Abu Dhabi forms company to license app to other governments
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Images from the TAMM app, which translates as: "Consider it done." Courtesy Government of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi — which pioneered TAMM, an AI-driven app that eases citizens' day-to-day interactions with government — is launching TAMM Global, a new company that will make TAMM's technology and operating model available to governments worldwide.
- Other governments now can modernize service delivery by licensing and deploying "bespoke versions of TAMM, adapting the platform to their own laws, policies, public services and citizen needs," the announcement says.
Why it matters: Abu Dhabi — capital of the United Arab Emirates, and the largest emirate — has shown how an AI-forward government can simplify reporting potholes, registering a vehicle, starting a business or renewing identity documents. The new venture shows that government innovation can also be good business.
- TAMM is part of the UAE's massive bet on AI.
"Governments exist to serve people and improve their daily lives," His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Askar, director general of TAMM, said in a statement to Axios. "For generations, citizens have paid a time tax for accessing public services."
- "In Abu Dhabi," the director general continued, "we have shown that this does not have to be the case. By using AI to handle routine tasks and simplify how services are delivered, we have created a model that gives millions of people back their time. TAMM Global allows us to share that blueprint with governments around the world so more people can benefit from faster, simpler and more responsive public services."
Zoom in: The announcement says citizens' data "remains sovereign and under the control of the government licensing and deploying the platform."
- "Through TAMM Global, governments can adopt existing TAMM services and capabilities, migrate their own services onto the platform or commission entirely new services tailored to local requirements."
Zoom out: Multiple U.S. cities are already eyeing Abu Dhabi's AI super app, and the first customer is expected to be in America, we're told.
- Brad Smith, Microsoft's vice chair and president, praised TAMM at a U.S. Senate hearing last year: "We need to bring this to America."
By the numbers: TAMM, part of Abu Dhabi's Department of Government Enablement, connects 1,200+ public- and private-sector services in a single platform used by 4.7 million people.
- The government estimates TAMM saves 37 million visits a year to government service centers and saves users 54 million hours a year.
The bottom line: "Abu Dhabi built the blueprint of an AI-native government; now it's exportable," the announcement says.
