Artificial Intelligence (AI) used to be something we only saw in movies. Now, it’s not only a part of our lives, but it’s becoming integral in our future. A sign pointing to this — the world’s first artificial intelligence university is set to open in Abu Dhabi in the fall of 2020 and more than 3,000 potential students have already applied.
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) will offer six MSc and PhD programs in AI areas like machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. All accepted students will receive a full scholarship, as well as a monthly allowance, health insurance and a place to live. The school is open to applicants from around the world. So far, the majority of applicants hail from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, India and China.
Professor Michael Brady, Interim President of MBZUAI, tells Emirates 24/7 the overwhelming number of applicants so far shows the need for MBZUAI as the “world’s first higher education institution dedicated to artificial intelligence.”
Preparing for the Future
The anticipated opening of MBZUAI will help students compete and contribute to a world that’s seeing the explosive growth of AI. Analyst firm Gartner estimates the global business stemming from artificial intelligence is expected to reach nearly $4 trillion by the year 2022.
The UAE has shown a large interest in artificial intelligence technology. In 2017, it began looking into developing AI skills as part of a strategy to reduce that country’s economy’s dependence on oil, something that’s been a major part of its economy for 40 years.
One of the university’s goals is to enable students, businesses and governments to get the most out of artificial intelligence. UAE Minister of State, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber tells Interesting Engineering that MBZUAI “will bring the discipline of AI into the forefront, molding and empowering creative pioneers who can lead us into a new AI-empowered era.”
MBZUAI will help students take advantage of the upcoming jobs in the growing field of artificial intelligence. It’s expected that MBZUAI will be the first of many universities that will be dedicated to AI.
