New Abu Dhabi AI healthcare policy; NYUAD creates Arabic thesaurus with AI
Good morning,
Here's this week's roundup of Middle East AI News!
There are a number of firsts in today's newsletter;
NYUAD has developed the first Online Readability Leveled Arabic Thesaurus using AI;
Abu Dhabi has issued the region's first AI regulations for the healthcare industry; and
Ajman University has become the first UAE entity to receive Microsoft AI for Health Research Grant.
There's also an interesting feature from Washington Post on the impact of the Abraham Accords on Arab entrepreneurs. And oil rig construction giant Lamprell has formed a new digital division to develop digital transformation solutions for the engineering sector. Scroll down for these stories and more.
Meanwhile, Adalytyx, Group 42 's AI and analytics joint venture with Abu Dhabi's ADQ, seems to have has stepped up a gear and is hiring a CTO. Group 42 signed the joint venture deal just over a year ago with Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, which re-branded to ADQ last year.
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
/Carrington
Startup News
Long sidelined, Arab Israeli entrepreneurs looking to join tech boom with Emirati backing — www.washingtonpost.com
#Israel #Palestine #UAE #funding - Amir Ounallah is an Arab entrepreneur is looking to integrate AI-based robotics into the e-commerce site he runs at an organic farm outside of Nazareth. Following Abraham Accords, Ounallah is angling for some of the UAE investment that is already starting to flow into Israel. (Washington Post)
Qatari startup develops predictive modelling system to help prevent spread of COVID-19 — mystartupworld.com
#Qatar #Covid19 - Deeptech startup ADGS, which develops algorithms to reproduce human behavior, has created a predictive modelling system that simulates the social dynamics of a country and predicts how Covid-19 may spread. (My Start Up World)
National AI Strategy
Saudi Arabia makes artificial intelligence a cornerstone of its 2030 vision — www.c4isrnet.com
#Saudi #AIstrategy - As Saudi Arabia moves forward with an ambitious economic plan, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) released a multi-phase strategy that aims to position the nation as a global leader in the field by 2030. (C4ISRnet)
Healthcare
Abu Dhabi health department issues region's first AI healthcare regulatory policy — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #policy - Healthcare providers, drug producers, researchers and insurers must now comply to new artificial intelligence policy in Abu Dhabi. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi is the region’s first entity to develop this kind of technology policy in the healthcare sector. (The National)
SRTI Park unveils signing of first investment deals — www.constructionweekonline.com
#UAE #R&D - Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTI Park) has announced the signing of the first investment deals under the Sharjah Angel Investors Network (SAIN) between Emirati company Mohamed Hilal Group and VirtuE R&D, a Spanish company operating in SRTI Park, which specialises in the development of AI application for psychology. (ConstructionWeek)
R&D
NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop large-scale readability-leveled thesaurus for Arabic — wam.ae
#UAE #linguistics - Researchers from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have developed an AI-powered Online Readability Leveled Arabic Thesaurus, a result of a collaboration between the university's Arabic Studies Programme and CAMeL Lab (Computational Approaches to Modelling Language Laboratory). (Emirates News Agency)
Ajman University first UAE entity to receive Microsoft AI for Health Research Grant — www.itp.net
#UAE #AIpolicy - Ajman University has become the first UAE entity to receive the Microsoft AI for Health Research Grant that’s worth over one million dirhams. The university has been selected as of one of 150 grantees worldwide, with awards made for projects combating the global pandemic. (ITP.net)
KAU uses neural networks and machine learning for microfluids research — www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk
#Saudi #microfluids - The Department of Pharmaceutics at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah is using a supervised learning approach to train artificial neural network (ANN) to analyse microfluids, with data sets provided by Dolomite Microfluidics. The firm develops technology for cell biology research and drug development, which is used to produce monodisperse particles, droplets, bubbles, foams and emulsions. (Cambridge Network)
Agriculture
MBRSC develops AI model to count Al Ain's palm trees — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #agriculture - Al Ain Municipality is collaborating with Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to use AI to analyse palm tree cover. 45,000 palms were identified by MBRC from images provided by Al Ain Municipality. (The National)
Engineering
Lamprell creates new digital division to develop digital transformation projects — www.offshore-mag.com
#UAE #R&D - A newly formed division of Lamprell, Lamprell Digital will develop proprietary technologies for industrial application for use in asset integrity, engineering design, smart non-destructive testing, predictive maintenance, and robotics. The new division also now owns the partnerships with Abu Dhabi's Injazat / Group 42 and Swiss digital twin technology firm Akselos. (Offshore)
Civil Defence
Meet Luf 60: Abu Dhabi's new firefighting robot — www.thenationalnews.com
#UAE #firefighting - Abu Dhabi's Civil Defence firefighters have a new friend - and its name is Luf 60. Developed by Austria-based Luf GmbH, the advanced firefighting robot, adept at tackling blazes in tunnels, apartment blocks, bus stations, enclosed carparks and industrial areas. (The National)
Drones
Pizza Hut Israel plans drone delivery trial — www.wsj.com
#Israel #dronedelivery - Pizza Hut Israel is trying a new approach to make pie deliveries by drone a reality at last, but it means customers won’t get the thrill of accepting their orders from futuristic flying machines themselves. (Wall Street Journal)
UAE to buy18 drones as part of 50 F-35 jet deal with US (Reuters sources) — www.reuters.com
#UAE #US #defence - The United Arab Emirates has signed an agreement with the U.S. to purchase 50 F-35 jets and up to 18 armed drones, people familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday. The drone deal would be the second-largest sale of U.S. drones to a single country. (Reuters)
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Carrington Malin helps large organisations, digital brands and fast growing tech ventures with brand, communications and go-to-market strategies.