MBZUAI graduate Daniel Gebre from Eritrea has developed iShrink, a compression pipeline that reduces the size of LLMs to run offline on mobile phones and edge devices. Gebre's master's thesis focused on enabling access to cutting-edge AI without requiring internet access, motivated by his experience in under-resourced regions. His journey to MBZUAI began with a Merit Scholarship awarded by the UAE Ministry of Education, leading him to pursue a Master of Science in Machine Learning. Why it matters: This research has the potential to democratize access to AI in areas with limited internet connectivity, particularly in regions like Gebre's homeland, Eritrea.
MBZUAI's inaugural class included eight Emirati master's graduates in computer vision and machine learning, making up 15% of the Class of 2022. All eight have secured employment or will pursue Ph.D. studies at MBZUAI, contributing to healthcare, technology, energy, transport, and government sectors in the UAE. Fatima Albreiki and Wafa Al Ghallabi will continue at MBZUAI for Ph.D. studies in Computer Vision. Why it matters: MBZUAI is nurturing local AI talent to support the UAE's national strategy and address global challenges in key sectors.
MBZUAI valedictorian Shahd AlShamsi is using AI and ML to develop personalized cognitive healthcare, shifting treatment from reaction to prevention. Her master's research involves a digital twin framework that integrates representations of a person’s cognitive experience using deep learning models and EEG data. She hopes to develop a mobile application to extend her work to personalized mental health. Why it matters: This research highlights the potential of AI to improve personalized healthcare in the UAE and beyond, and demonstrates the contributions of Emirati researchers.
MBZUAI will graduate its first three Ph.D. students on June 6, 2024. Numan Saeed's research focused on using AI and big data to diagnose head and neck cancers using PET and CT scans, aided by NLP to interpret doctors' notes. The graduates will remain in the UAE to contribute to the country's growing AI sector. Why it matters: This milestone highlights the growing AI talent pool in the UAE and the potential for AI research at MBZUAI to address critical healthcare challenges.
MBZUAI alumna Akbobek Abilkaiyrkyzy, who graduated with a master's in machine learning in 2022, has been involved in various domains, including industry, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Her master's thesis focused on developing a chatbot for mental health problem detection, leading to the creation of WellRound, an app that uses data from various sources to improve mental and physical wellbeing. She further developed the app with support from the MBZUAI Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC). Why it matters: This highlights MBZUAI's role in fostering AI innovation and entrepreneurship in the healthcare sector, as well as empowering its graduates to create solutions addressing critical societal needs.