Latest news with #MohamedBinZayedUniversityofArtificialIntelligence
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Science
- Gulf Today
Khaled attends MBZUAI's commencement ceremony
Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has attended the 2025 commencement ceremony of Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). The graduating class comprised 104 students, making it MBZUAI's largest and most diverse cohort to date. The cohort included 13 PhD and 91 master's degree graduates across the university's three specialisations: Computer Vision (CV), Machine Learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Sheikh Khaled congratulated the graduates on their achievement and honoured several PhD and master's recipients, wishing them continued success in their academic and professional journeys, encouraging them to apply their knowledge and expertise in advancing the nation's development and helping to build an innovation-led, technology-driven economy. He emphasised the UAE leadership's firm belief that shaping the future begins with knowledge, science, and technological advancement, noting that the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a leading global hub for artificial intelligence research and development by building an integrated ecosystem that places AI in the service of people and society, while reinforcing national leadership in key strategic sectors. The ceremony was attended by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and Chairman of MBZUAI's Board of Trustees, Dr Ahmed Mubarak bin Nawi Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the President's Office for Strategic Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, Sara Awadh Musallam, Chairperson of Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement, Major General Ahmed Saif Bin Zaitoon Al Muhairi, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police, Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Office of the Crown Prince, Professor Eric Xing, MBZUAI President and University Professor, Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI Provost, members of the university faculty, and graduates' families. This year's cohort has 20 Emirati graduates, the highest number since the university's inception, including one PhD graduate in Computer Vision (CV) and nine local female graduates in different AI specialities, underscoring the university's commitment to cultivating homegrown talent to lead artificial intelligence-related sectors. Graduates from the 2025 class represent 24 countries, including Pakistan, India, Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Italy, as well as first-time graduates from Armenia, Bangladesh, Comoros, Dominica, Eritrea, Norway, Serbia, and Uruguay, underscoring the university's growing international reach and its commitment to attracting top global talent. MBZUAI now boasts an expanding alumni network of 316 AI specialists, driving transformation across industries worldwide. Nearly 80 per cent of alumni started working in Abu Dhabi within one year of graduation. As the university expands to offer 13 graduate programmes and launches its first undergraduate programme – a Bachelor of Science in AI with Business and Engineering tracks – it continues its mission to shape the future of AI locally, regionally and internationally. Recently, Sheikh Khaled attended the graduation ceremony of the 36th cohort of cadet officers, 38th cohort of university graduates, 21st cohort of female university graduates, and the third batch of international cadets at the Police College. Sheikh Khaled congratulated the graduates, wishing them success in their careers as they serve their nation and its leadership, underscoring the importance of upholding excellence in policing by adopting the latest methodologies and best practices in law enforcement and security, as a rapidly evolving sector. He also extended his congratulations to the international graduates, encouraging them to apply the skills and knowledge gained during their training to serve their respective countries. WAM
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
‘A moment of pride': MBZUAI graduates represent new crop of global AI talent
29 May 2025 01:05 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Year after year, the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) continues to reach major milestones, reflecting the UAE's expanding AI footprint. This year, the university celebrated its largest and most diverse graduating class, with 104 students earning future-ready degrees.'We had our first UAE national PhD graduate, who is also a member of Dubai Police. We also had our first three female PhD graduates. So, it was quite the milestone for the university,' Prof. Timothy Baldwin, Provost of MBZUAI, told Aletihad on the sidelines of Wednesday's graduation university awarded PhD degrees to 13 graduates and master's degrees to 91 students. Among them were 20 Emiratis — the highest number of UAE nationals to graduate since the university's year's graduates represent a new generation of AI talent, specialising in three core areas: Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing.'Next year, we will also have our first robotics graduates,' Baldwin said. 'Every year is the largest because we're growing and growing.'Although more than 80% of MBZUAI's students hail from around the world, 80% of graduates choose to remain in the UAE—a testament to the university's global appeal and national impact, Baldwin students are 'gaining high-end AI skills and generating intellectual capital'—creating innovations ranging from Arabic language models to breakthroughs in healthcare, the university's provost said.'Our Jais large language models are now the most popular for Arabic. These are open-weight and aligned with our region's values—something foreign models do not offer,' he explained.'From Alzheimer's and brain tumour detection to low-cost ultrasound tools—we are improving both hospital outcomes and access for underserved communities.'The MBZUAI students are not just learning AI, Baldwin said, they 'help build the safeguards the world urgently needs.' The Work of MBZUAI GraduatesSalem Almarri, the MBZUAI's first Emirati PhD graduate in computer vision, conducted a study on real-time anomaly detection. He developed three methods to identify criminal activity in video. 'Being the first Emirati PhD graduate (in this field) carries weight—I must keep going. We are blessed with leadership that had this vision, and now it's our turn to do our part,' Almarri said. Asif Hanif, who researched AI trust and model vulnerabilities, vowed to pursue higher studies after earning his PhD in computer vision. Mohamed Ridzwan, a PhD graduate in machine learning, focused on AI for cancer prediction. "MBZUAI is a hub of knowledge and a catalyst for AI in the region. It is a privilege to be part of this ecosystem,' he said. Maryam Arjemandi, who completed her master's in computer vision, studied fetal ultrasound imaging using diffusion models. 'There is a big data gap in medical imaging, so I partnered with Corniche Hospital to create a private dataset and trained a model to generate realistic ultrasound images,' she told Aletihad. Her aunt, Munira, beamed with pride just listening to the new graduate explain her work. 'She is the first in our family to earn a master's degree. She told me it was her dream—and thank God, I saw that dream come true."Arjemandi urged those thinking about pursuing AI studies to 'just go for it'. 'The UAE is the third strongest country in AI. If you want to do AI, come here,' she said. Hassan Almarzooqi was a proud father of graduates Abdullah and Abdelrahman. "It is truly a moment of joy. They are our sons, but also sons of the nation."Abdelrahman said it was 'a moment of pride to graduate from the top AI university', while Abdullah highlighted the university's steadfast support. 'Everything you need is provided — you just have to work hard,' Abdullah said.
Gulf Insider
07-02-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Made In UAE AI Robot That Picks Ripe Strawberries Better Than Humans
An AI-powered robot developed here by experts at a university in Abu Dhabi is capable of accurately identifying ripe strawberries, picking them without causing damage, and operating tirelessly across various environments, from sunny fields to controlled greenhouses. The 'Strawberry Picker' bot project, led by professors from the robotics department at Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), is done in collaboration with other departments, including machine learning and computer vision. This innovative solution, poised to support the farming industry, aims to help farmers reduce labour costs while maintaining high levels of productivity and fruit quality. How it works? The robot leverages advanced artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, robotics, and precision agriculture technologies. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, the robot analyses plants in real-time, identifying ripe strawberries based on parametres such as colour, size, and shape. Machine learning algorithms ensure precise identification, distinguishing ripe fruits from unripe or damaged ones. Once a ripe strawberry is detected, a robotic arm with a sensitive gripper gently picks the fruit without causing harm. The robot combines 'active perception' with its manipulation capabilities, enabling it to adjust its position or grip based on environmental factors like light, obstructions, or plant movement caused by wind. Autonomous navigation allows the robot to efficiently move across rows of plants, optimising its route and avoiding obstacles through AI-powered pathfinding algorithms. 'MBZUAI's expertise in robotics, computer vision, machine learning ensures that these robots can operate with remarkable precision and adaptability, mimicking the care and attention of human labourers but at a faster and more efficient rate,' professor Dezhen Song, deputy department chair of robotics, and professor of robotics, told Gulf News. In addition to professor Song, core contributors include professors Ivan Laptev and Hao Li, experts in computer vision, along with a multidisciplinary team of AI engineers, roboticists, and agricultural scientists. Together, they tackle challenges in precision agriculture. Five advantages Professor Song noted that the AI-driven robot offers several advantages over traditional farming methods, addressing key cost-related challenges. Enhanced precision: The robot's ability to accurately detect and pick only ripe strawberries reduces waste and minimises plant damage, leading to higher crop yields, improved fruit quality, and better market value. Continuous operations: Unlike human labourers, the robot can work around the clock, offering consistent performance and increasing productivity without the need for overtime or seasonal wage costs. Cost efficiency: By automating repetitive tasks, farmers can significantly lower labour costs while maintaining high productivity. Also, farmers don't need to train new workers every season, but rely on automated system that requires minimal oversight. Labour shortage mitigation: As the agricultural sector faces a declining availability of manual labour, especially for physically demanding tasks like fruit picking, this robot provides a practical and reliable alternative. Scalability: The modular design allows the robot to be adapted for different crops and farming environments, extending its utility beyond strawberries. By automating repetitive tasks, farms can scale operations without proportionally increasing labour costs, making it easier to meet growing demand. Apples, tomatoes too Professor Song noted that the 'Strawberry Picker' is designed to operate in diverse environments, including varying climates and terrains. 'Its advanced sensors allow the robot to adjust to different lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight or low indoor lighting in greenhouses. The hardware is built to withstand environmental challenges, including varying temperatures, humidity, and dust. The AI models can be fine-tuned for specific environments, ensuring optimal performance in outdoor fields, indoor vertical farms, or polyhouse settings.' He pointed out that the robot can be deployed for other types of items like tomatoes, apples or bell peppers. 'Yes, the technology behind this robot is inherently scalable because of its reliance on machine learning and adaptable hardware. The same AI algorithms can be trained to recognise different fruits or vegetables. The training process would involve gathering a dataset of images and parametres specific to the new crop. This scalability ensures that the technology can serve as a multi-functional solution for precision agriculture, enhancing productivity across various farming activities,' professor Song added.
