DNEG Raises $200M From Abu-Dhabi Funding Agency United Al Saqer Group To Speed up AI Drive

London-based The DNEG Group has secured a $200M capital injection from Abu Dhabi funding agency United Al Saqer Group (UASG).

The UK-Indian firm stated the brand new funds can be used to speed up the group’s technique of innovation and diversification and plan to change into a sector-agnostic content material manufacturing and AI-powered expertise accomplice.

Subsequent steps on this technique would be the full activation of expertise division Brahma, which is growing an AI-powered, photo-real CGI creator, together with Ziva, for which DNEG just lately acquired the unique license from Unity.

“My profession has been constructed on investing in and main visible creativity with expertise. Our partnership with UASG, the launch of Brahma, and the success of our content material creation platform are all being fuelled by the ability of our expertise. We’re redefining our enterprise mannequin as a frontrunner in top-end options the world over, elevating the bar in storytelling through the use of the most recent expertise and artistic capabilities,” stated DNEG Chairman and CEO Namit Malhotra.

Alongside Brahma, the DNEG Group’s different corporations embrace VFX and digital animation specialist DNEG, identified for its high-profile work on films equivalent to Dune, Oppenheimer, Interstellar, Tenet and Blade Runner 2049; IP funding and growth arm Prime Focus Studios, which was a accomplice on The Garfield Film, and is presently co-producing high-profile function movies, together with Animal Pals, Indian epic Ramayana, and The Offended Birds Film 3, and Prime Focus Applied sciences, which is concentrated on cloud-based software program and AI expertise.

The corporate stated that the $200M funding would additionally Prime Focus Studios to broaden its involvement within the manufacturing of high-quality content material, following its latest profitable co-production of The Garfield Film.

In additional associated developments, The DNEG Group stated it should additionally open a brand new workplace and visible expertise hub in Abu Dhabi, “with plans to develop a world class ecosystem within the Center East for content material manufacturing, storage, and distribution”.

Malhotra will proceed in his present position.

He will likely be joined on the Group’s Board of Administrators by Nabil Kobeissi and Edouard Zard from UASG, and by Prabhu Narasimhan from NaMa Capital, a number one investor in The DNEG Group, who can even change into Government Chairman of Brahma.

Prabhu Narasimhan will take a depart of absence from NaMa Capital to supervise the launch and enlargement of Brahma.

“We’re thrilled to hitch forces with Namit, Prabhu, and the DNEG Group. Namit’s visionary method to revolutionizing the media and leisure trade by cutting-edge expertise is unparalleled,” stated Kobeissi, CEO of UASG.

“This strategic partnership not solely turbo-charges the event of Brahma, the Group’s ground-breaking AI-powered CGI creator, but in addition, underneath Namit’s management, demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a world epicenter for content material creation and distribution. By championing superior AI applied sciences and increasing Prime Focus Studios, we’re set to drive innovation and generate important job alternatives throughout the UAE.”