Enhancing AI with Post-Quantum Protection
OPAQUE, based in San Francisco, has acquired cryptographic AI technology from the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi. This acquisition enhances its confidential AI platform with advanced post-quantum protection.
On 4th May 2026, the acquisition was announced, featuring cryptographic techniques like multi-party computation and fully homomorphic encryption. These innovations enable secure AI deployment on sensitive, regulated data.
Ion Stoica, co-founder of OPAQUE, stated, “With this acquisition, OPAQUE is the sole platform providing hardware-attested cryptographic evidence throughout the entire AI lifecycle,” highlighting its resilience to quantum threats.
Expansion of Confidential AI
This transaction marks the first major deployment of UAE-developed cryptographic AI technologies by a US company. The process was overseen by H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President and Secretary General of ATRC.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, commented, “OPAQUE was the ideal partner to bring this to market, having already established the enterprise platform and customer base necessary for large-scale deployment.”
Enterprises can now manage sensitive data, like patient records and financial transactions, while ensuring confidentiality. The technology will be used in sectors such as healthcare and financial services.
Following this acquisition, the UAE strengthens its strategy to invest in cryptography research, positioning Abu Dhabi as a leader in advanced technology production. OPAQUE’s platform can now be deployed on sovereign cloud infrastructures, ensuring data residency and jurisdictional sovereignty.
OPAQUE, founded by researchers from UC Berkeley’s RISELab, supports Confidential AI workflows across training and inference. This advancement accelerates enterprise transition from AI experiments to production deployment four to five times faster.
The acquisition, overseen by H.E. Faisal Al Bannai and Ion Stoica, represents a landmark as the UAE’s cryptographic AI capabilities are now deployed globally by a leading US technology company.
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai remarked, “This acquisition underscores the UAE’s mission to develop foundational technology for global adoption. Cryptographic AI capabilities crafted in Abu Dhabi are now being deployed at a global scale by a prominent US tech company. We are not merely integrating into the AI economy; we are leading it.”
Last updated: 4 May 2026, 11:04 pm
