UAE business leaders graduate from MBZUAI AI programme

AI will soon be used to tailor United Arab Emirates The working hours of government employees contribute to their own personal productivity.

The program, researched by the federal government’s Human Resources Administration, is one of many practical applications of artificial intelligence in everyday life.

On Tuesday, 41 business leaders participated in the three-month Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Celebrate their graduation.

They are full of ideas on how to change the workplace.

Shayma Al Awadhi is the Human Resources Director at Bayanati, the federal government’s Human Resource Administration Management System.

She said she will use the skills gleaned from the course for one of her projects to measure employee productivity.

“One of the main projects I’m currently working on is an app called Motamaken, which is basically a productivity computing platform that uses artificial intelligence to analyze trends in your work,” Ms Al Awadhi said.

“So, for example, you can be more productive after working hours, or you can be more productive during working hours, and the factors that affect your productivity,” she said.

The course is designed to support the UAE government and business sector. Participants must complete 12 weeks of rigorous coursework, lectures, and collaborative project work.

Abu Dhabi Deputy Health Minister Dr Jamal Al Kaabi joined the initiative after the Covid-19 pandemic made him aware of the potential of artificial intelligence.

He sees wearable technology and artificial intelligence as critical to providing home services and follow-up care for the elderly.

“We came across an important project of using artificial intelligence to help us read X-rays for patients, as most doctors are busy during Covid-19,” said Dr Al Kaabi.

“I’m an educated doctor, but as deputy health minister, I want to increase my knowledge.

“I want to understand how artificial intelligence can be used in the future, not only for diagnosis, but also for treatment.”

Dr Al Kaabi said remote follow-up could become commonplace, with sensors used to feed data back to care services.

“For example, put sensors on the legs of older adults that can predict falls,” he said.

The group is the first to graduate from this “executive course”, which is taught by MBZUAI lecturers and international students from prestigious universities including Harvard, Oxford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon and UC Berkeley Peers teach institutions on weekends.

It also visited Abu Dhabi National Oil Company; Emirates Post; G42; DIFC Fintech Hive; Federal Centre for Competitiveness and Statistics; and Al Ain Zoo. Field trips are designed to demonstrate how artificial intelligence is being used in every organization.

Dr Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, said: “Currently, this is a crash course in general artificial intelligence covering all topics.

“But if we have a lot of demand from the health care sector or the national security sector at the same time, then there’s a reprogramming. That’s something we’re experimenting with.”

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of MBZUAI’s Board of Directors, said the plan demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to building a community of future innovators and leaders.

“The skills and knowledge they acquire will allow them to incorporate innovative AI solutions into their organisations, thereby enhancing their performance and competitiveness,” said Dr. Al Jaber.

“Integrating AI applications across organisations in both the public and private sectors is an important step in realising the vision of our national leadership, as stated in the UAE’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.”

MBZUAI is Founded in 2019. Its purpose is to attract students from all over the world to study AI and to support diversity in the UAE.

Admissions for the fall intake of administrative courses are open.More information can be found at www.mbzuai.ac.ae.

Updated: March 22, 2022 3:46 pm