Professor Fakhreddine (Fakhri) Karray has joined Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence as the new Provost. Professor Karray will work closely with MBZUAI President Professor Eric Xing to design the university’s academic and research strategy as well as implementation strategies to achieve the university’s mission and vision.
Professor Karray comes to MBZUAI after serving as the founding co-director of the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He is also the founding co-director of the University of Waterloo’s Center for Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He was also the recipient of the Loblaws Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence.
Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, said: “I would like to welcome Professor Karray to MBZUAI. His considerable experience and expertise in AI will strengthen our research and teaching capabilities and raise the university’s profile. From the beginning, our objective was to bring the best AI talent to Abu Dhabi and this appointment aligns with that goal.”
Professor Karray is a well-known researcher who is interested in operational artificial intelligence, cognitive machines, natural human-machine interaction, autonomous and intelligent systems, and autonomous and intelligent systems. Professor Karray’s research has applications in cognitive and self-aware technologies, robots, vehicles, supply chain management predictive analytics, and intelligent transportation systems. He is an IEEE Fellow, a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He has also served as an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer in the past.
Professor Karray said: “It is a privilege to join MBZUAI at a time when AI is playing an increasingly critical role in driving economic and social development in the UAE and elsewhere. I look forward to working with the rest of the faculty to further drive the mission of MBZUAI in advancing AI research and studies.”
To further its objective as a pioneering research institution focused on AI, MBZUAI has a robust Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is chaired by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and President is famous AI researcher Professor Eric Xing. Professor Sir Michael Brady, professor of Oncological Imaging at the University of Oxford, UK; Professor Daniela Rus, Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), USA; Professor Anil K. Jain, a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, USA; and Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, a seasoned technologist, are among the other Board members.
