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The CIA Operative Who Spied on the U.A.E.—and Played a Role in Its AI Win

While conducting espionage against powerful sheikh’s tech company, Jonny Gannon helped Gulf country quash Washington suspicions about China ties

Jonny Gannon had one final mission.

The longtime CIA operative had exfiltrated the families of spies from the most repressive of Middle Eastern regimes and tattooed the word “ARGONAUT,” an homage to seafaring heroes from Greek mythology, across his right forearm. By 2023 he had a Washington desk job with a rank equivalent to an Army two-star general.

That’s when the director tapped him to return to the field.

His assignment: Find out whether the “spy sheikh” could be trusted with some of America’s most cutting-edge technology.

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