DUBAI: The idea of artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for a long time, but in recent decades it has gone from being the stuff of science fiction to something tangible and beneficial.
Sir Michael Brady is the interim president of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), an Abu Dhabi-based AI-focused university — the first of its kind in the world.
“Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Microsoft, Google, Facebook and many more have contributed to AI’s position in today’s spotlight,” he said.
Sophia, the humanoid robot - there is no artificial inelligence without human input, people shape the principles and determine the ethics of AI. (Shutterstock/File Photo)
He added: “We have moved from the use of AI in large-scale industry or ground-breaking circumstances, such as NASA space exploration or factory robotics, to commonplace applications such as advertising algorithms or Netflix suggesting what show to watch next.”
As society transforms under the impact of technology, AI is also rapidly evolving. With the rollout of 5G and massive increase in connectivity and internet speeds, there will be further opportunity for a range of AI applications that will affect the way people live and work.
“If we are to achieve a world in which our health-care systems, education, transportation, manufacturing and security are powered by AI, then we must identify, educate and cultivate talented specialists who have the understanding required to develop next-generation solutions. This need is what inspired the establishment of MBZUAI,” Brady said.
“The university aims to empower students, businesses and governments to advance AI as a global force for good. Our ambition is that MBZUAI shall become a graduate-level, research-based academic institution offering specialized degree programs for local and international students in the field of AI. We want it to play a pivotal role in realizing AI as an enabler of innovation, productivity and growth, the first in the UAE and then across the world,” he added.
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The university has already received thousands of applications from students from over 80 countries.
“This is a quite remarkable response. MBZUAI will provide all admitted students with a full scholarship, a monthly allowance, health insurance, a UAE residence visa and on-campus accommodation,” Brady said.
“The university will work with leading local and global companies to secure internships and also assist students in finding employment opportunities,” he added.
The UAE identified AI as a strategic national priority in 2017, making it a key part of the roadmap for the Gulf state’s development. The UAE sees an AI-driven future through the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and the appointment of the world’s first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence.
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Experts estimate that the contribution of AI to the UAE’s GDP will rise to nearly 14 percent by 2030.
It has committed to deploying AI in strategic sectors of the economy, including in energy, transportation, health care, technology and education.
Experts estimate that the contribution of AI to the country’s gross domestic product will rise to nearly 14 percent by 2030, the largest share in the Middle East.
The future of AI is not a competition between people and computers. As a human creation, AI requires innovation, imagination and talent to develop. There is no AI without human input – people shape the principles, lay down rules, and determine the ethics of AI.
“At MBZUAI, we will guide our students and faculty towards addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues through the development and implementation of AI solutions. AI will be used to augment our world, from the way we interact with each other to medical treatments and transportation, right through to how we work, making life better for everyone,” Brady said.
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This report is being published by Arab News as a partner of the Middle East Exchange, which was launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives to reflect the vision of the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai to explore the possibility of changing the status of the Arab region.
