The UAE government celebrated 60 experts who graduated from the fourth cohort of the Artificial intelligence programme, organised in collaboration between the Office of the UAE Minister of State for Artificial intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Kellogg College in Oxford University, UK.

The programme aims to prepare the government and private entities’ employees for future skills, empower them in Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to enhance their digital skills, and implement that knowledge in the entities’ work models by supporting them with the right tools and knowledge gained through interacting with experts.

The programme also focuses on understating the effects of adopting AI in vital fields, enhancing decision makers’ capabilities to analyze information about AI systems and supporting strategic planning by analysing security and ethical challenges resulting from the adoption of artificial intelligence.

Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, affirmed that the futuristic vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, as well as the UAE’s proactive leadership, drives the UAE government to design the better future for society.

The UAE government is working towards reaching a complete digital transformation, through accelerating steps, implementing goals, and moving towards the future, he said.

“The three previous cohorts have proved that the future is AI, the language is coding, and the government is digital. The UAE government is constantly designing initiatives and programmes in line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 to build the capabilities of Emirati experts and develop their skills in various areas. The government seeks to empower talents with the tools necessary to create solutions for future challenges in digital fields,” he added.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said, “We are working under the vision and directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who believe that UAE talents and youth build nations and play a crucial role in continuing comprehensive flourish that the government has witnessed for decades. Stemming from our belief that the future and its challenges require radical transformation and shifts that keep pace with the developments around us, DEWA started the journey in artificial intelligence in 2017. It is one of the first government entities in the Dubai government to adopt self-assessment tools to ensure the ethical use of basic artificial intelligence applications. Through facing challenges, achieving progress, creating future in societies, and providing them with the tools necessary to anticipate challenges and preserve achievements to reach the first positions in multiple fields.”

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, said, “Emirates is pleased to have a number of its employees participate in the Artificial Intelligence programme, which allowed them to develop their technological skills. We would like to thank the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications Office and the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College for this unique initiative.”

For his part, Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO, e&, said, “I would like to congratulate all graduates for completing the Artificial Intelligence Programmeme, contributing to the country’s digital future in transformative ways and bringing about a lasting impact. Through the Artificial Intelligence Programme, these graduates have been equipped with the skills and capabilities they need in harnessing the power of emerging AI technologies for the betterment of lives. They are the gateway to the future filled with immense possibilities as they ideate and design progressive solutions to tackle AI-related challenges.”

The programme was held under the supervision of a group of international experts and specialists, including Dr. Nigel Mehdi, Fellow of Kellogg College; Dr. Robert Collins, Visiting Fellow of Kellogg College; Eur Ing David Toman, Doctoral Researcher Linacre College; Marcus Du Sautoy ,Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Professor of Mathematics, Fellow of New College; and Philip N Howard, Professor of Internet Studies Fellow of Balliol College.

The innovative capstone projects resulted from weeks of learning, training, and practicing through the Artificial Intelligence Programme, which focused on two main tracks: the technical track and the entrepreneurship track. Each track had lectures and interactive physical and virtual workshops to provide experts with artificial intelligence methods it utilizes to facilitate communities’ lives. Also, some lectures improve work models, which contributes to the innovation of new practices and enhances the UAE’s global position in various fields of modern technology.

In interviews with members of the fourth cohort of the Artificial Intelligence Programme, Khawla Sultan Lootah, Director of Information Technology at the Ruler’s Court in Dubai, said that this programme played a significant role in expanding the knowledge of how to use artificial intelligence in designing solutions and models with technical, and administrative aspects in organised and easy-to-understand methods. That comes with a great impact on each entity’s work and facilitates the life of the community in receiving services.

Asma Al Bannay, a senior technical engineer at Emirates, one of the programme participants, said, “The programme provided new perspectives and introduced us to the strengths and weaknesses in the entities’ work models. This knowledge allows us to efficiently develop projects to solve challenges with the right tools and equipment to implement them and achieve the highest positive impact.

The top capstone, designed by experts in AI programmes, was the project of Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) which is a system of predictive maintenance of chemical engineering process that determines whether the Kneader machine will fail over the days using Ai techniques. The second top capstone focused on creating an ai system that can be used by all entities that automatically identifies vulnerabilities to improve workflow processes and ensure security in digital utilization.

The Artificial Intelligence Programme has trained more than 360 experts over the past three cohorts from over 100 government and private entities.