Levelling up AI understanding

MBZUAI welcomed a hybrid class of executives from government and industry for the first session of its Executive Program. The program is designed to promote greater engagement with AI between government, industry, and academia.

Ultimately, the aim is to accelerate the development of AI technologies in sectors where there is a need for greater operational efficiency, cost savings, environmental impact reduction, and more. MBZUAI President, Professor Eric Xing led the program’s first session on the past, present, and future of AI and machine learning.

“It was an exciting 6-hour session, and an honor to teach a class full of leaders from key government offices and industry about the utilization of AI,” said MBZUAI President Eric Xing. “This is the first in-person lecture I’ve led in the two years since the pandemic!”

The Executive Program is the first of its kind to be administered by MBZUAI. It comprises six course sessions, each delivered by instructors from world-leading academic institutions, executives from multinational corporations, and the University’s renowned faculty.

“This program is vital, not only because AI literacy is central to the success of many of the strategic initiatives the UAE government is undertaking, but also because successful transformation requires a community of experts to support each other. Our hope, through the offering of this exciting, new Executive Program, is that participants will engage with our faculty, and with each other, to make some truly groundbreaking things happen,” Xing said.

Adoption of AI is seen at the national level as a critical enabler of economic development plans. The Program will familiarize participants with the latest AI concepts, technologies, and methodologies—empowering them to implement AI in the workplace and create tangible impact.

“AI is the single most important accelerator of innovation and economic growth for both developing and developed nations alike. Educating our participants about AI’s potential is educating them about the possibilities in their respective organizations, and the possibilities for the future of the entire nation,” said Dr. Martin Takac, Associate Professor of Machine Learning at MBZUAI and co-instructor of the first Executive Program class.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the first cohort of the Executive Program will participate in hybrid classroom sessions (virtual and in-person) and cover essential topics tailored to their positions in leadership. Session topics include the economics of AI and machine learning, visual cognition and intelligence, lingual cognition and intelligence, the future of robotics, and AI ethics and policymaking.

To learn more about the MBZUAI Executive Program visit mbzuai.ac.ae/ep