The UAE's Artificial Intelligence Office is partnering with Samsung Gulf Electronics to promote AI literacy among young Emiratis. The collaboration aims to equip the youth with essential AI skills through various educational initiatives and workshops. The initiative will focus on increasing awareness and understanding of AI technologies and their potential applications. Why it matters: This partnership highlights the UAE's commitment to fostering AI talent and driving technological innovation by empowering its youth with crucial skills for the future.
Uwaidh Al-Harethi, executive VP at SABIC, spoke at KAUST's 2019 Winter Enrichment Program about the importance of innovation, noting that leading tech companies invest heavily to penetrate markets. He highlighted Samsung's patent filings and Amazon's innovation spending. Al-Harethi stated that SABIC makes three dollars for every one dollar spent on innovation, emphasizing its role in the chemical industry's success. Why it matters: The talk underscores the increasing focus on innovation and technology leadership within Saudi Arabia's key industries, particularly in leveraging AI for future technologies.
KAUST Professor Hussain was awarded the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award (OYTEX) by the University of Texas (UT). Hussain studied at UT from 2003-2005 and later founded KAUST's Integrated Nanotechnology Laboratory in 2009. His work includes 15 patents, 18 research awards, and recognition from Intel and Samsung. Why it matters: The award recognizes the impact of KAUST faculty and their contributions to nanotechnology research, highlighting KAUST's growing prominence in the field.
Ekaterina Radionova from Smarter AI (formerly Samsung AI Center) presented an approach to generating lifelike real-time avatars. The work focuses on generating high-quality video with authentic facial features to support online generation. Radionova's master's degree is from Skoltech on Data Science program and Bachelor degree at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology on Applied Math. Why it matters: Achieving realistic real-time avatars is critical for applications in online communication, entertainment, and virtual reality within the region.
Samsung's AI strategy has reportedly driven the company to achieve record revenue. This financial performance was observed despite ongoing challenges and headwinds within the semiconductor industry. The strategic focus on AI appears to have been a significant factor in their business success during this period. Why it matters: This highlights how major technology companies are leveraging AI strategies to maintain and grow revenue even in turbulent market conditions.