MBZUAI and the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) jointly hosted the inaugural Human Phenotype Project Hackathon in Abu Dhabi, focusing on AI-driven healthcare solutions. 24 postgraduate students and researchers analyzed "real data" from a deep-phenotype multi-omic biobank to develop personalized and predictive analytics. The hackathon utilized data from WIS and Pheno.AI’s Human Phenotype Project (HPP) in Israel, marking the first time an international university has been granted access to this data. Why it matters: This collaboration demonstrates the growing emphasis on leveraging AI for healthcare innovation in the UAE and fostering international partnerships to address global health challenges.
KAUST and the Social Responsibility Association (SRA) are hosting their third annual AI hackathon at KAUST with 73 participants from across Saudi Arabia. The hackathon aims to deliver 14 social projects in technology and innovation across the tracks of social issues, housing, tourism, and education. KAUST supports the event to foster entrepreneurship and transform ideas into scalable solutions that serve society. Why it matters: The event highlights the growing focus on AI-driven solutions for social challenges within Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030's goals for digital entrepreneurship.
MBZUAI students won the top three awards at the Alibaba AI Hackathon in Dubai, part of GITEX Global AI InnovateFest. First place went to TalkTrain, a smart business assistant for public speaking practice, developed by Kane Lindsay and Hawau Olamide Toyin. Second place was awarded to Anaaya, a generative AI application for predicting adverse drug interactions, created by Mai A. Shaaban and Anees Ur Rehman Hashmi. Why it matters: This sweep highlights MBZUAI's strength in applied AI research and the potential for its students to create impactful solutions for real-world problems.
Two student teams from MBZUAI won top prizes at the inaugural Agritech Hackathon (“Agrithon”) organized by ADAFSA. The “Masdar Boys” team developed a dashboard integrating ML models for plant disease diagnosis, optimal animal clinic placement, and disease outbreak zone classification. The “Green AI” team built a machine learning framework for plant disease classification, winning second prize. Why it matters: This highlights the growing role of AI in addressing food security challenges in the UAE and the region, with potential for real-world applications through ADAFSA's interest in further developing the students' work.
Two teams from MBZUAI won awards at the IEEE SLT international hackathon held in Qatar. One team won the "Best Potential Impact Project" award for Autodub, a human-in-the-loop AI dubbing platform. The second MBZUAI team won the "Craziest Idea Award" for a commentator voice synthesizer for video games. Why it matters: The wins highlight MBZUAI's strength in applied AI research and its students' ability to develop innovative solutions with practical applications.
A team of MBZUAI students won first place at the HackforSpace hackathon in Dubai, organized by G42 and Coders HQ, where teams created Space Autopilots for Moon Missions. The winning team consisted of Klea Ziu, Nicolas Mauricio Cuadrado Avila, and Roberto Alejandro Gutierrez Guillen. Another MBZUAI team secured third place, with two additional teams receiving honorable mentions. Why it matters: This win showcases MBZUAI's strength in AI and space-related technologies, highlighting the university's ability to foster talent and innovation in strategically important sectors for the UAE.
A talk at the Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) at TII will discuss rapid prototyping using laser-cutting facilities available at MakerSpace in Al Zeina. The talk will cover constructing prototypes from wood and acrylic and compare this approach to traditional 3D printing. The speakers will also describe the impact of the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’ on manufacturing in the UAE, and how makerspaces can contribute to Operation 300bn. Why it matters: This highlights the UAE's focus on advanced manufacturing and the role of makerspaces in fostering innovation and developing local capabilities.
KAUST is launching the "Dear AI" campaign and hackathon to address gender bias and under-representation of women and Saudi/Arab people in AI, after finding AI image tools return only 1% women for prompts like "imagine entrepreneur." The campaign calls for accurate representation in AI datasets from Saudi Arabia and beyond. KAUST notes that 47% of graduates in their AI academy are women. Why it matters: This campaign highlights the need for more inclusive AI training data and addresses gender imbalances in STEM fields in Saudi Arabia.