The Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at Antonine University (UA), TICKET Lab, and IEEE ComSoc Lebanon Chapter organized the Open Day for Artificial Intelligence (ODAI) at UA’s Hadat–Baabda Campus on April 18, 2024. This event, held under the high patronage of the Minister of Telecommunications, H.E. Mr. Johnny Corm, brought together a gathering of artificial intelligence (AI) experts from Lebanon and abroad. The purpose of this conference was to foster discussions on the latest advancements in AI technology, its wide-ranging applications, and its societal impacts. Distinguished figures such as Mr. Imad Kreidieh, Director General of Ogero, representing the Minister of Telecommunications; Fr. Michel Saghbiny, UA’s Rector; and Dr. Chady Abou Jaoude, Dean of the FOE, graced the event with their presence.
The inaugural session, presented by Dr. Kabalan Chaccour, Head of UA’s Department of Computer and Communications Engineering (DCCE), delved into cutting-edge AI innovations and applications. The session aimed to explore AI’s boundless creativity and stimulate brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas. The experts examined the transformative power of AI across various industries and its profound influence on reshaping our world.
Fr. Saghbiny highlighted that the primary objective of the conference was to promote education and research in AI within the University, providing a valuable opportunity for students and researchers to stay abreast of recent advancements in the field and learn how to apply them across various scientific domains. He also underscored UA’s unwavering commitment to both theoretical and practical innovation, focusing on intellectual growth and keeping pace with technological evolution.
Moreover, Fr. Saghbiny pointed out that AI stands as one of the most significant drivers of change in our era, redefining concepts and impacting every facet of human existence. While AI boosts our capacity for innovation in numerous domains and accelerates progress at an unprecedented pace, he also raised concerns about the multifaceted challenges it poses. He expressed apprehension regarding the potential loss of human autonomy and warned against the looming threat of a “technological dictatorship.” Thus, Fr. Saghbiny stressed the necessity of recognizing our limitations as created beings and preserving human dignity and the right to live freely as fundamental values. He cautioned against allowing smart machines to redefine our perception of human rights, marginalize essential values, or impede one’s ability to evolve.
In his speech, Dr. Abou Jaoude highlighted the significant advancements AI has witnessed in recent years, emphasizing that this progress represents not only a technological leap but also a catalyst for societal change. He elaborated on how AI algorithms are revolutionizing various industries, such as healthcare and finance, by enabling more accurate medical diagnoses through the analysis of vast medical datasets and optimizing trading strategies while detecting fraudulent activities. Dr. Abou Jaoude cited the remarkable capabilities of GPT models in generating and understanding human-like text, illustrating AI’s pervasive presence in almost every aspect of our lives, ranging from transportation and entertainment to agriculture and industry.
Furthermore, Dr. Abou Jaoude underlined the vital role that universities play in advancing research and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government. He called for the establishment of a platform for researchers, companies, and policymakers to facilitate the exchange of ideas and cultivate partnerships to further AI development. He also urged Lebanese authorities to establish a Ministry of Technology that oversees and supports collaborative efforts, enabling the collective use of intellectual resources to build a better world.
Mr. Kreidieh stated, “Today, we gather not only to celebrate technological advancements but also to embrace the limitless opportunities that AI brings to our society.” He recognized the significant progress AI has achieved across diverse sectors, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment. However, he emphasized that such advancements come with substantial responsibilities. Mr. Kreidieh urged a thoughtful examination of AI’s ethical dimensions, such as privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and its impact on employment. He advocated leveraging AI’s potential to serve the common good, aiming not only for technological growth but also for improving the quality of life for everyone.
The panel session, moderated by Mr. Samir Sakr, Managed Services Delivery Manager at Nokia, discussed the perspectives and challenges posed by AI in the realms of education, innovation, and industry with notable participants, including Mr. Danny Karam, Technology, Media, and Telecom Lead Partner at PwC; Prof. Imad El Hajj, Associate Dean at the American University of Beirut (AUB); and Dr. Elie Abi Lahoud, Director at Innovation Europe, Accenture.
The first session, “AI in Industry,” moderated by Dr. Zeina Rizkallah, faculty member at the FOE, featured Mr. Christophe Zoghbi, Founder and CEO of ZAKA AI, who highlighted the potential of generative AI in shaping the future by emphasizing the role of creativity. Ms. Joyce Abi Saleh, AI Lead at Oreyeon, explored the concept of the metaverse and how AI can be leveraged to create immersive virtual realities. Mr. Paul Barakat Diab, Co-founder and CEO of Augmental, discussed how AI is reshaping education and shed light on its transformative impact in this field.
The second session focused on “AI in Research” and was moderated by Dr. Youssef Bakouny, Assistant Professor at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ). Dr. Hoda Fares, Assistant Professor at Aarhus University, Denmark, discussed the exciting intersection of AI and brain-computer interfaces, highlighting the potential for bridging the gap between minds and machines. Dr. Iván López-Espejo, Assistant Professor at the University of Granada, Spain, delved into the advancements in speech recognition and voice control made possible by AI technology. Dr. Lama Sleem, Research Associate at the University of Luxembourg, tackled the rising challenges of cyber-innovative attacks in the era of AI.
The event also featured a poster presentation showcasing the capstone projects of FOE students, followed by jury awards and prizes for the top 3 voted projects.