The journey of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology “KAUST” in the field of artificial intelligence started early, where the university topped the list of active academic institutions in enhancing human capabilities and innovation in this field in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region. KAUST contributes to the development of a wide infrastructure that includes modern technology managed by distinguished experts, and has sought to bring prominent cooperative partnerships with key institutions in the public and private sectors; as part of its ambition to integrate smart technologies in all key national impact areas such as security, energy, data analysis, and healthcare to support the goals of Vision 2030.
KAUST has improved its experiences in the field of artificial intelligence by launching a series of specialized educational programs based on science and technology principles under the slogan “lifelong learning” through its academy. Since its inception in 2022, the academy has offered six training programs and three summer camps, as well as collaborations with 20 Saudi universities, attracting trainees from twelve various Saudi cities, with females representing 70% of the participants. The academy has successfully graduated around 2000 students by the end of that year; with the participation of a constellation of specialists in this field, such as Professor Jürgen Schmidhuber, who is considered the director of the artificial intelligence initiative at the university and is renowned worldwide as the “Father of Modern Artificial Intelligence.”
Through deepening the experience with artificial intelligence, KAUST seeks to analyze information very quickly, provide innovative ideas, extract results, and develop effective training plans to meet the Kingdom’s aspirations in skill development and training high-quality national cadres; by integrating a high educational approach with modern content that aligns with the global reality, as the university receives wide attention for its training programs in the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning; focusing on attracting top academic expertise from across the Kingdom and designing programs to achieve continuous skills development in an era characterized by speed under the influence of technology.
KAUST focused on establishing the first of its kind academy aimed at offering free training courses to students, citizens, and residents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who possess basic skills, ranging from fresh graduates to specialists and executive managers. KAUST considers artificial intelligence important for the Kingdom, as it helps improve efficiency and decision-making in areas such as data analysis and digital communications.
KAUST is interested in developing capabilities in areas such as cybersecurity, bioinformatics, applied and computer sciences, data analysis, Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics. KAUST collaborates with partners such as the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority “Sudaya, the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority “NCA,” the Saudi Industrial Development Fund “SIDF,” King Faisal Specialist Hospital, SABIC, Saudi Aramco, several ministries, and other entities.
During its participation in the 2022 Artificial Intelligence Summit in Riyadh, KAUST presented its innovative projects in the field of artificial intelligence and deep neural network (DNNs) technology, increased its investment in basic and specialized research in the field of artificial intelligence, and enhanced its role in developing artificial intelligence talents in the Kingdom and their impact on youth.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology “KAUST” and “KAUST Academy” launched the Oxford University program that aligns with the university’s vision for evolution and partnerships with businessmen. The program aims to enhance and improve the skills of students in modern technologies and enhance their understanding of how these technologies work. The university has already supported over 800 students from different backgrounds, including recent graduates, specialists, and executive managers, introducing them to the latest trends in the digital world.
It is worth mentioning that the artificial intelligence initiative in “Kaust” aims to enhance interdisciplinary education and develop opportunities for communication and participation at the local and global levels. This initiative brings together a select group of artificial intelligence experts from around the world, serving as a clear example of the university’s efforts and contributions to national development by raising and disseminating knowledge at both local and global levels. Continuous learning courses are designed to focus on this goal and enhance expertise and competencies in this field.
