global transformation capabilities, we’re creating an organization purpose-built to deploy agents at scale and deliver measurable outcomes for clients across the UAE and Global South,” he said.
Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis Sapient, emphasised the importance of execution and industry context in realising AI value.
“AI only delivers value when it is grounded in deep industry context and executed at enterprise scale. This partnership unites G42’s AI infrastructure with our proven platforms and industry expertise and, through Sapient Slingshot and Sapient Bodhi, we will help organizations turn ambition into operational reality. This is about solving real business problems and embedding AI into the fabric of day-to-day decision-making,” Vaz said.
Mid-2026 target for joint venture launch
The companies said commercial and operational structures will be finalised following definitive agreements, with the joint venture targeted for establishment by mid-2026.
If completed, the initiative would reflect a broader industry trend towards ecosystem partnerships that combine infrastructure providers, platform developers and transformation specialists to accelerate enterprise AI adoption.
For markets across the Global South, where digital transformation programmes are expanding alongside AI investment, experts say such alliances could play a pivotal role in bridging capability gaps and enabling scalable deployment.
Talking Points
The proposed collaboration between G42 and Publicis Sapient reflects a timely response to the growing demand for enterprise AI that delivers measurable operational outcomes rather than experimental proof-of-concepts.
By combining sovereign AI infrastructure with enterprise transformation platforms, the partnership demonstrates a pragmatic approach to bridging the gap between AI capability and real-world deployment, particularly for governments and large organisations navigating complex digital modernisation journeys.
At Techparley, we see this initiative as part of a broader shift towards ecosystem-led AI delivery models, where infrastructure providers and transformation specialists collaborate to accelerate adoption across both advanced and emerging markets.
However, the long-term success of the venture will depend on execution, localisation and the ability to translate global AI frameworks into context-specific solutions for diverse markets across the Global South. Organisations will require not only technology but also change management, talent development and governance frameworks to realise sustained value.
As the joint venture moves towards its targeted mid-2026 launch, there is a clear opportunity to deepen impact through strategic partnerships, sector-specific deployments and capacity-building initiatives. If effectively implemented, the collaboration could serve as a blueprint for scalable AI transformation across emerging economies.
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