Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, delivered a lecture at KAUST on AI's transformative potential, highlighting KAUST's pioneering Artificial Intelligence Initiative. He praised KAUST's environment for fostering intellectual growth and attracting top talent with ample funding, and noted the importance of balanced AI data and algorithms to minimize cultural bias. He also notes that automation will take over half of current jobs. Why it matters: The lecture underscores the importance of AI research and development in the GCC region, particularly KAUST's role in attracting global AI leaders and fostering innovation.
MBZUAI is hosting a talk by Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, titled ‘Commercial Applications of AI’ on December 8, 2020. Dr. Lee, an MBZUAI Board of Trustees member, will discuss the evolution of AI and its potential to create value. He posits that "AI is the new electricity," emphasizing its transformative impact. Why it matters: The talk highlights MBZUAI's role in fostering discussions around AI's commercial applications and its broader impact on society and the economy.
MBZUAI President Professor Eric Xing discussed AI's potential to augment human capabilities and the responsibility of AI researchers in shaping future leaders. Xing's background includes professorships at Carnegie Mellon University, leadership at Petuum Inc., and directorship of the Center for Machine Learning and Health. He also held visiting positions at Stanford University and Facebook Inc. Why it matters: The emphasis on responsible AI development and education aligns with the UAE's broader strategy to become a leader in ethical and human-centric AI.
MBZUAI alumnus Sulaiman AlJanahi is helping reshape the UAE's payments landscape as a founding member and associate project manager at Al Etihad Payments, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE. AlJanahi's work focuses on the Aani instant payment system, building on his M.Sc. research on optimization techniques for federated learning. He credits MBZUAI for instilling discipline and a strong work ethic, preparing him for the demands of a fast-paced startup environment. Why it matters: This highlights MBZUAI's role in contributing to the UAE's digital transformation and cashless society initiatives through its graduates' involvement in key national projects.
This article previews a presentation by Kevin Murphy (Google Brain) at MBZUAI on a unified perspective of machine learning, based on his book "Probabilistic Machine Learning: Advanced Topics". The presentation will cover the "4 pillars of ML": predictions, decisions, discovery and generation. Murphy will summarize recent methods and his own contributions in each of these tasks. Why it matters: Hosting prominent international AI researchers strengthens MBZUAI's position as a global hub for AI research and education.
Turing Award winner Raj Reddy spoke at the MBZUAI Executive Program. Reddy is a Professor of Computer Science and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and has held leadership roles at CMU, AAAI, and IEEE. His research focuses on AI, human-computer interaction, and technology's societal impact. Why it matters: High-profile speakers at UAE AI programs can help attract talent and investment to the region.
Wesam Manassra, an MIT-trained full-stack engineer at OpenAI, spoke to MBZUAI students about his experiences in tech and entrepreneurship. Manassra, who also worked at Uber and Microsoft and co-founded two startups, emphasized the importance of communication, adaptability, and team culture. The event was held in collaboration with startAD and sponsored by the MBZUAI Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center. Why it matters: The talk highlights the growing interest in AI careers among UAE students and the role of local institutions like MBZUAI in fostering tech entrepreneurship.