New UAE-based institute to boost students' Artificial Intelligence skills

It will also conduct research that will benefit the government and industry sectors.

A new institute dedicated to teaching Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications to university students has been launched in Abu Dhabi on Monday (July 15). This is the first-of-its-kind-institute in the UAE will also train government and industries in AI science and applications.

With a Dh160 million five-year-fund for AI projects, Khalifa University of Science and Technology launched the Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems Institute (AI Institute) which will focus on AI, data science, robotics, next-generation networks, semiconductor technologies and cybersecurity.

Six research centres under one umbrella

The AI Institute will bring all the university's research in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber-security, data science and information and communication technologies under a single umbrella.

"Khalifa University's AI Institute, a single umbrella that gathers activities of six research centres, reflects our commitment to research in next-generation digital technologies that are priority areas for the UAE's economy," Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, executive vice-president of Khalifa University of Science and Technology said during the launch of the AI Institute.

"This is the first institute in the UAE focused on AI applications and will train government and industries in AI science and applications. It will also conduct research that will benefit government and industry sectors," he added.

The university also unveiled two initiatives - a programme in AI and the Mohammed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC) that will be held on February 2020 - on Monday to further advance innovation in robotics and artificial intelligence.