Dr. Sultan Al Jaber highlighted the UAE's focus on AI as a key economic and social driver, estimating AI's potential contribution to the UAE's GDP at $97.9 billion by 2030. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is positioned to play a crucial role in achieving the UAE's national AI strategy goals by 2031. The UAE aims to become a global leader in AI, leveraging it across various sectors to enhance efficiency and innovation. Why it matters: This reaffirms the UAE's commitment to becoming a leader in AI, supported by strategic initiatives and investments in education and technology.
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of the MBZUAI Board of Trustees, visited MBZUAI and discussed the university's role in shaping the UAE's next 50 years. He was briefed on research projects including AI for remote medical care, holographic surgery techniques, and machine learning for enhanced mobility. He emphasized the importance of AI literacy in the UAE government's strategic projects and the university's role in fostering digital, technical, and scientific excellence. Why it matters: The visit underscores the UAE's commitment to AI as a key driver of future solutions and economic progress, with MBZUAI playing a central role in this vision.
MBZUAI celebrated its Board Chairman, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, being appointed as UAE COP28 President-Designate. MBZUAI has recently signed agreements with IBM and Malaria No More/Reaching Last Mile to better understand and mitigate the effects of climate change. The UAE will host the annual climate summit at Expo City, Dubai, from November 30 to December 12, 2023. Why it matters: This appointment highlights the UAE's leadership in climate action and the role AI can play in addressing climate change challenges.
COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber visited MBZUAI and emphasized AI's role in the UAE's economic diversification and sustainable growth. He highlighted AI's potential to contribute $13 trillion to global GDP by 2030. Al Jaber also met with researchers to discuss projects related to sustainable environment, healthcare, education, and Arabic LLMs. Why it matters: This underscores the UAE's commitment to AI as a key driver for its future economy and its focus on leveraging AI for climate solutions and national priorities.
The King of Malaysia met with MBZUAI leadership, including Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and Peng Xiao, to discuss potential cooperation in AI development. They discussed MBZUAI's vision and graduate programs, noting applications received from Malaysia and other countries. MBZUAI has received over 7,000 applications since its establishment in 2019 and will offer M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in machine learning, computer vision, and NLP. Why it matters: This meeting signifies growing international interest in MBZUAI and Abu Dhabi's efforts to establish itself as a global AI hub, fostering potential collaborations between the UAE and Malaysia.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University gave a keynote at KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) 2022 on "resilience." He emphasized the need to end greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century through decarbonizing the energy system. Sachs highlighted the importance of science and technology solutions, especially in adapting to climate change. Why it matters: The talk underscores the importance of KAUST's research initiatives, such as the Circular Carbon Initiative, in developing technologies for carbon capture and utilization, aligning with Saudi Arabia's net-zero targets.
Sheikh Theyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the inaugural graduation of MBZUAI, where 52 students from 24 countries received postgraduate degrees in CV/ML. 63% of the graduates have confirmed employment, Ph.D. placements, paid internships, or startups, with 91% remaining in the UAE. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber emphasized MBZUAI's role in advancing global progress through AI research across sectors and highlighted the importance of AI in tackling climate change. Why it matters: The graduation and high retention rate underscore the UAE's commitment to building a local AI talent pool and fostering AI innovation within the country.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The appointment aims to advance KAUST’s role in Saudi Arabia’s research, development, and innovation agenda, particularly in energy and sustainability. KAUST's President, Sir Edward Byrne, stated that Prince Abdulaziz's vision will accelerate KAUST's impact and strengthen its role in linking research with economic development. Why it matters: The appointment signals Saudi Arabia's continued focus on leveraging KAUST for achieving Vision 2030 goals related to energy transition, sustainability, and technological advancement.