Dr. Abdelrahman AlMahmoud from TII's Secure Systems Research Center (SSRC) will participate in a WGISTA webinar on adopting a digital mindset in auditing and fighting corruption. The webinar, organized by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), will discuss the impact of emerging technologies on public sector auditing. Dr. AlMahmoud will share insights on how AI and Big Data can enable auditors to process data at a new scale. Why it matters: This highlights the UAE's growing role in applying advanced technologies like AI and big data to improve governance and accountability in the public sector.
Xiuying Chen from KAUST presented her work on improving the trustworthiness of AI-generated text, focusing on accuracy and robustness. Her research analyzes causes of hallucination in language models related to semantic understanding and neglect of input knowledge, and proposes solutions. She also demonstrated vulnerabilities of language models to noise and enhances robustness using augmentation techniques. Why it matters: Improving the reliability of AI-generated text is crucial for its deployment in sensitive domains like healthcare and scientific discovery, where accuracy is paramount.
This paper explores the use of deep learning for anomaly detection in sports facilities, with the goal of optimizing energy management. The researchers propose a method using Deep Feedforward Neural Networks (DFNN) and threshold estimation techniques to identify anomalies and reduce false alarms. They tested their approach on an aquatic center dataset at Qatar University, achieving 94.33% accuracy and 92.92% F1-score. Why it matters: The research demonstrates the potential of AI to improve energy efficiency and operational effectiveness in sports facilities within the GCC region.
In a 2018 KAUST lecture, MIT professor Kamal Youcef-Toumi discussed the case of Ordos Kangbashi, a Chinese city designed for a million residents that became a near-ghost town. Despite government incentives, the city struggled due to an economic downturn and lack of social and economic balance. Youcef-Toumi emphasized the importance of the public realm and a balance between social and economic development for successful cities. Why it matters: The analysis provides insights relevant to urban planning in Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC region, where new cities and megaprojects are being developed.