KAUST postdoctoral fellow Muhammad Jamil won the best poster award at the 15th World Congress on Parasitic Plants for his research on combating the parasitic plant *Striga hermonthica*. His poster outlined his work at KAUST on developing technologies to help farmers in sub-Saharan Africa control this weed, which severely impacts cereal crops. Jamil is part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project at KAUST focused on controlling *Striga* in pearl millet. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to addressing critical food security challenges in Africa through innovative agricultural technologies.
Technology Innovation Institute's (TII) Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) is integrating machine learning (ML) techniques into signal processing to accelerate research. One project used convolutional neural networks to predict COVID-19 pneumonia from chest x-rays with 97.5% accuracy. DERC researchers also demonstrated that ML-based signal and image processing can retrieve up to 68% of text information from electromagnetic emanations. Why it matters: This adoption of ML for signal processing at TII highlights the potential for advanced AI techniques to enhance research and security applications in the UAE.
MBZUAI has released Jais and Jais-chat, two new open generative large language models (LLMs) with a focus on Arabic. The 13 billion parameter models are based on the GPT-3 architecture and pretrained on Arabic, English, and code. Evaluation shows state-of-the-art Arabic knowledge and reasoning, with competitive English performance.
Ahmed Abdulmajeed Alabdulkarim, a KAUST alumnus (M.S. '11), pursued a Ph.D. at MIT and now leads a research lab at KACST and MIT. His research interests include big data, AI, and machine learning. He credits KAUST as a starting point for his growth as a scientist, providing a perfect research environment and interactions with distinguished scientists. Why it matters: The success of KAUST alumni in leading research roles at prominent institutions like KACST and MIT highlights the university's contribution to developing Saudi Arabia's AI research capacity.
Dr. Abdelrahman AlMahmoud from TII's Secure Systems Research Center (SSRC) will participate in a WGISTA webinar on adopting a digital mindset in auditing and fighting corruption. The webinar, organized by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), will discuss the impact of emerging technologies on public sector auditing. Dr. AlMahmoud will share insights on how AI and Big Data can enable auditors to process data at a new scale. Why it matters: This highlights the UAE's growing role in applying advanced technologies like AI and big data to improve governance and accountability in the public sector.
Jean M. J. Fréchet, retired KAUST senior vice president, has been awarded the King Faisal Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in dendrimers, photoresists, and organic photovoltaics. His work has contributed to advancements in biotherapeutics, organic electronics, materials, and microfluidics. Fréchet is the 10th most cited chemist globally, with over 900 publications and 200 patents. Why it matters: The recognition highlights KAUST's impact on global scientific advancement and underscores the importance of investing in basic research with broad applications.
KAUST is addressing the cybersecurity skills gap in Saudi Arabia through programs like the Cybersecurity Specialization program in partnership with the National Cybersecurity Authority. KAUST alumnus Jameel Showail emphasizes the growing need for qualified Saudi cybersecurity professionals due to national security concerns and increasing digitization. He highlights that cybersecurity is crucial for protecting against AI-related threats and ensuring data integrity. Why it matters: As Saudi Arabia rapidly digitizes and integrates AI, KAUST's role in developing local cybersecurity talent becomes increasingly vital for safeguarding critical systems and data.