Facial recognition in Dubai; Google to help train Egyptian youth on AI

Good morning,

Here’s your weekly Middle East AI News! Has it been a whole week already?

A real mixed bag of news for you today. Some R&D and innovation initiatives in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Dubai RTA updates its five-year AI strategy, while Dubai Police demonstrates surveillance systems and anti-terrorist tactics in the Dubai Metro.

Google awards $2 million to 21 media projects in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. Plus, Google has just signed new deal with Egypt's Information Technology Institute (ITI) to train 30,000 students and graduates in AI.

Stay safe & have a great weekend!

/Carrington

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Facial Recognition

Dubai introduces facial recognition on public transport — www.barrons.com

#UAE #security #FR - Dubai is introducing a facial recognition system on public transport to beef up security, as the emirate prepares to host the global Expo 2020 Dubai exhibition. The emirate already operates a biometric system using facial recognition at its international airport. (AFP)

R&D

New research project aims to advance UAE’s leadership in AI — wam.ae

#UAE #R&D - Sandooq Al Watan, a community initiative launched by Emirati businessmen, has signed a sponsored research agreement in collaboration with United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and Khalifa University to advance cognitive computing using novel architecture and high-grade materials. (Emirates News Agency)

STC set to open data analysis lab to boost AI innovation in Saudi — www.itp.net

#Saudi #R&D - STC plans to launch an advanced cloud-based data analysis laboratory to focus on big data, predictive analysis and AI innovation. (ITP.net)

Shaping the UAE into the world's next tech centre of excellence — www.arabianbusiness.com

#UAE #innovation - The UAE Technology Think Tank, a think tank of senior executives and academics from the UAE’s technology and telecoms industry has called for more incentives to drive investment and innovation in the sector. It also said that 5G should be made accessible to as many people as possible to help the UAE become a centre of excellence for R&D. (Arabian Business)

NEOM Challenge showcasing the future of AI — www.cbnme.com

#Saudi #NEOM - Saudi Arabia highlighted its students’ capabilities in the NEOM AI Challenge, by challenging them to provide innovative solutions for the city of NEOM in 3 main tracks: energy, entertainment, and mobility. The challenge brought together more than 400 participants from 39 Saudi universities around the Kingdom. (CBNME)

Education

ITI, Google sign agreement to train 30k youth on AI — dailynewsegypt.com

#Egypt #education - Egypt’s Information Technology Institute (ITI) and Google have signed a cooperation agreement to launch a new programme to train 30,000 software specialists on AI. The 'Artificial Intelligence Program and Building Machine Learning Capabilities' programme will train graduates and students of software engineering and computer science majors on AI tools and processes. (Daily News Egypt)

Finance

FAB launches AI tool to monetise payments data to increase sales — wam.ae

#UAE #payments - First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has announced the launch of 'Super Surprises', a new AI tool that monetises payments data through effective campaigns resulting in increased sales and new customer footfall for merchants. Super-Surprises is the latest of the offerings under the bank’s 'Payment as a Platform'. (Emirates News Agency)

Transport

Dubai RTA updates its five-year artificial intelligence strategy — www.intelligenttransport.com

#UAE #transport - Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is updating its strategy guided by the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, as well as the latest trends and benchmarks of the global transport sector. A series of workshops have identified 140 projects where AI can play a part in boosting efficiency for RTA. (Intelligent Transport)

The dawn of autonomous vehicles in the Middle East — www.arabianindustry.com

#UAE #AVs - Arabian Industry interviews Giovanni Moscatelli, BCG managing director and partner and Jukke Malvalehto, principal at BCG on the role that autonomous vehicles have to play in the future of Middle East’s logistics sector. (Arabian Industry)

Digital Government

Egypt's Sisi orders applying AI technology in constructions projects — english.ahram.org.eg

#Egypt #government - Egypt is currently paying special attention to digital transformation, with an ambitious plan targeting the digitisation of all government services countrywide. (Ahram Online)

AI Policy

Saudi Arabia hosts consultative meeting to discuss a proposed UN advisory body for AI — www.zawya.com

#Saudi #UN - Saudi Arabia recently hosted a consultative roundtable to discuss the establishment of a UN-proposed advisory body tasked to lead all AI efforts. The meeting, which was held in a consultative capacity, was part of the Global AI Summit’s agenda in Riyadh. (Zawya)

Healthcare

Cutting edge robotic surgery helps combat COVID-19 in Dubai — www.euronews.com

#UAE #robosurgery - CEO of American Hospital Dubai, Sherif Beshara, told Euronews that the hospital had operated on 105 extremely high-risk patients using their robotics surgery and had experienced zero infections or complications for healthcare workers. (EuroNews)

Media

Text to speech, automation and AI: How Google is backing Middle East news providers — www.zdnet.com

#MENA #media - Google has awarded just under $2 million to 21 projects in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, following the first Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge in the region. (ZDNet)

Opinion: AI journalism and professional code of ethics — www.gulftoday.ae

#UAE #media - Media consultant Dr Mohamed Abdulzaher writes about AI journalism, the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and why we need code of ethics for AI journalism, and standards of professional conduct and policies to control all of these technologies. (Gulf Today)

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About Carrington Malin — www.carringtonmalin.com

Carrington Malin is a UAE-based entrepreneur, marketer and writer who focuses on emerging technologies.