KAUST has established a Center of Excellence (CoE) for Generative AI, chaired by Professor Bernard Ghanem and co-chaired by Professor Jürgen Schmidhuber. The center will focus on scientific research, commercial innovation, and talent development in GenAI, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals. The CoE aims to impact Saudi Arabia's four RDI priorities: Health and Wellness, Sustainable Environment, Energy and Industrial Leadership, and Economies of the Future. Why it matters: The KAUST center aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in generative AI, addressing the need for specialized expertise and infrastructure while contributing to the Kingdom's economic diversification.
KAUST has launched four Centers of Excellence (CoEs) focusing on Health, Sustainable Environment, Energy, and Economies of the Future, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. One CoE, chaired by Professor Bernard Ghanem and co-chaired by Professor Juergen Schmidhuber, will focus on generative AI. These centers aim to deliver impactful solutions that directly contribute to national economic objectives. Why it matters: This initiative signifies a major push towards applied AI research and development within Saudi Arabia, particularly in generative AI, renewable energy, food security, and smart health.
MBZUAI and IBM have announced a strategic collaboration to advance AI research by establishing a new AI Center of Excellence at MBZUAI's Masdar City campus. The center will leverage IBM researchers in collaboration with MBZUAI faculty and students, focusing on advancing both fundamental and applied AI research. The collaboration aims to develop and incubate AI technologies addressing civic, social, and business challenges. Why it matters: This partnership enhances the UAE's AI capabilities, fostering innovation and talent development in critical sectors such as healthcare and finance.
MBZUAI and IBM have launched an AI Center of Excellence to drive sustainability. The center will focus on developing carbon-neutral energy solutions and improving natural language processing for Arabic dialects. Joint research will focus on decarbonization, climate change mitigation, and foundational AI models to support renewable energy. Why it matters: This initiative addresses critical regional needs in sustainability and Arabic NLP, aligning with the UAE's AI strategy and COP28 goals.
KAUST has launched the Center of Excellence for Smart Health (KCSH), chaired by Professor Imed Gallouzi and co-chaired by Professor Xin Gao. The center aims to develop smart-health technologies, integrating AI, machine learning, and other disciplines to address health challenges. KCSH will collaborate with partners across Saudi Arabia to focus on personalized diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. Why it matters: This initiative addresses the evolving healthcare needs of Saudi Arabia's aging population and high prevalence of genetic diseases, positioning the Kingdom as a leader in smart health solutions.
KAUST and NEOM have signed an agreement to establish the KAUST-NEOM Center of Excellence for NEOM Research at KAUST. The center will focus on solutions for challenges in sustainable energy, urban planning, agriculture, seismology, water desalination, AI, big data, and sensors. NEOM will be backed by over $500 billion in funding. Why it matters: The partnership signifies a major investment in R&D and technological innovation within Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom's vision for economic diversification and development of cutting-edge technologies.
KAUST held its Rising Stars in AI Symposium 2025, organized by the Center of Excellence for Generative AI, from April 7-10. The symposium hosted 25 emerging researchers to present their work in generative AI, machine learning, CV, and NLP. KAUST leadership emphasized the university's commitment to AI research and its role in fostering global collaboration and innovation in the field. Why it matters: The event highlights KAUST's ambition to become a central hub for AI research and talent development in Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom's broader AI strategy.
MBZUAI Assistant Professor Qirong Ho is researching AI operating systems to standardize algorithms and enable non-experts to create AI applications reliably. He emphasizes that countries mastering mass production of AI systems will benefit most from the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Ho is co-founder and CTO at Petuum Inc., an AI startup creating standardized building blocks for affordable and scalable AI production. Why it matters: This research aims to democratize AI development and promote widespread adoption across industries in the UAE and beyond.