Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries worldwide, ranging from sustainability and agriculture to healthcare. Its capability to process vast amounts of data, learn from patterns, and make intelligent decisions is reshaping how we work and live.

At this year’s GITEX Global 2024, one of the world’s largest tech and AI events, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) showcased its latest innovations and commitment to addressing real-world challenges. 

Representing the UAE at the Abu Dhabi Government Pavilion, MBZUAI aims to highlight the country’s ambition to become a global leader in AI and innovation.

Sultan Al Hajji, Vice President for Public Affairs and Alumni Relations at MBZUAI, expressed the university’s excitement about participating in this year’s event. He highlighted MBZUAI’s focus on showcasing its advanced research capabilities and attracting top global talent for academic and research collaborations to bolster the UAE’s position in the AI sector.

“Mohammed Bin Zayed University has two main components. One is the academic side, where we focus on master’s and PhD programs. On the other hand, we also have researchers working on various projects, which we showcase at events like these.” Al Hajji states.

“We also aim to collaborate with industries, particularly in oil and gas, healthcare, and sustainability, to complement their initiatives or help them develop solutions.”

INNOVATIONS AND PROJECTS

Al Hajji explores the various initiatives and projects led by MBZUAI, beginning with BiMediX2, a bilingual medical large language model (LLM) and a large multimodal model (LMM). This model is designed to comprehend and generate content across multiple data types, including text, images, audio, and video.

“BiMediX2 can help answer people’s questions regarding their health conditions and suggest remedies they can use,” notes Al Hajji. “Beyond that, it can also help connect you with a qualified doctor. This is crucial for people in remote locations who lack access to medical facilities, as it can assist in diagnosing their conditions and providing accurate advice.”

Al Hajji also highlights MBZUAI’s Dog Bot and Immersive Command Center for Robot Dog Navigation. Dog Bot, a generative AI model, integrates image, text, and audio capabilities, enabling speech, vision recognition, and audio response. 

The bot has potential applications across several sectors, including health and safety inspections, police patrols, and agriculture. In healthcare, it could assist by interacting with patients in remote areas and transmitting diagnostic images to doctors for evaluation.

The Immersive Command Center uses a 270-degree LED wall and a Unitree robot dog with a 360-degree camera. Users can control the robot via console or voice commands.

MBZUAI is also making headway in sustainability. 

Al Hajji also discusses their vision-language model (VLM), which aims to help monitor deforestation and help curb the loss of biodiversity, protect endangered species and limit disruption to ecosystems.

Next comes FRAPPE, a news analysis system. “Frappe analyzes real-time news, tracking how propaganda is spread and mitigating its influence. It provides decision-makers with accurate, factual information to support informed decision-making,” Al Hajji explains.

The program analyzes millions of articles in real time, offering instant insights through its interactive system. This allows users to compare framing, persuasion, and propaganda techniques across various media outlets globally.

Al Hajji also highlighted VOODOO, a VR telepresence solution powered by generative AI that generates a full 3D avatar head from a single photo. Using a webcam, the avatar mirrors the user’s facial expressions in real time, facilitating seamless face-to-face interactions in the metaverse.

THE ROLE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Al Hajji highlights the role of the university’s public affairs strategy in supporting the mission to become a global AI research and education leader.

“We serve as the gateway between the public and the university. We support all research initiatives, not just our own,” Al Hajji states. “For instance, we have a center for incubation and innovation that provides seed funding to individuals with promising ideas. To date, nine startups have emerged from the university.”

He also emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting its alumni, noting that it has over 212 graduates from its master’s and PhD programs, along with more than 160 graduates from other specialized programs.

“We act as the eyes and ears of the university, connecting the inside with the outside and vice versa.”

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE UAE 

The UAE is leading the AI revolution, focusing on transforming its society and economy through innovative applications of this advanced technology.

The UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence sets ambitious goals, including boosting government performance, creating a smart digital system, and becoming a global leader in AI investments.

To achieve these goals, the UAE is making significant investments in AI infrastructure, positioning the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region for the fastest growth in AI spending globally.

According to the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s State of Artificial Intelligence 2024 report, the region’s expenditure on AI is expected to surge at a compound annual rate of 30% over the next few years, driven primarily by the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Nonetheless, the anticipated benefits significantly outweigh the costs. By 2030, the MENA region is expected to generate considerable economic gains from AI, contributing 2% of global benefits and an impressive $320 billion.

“AI today is the new gold or the new oil of the modern era, with expected revenues exceeding $300 trillion over the next decade. The UAE is poised to be a leading contender for the highest revenue generation from this, contributing significantly to its GDP. As you know, the UAE also has a vision and strategy to fully digitize and integrate AI by 2030,” Al Hajji notes. 

“The country has the necessary infrastructure and skilled workforce, supported by this university’s initiatives. Moreover, the UAE has developed an ecosystem conducive to data collection, analysis, and the production of various AI-driven technologies,” he adds.