Dubai uses AI for pedestrian safety; new MBZUAI curricula
Middle East AI News weekly digest...
Good morning!
Welcome to this week’s Middle East AI News!
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence is expanding its offering for the new academic year. The research university has opened two new departments and announced new masters and Ph.D. programmes for robotics and for computer science. So, MBZUAI now offers a total of five specialised masters programmes and five Ph.D. programmes.
Also this week, Dubai Silicon Oasis has introduced AI-managed pedestrian crossings; Etisalat UAE has added voice biometric authentication to its telephone support services; and Saudi plans to apply for UNESCO Category 2 status for its new research and ethics centre (the centre approved by the Cabinet last week).
Scroll down for more AI news from across the region.
Hope you’re having a great summer!
/Carrington
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Education
MBZUAI introduces new robotics & computer science masters programs
#UAE #robotics - Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first graduate research university dedicated to advancing AI, has established new departments for robotics and computer science, launching four new programmes to meet global demand: Master of Science in Robotics, Master of Science in Computer Science, Doctor of Philosophy in Robotics and Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science. (Emirates News Agency)
CGB concludes AI in public sector training
#Qatar #training - Qatar’s Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB) has finished the first AI training program in the government sector, focusing on opportunities and challenges. (QNA)
Registration open for Tunisia IoT & AI Challenge
#Tunisia #IoT - The third edition of the Tunisia IoT and AI Challenge is now open for entries from startups, college students, and high school students, with registration closing on August 15th. (Arab IoT & AI Challenge)
Transport
Dubai launches AI-powered pedestrian crossings
#UAE #AI #Transport - Dubai Silicon Oasis has introduced 14 AI-powered pedestrian crossings to enhance road safety, in partnership with Detroit-headquartered MIT-spinoff Derq, a leading developer of AI technology for transport and traffic management. (The National)
Biometrics
Etisalat introduces voice biometric authentication
#UAE #voicebiometrics - Etisalat UAE has launched Voice Biometric Authentication for its support line, eliminating the need for a PIN and enhancing security for its customers. (LinkedIn)
Investment
Mubadala acquires stake in Aligned Data Centers
#UAE #investment - Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund Mubadala has purchased a minority stake in Aligned Data Centers, a US company, as part of its expansion in the global digital infrastructure sector. (The National News)
R&D
UAE Ministry develops AI System for digital services
#UAE #digitalservices- The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment introduced Jassas, an AI system to monitor and report on its 100+ digital services, enhancing efficiency and minimising service disruption. (LinkedIn)
Saudi Arabia's AI centre aims for UNESCO status
#Saudi #AIethics - The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) will apply to have Saudi’s newly announced International Centre for AI Research and Ethics recognised as a UNESCO Category 2 centre, aiming to promote ethical AI use. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Drones
ParaZero gets order from UAE-based drone company
#UAE #Israel #drones - Tel Aviv-based ParaZero Technologies has received an order from a UAE-based drone OEM focusing on air taxi and cargo drone solutions. The UAE OEM was not named in the media statement. (Seeking Alpha)
Jobs
AI's impact on Qatar’s labour market
#Qatar #AI - A report from the Qatar Center for AI (part of the Qatar Computing Research Institute) highlights that complete automation of jobs is unlikely, but AI will significantly change most positions. (The Peninsula Qatar)
National AI Strategy
ITIDA and Huawei to enhance AI in Egypt
#Egypt #AI - Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) has signed a MoU with Huawei to augment the application of AI technologies in the country and develop a performance report on the same. (Zawya)
AI Diplomacy
Egypt takes part in Arab ICT committee session
#Egypt #ICT - Represented by its Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Egypt is participating in the 51st Arab Permanent Committee for ICT session and the 52nd Session of the ATICM's Executive Bureau in Oman. (MCIT)
Defence
US Army tests driverless trucks in Middle East
#US #Kuwait #AVs - The U.S. Army is testing autonomous cargo trucks for potential use in convoys in Kuwait, reducing the risk to drivers in conflict zones. Note: the U.S. Army announced earlier this year that its leader-follower truck development programme was being closed down! (Stars and Stripes)
Kuwait, US Forces test autonomous military trucks
#Kuwait #US #AVs - The U.S. Army and Kuwait Land Forces are collaboratively testing ten-wheel autonomous supply trucks. The desert trials aim to prepare these vehicles for service by 2026, collecting crucial data on their operational capabilities. (Zawya)
NSA launches new UAV
#Oman #UAV - The National Survey Authority (NSA) at Oman's Ministry of Defence has launched a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to aid in time-efficient survey and exploration operations. The eDrone3 is a high-performance vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAV made by Shanghai-based eSurvey GNSS. (Oman News)