Horst Simon, director of Adia Lab at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Horst Simon, director of Adia Lab at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Horst Simon, director of Adia Lab at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Horst Simon, director of Adia Lab at Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Data and AI will reshape health care, says Adia Lab director


Cody Combs
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE is in an ideal position to make the most of data research and high-performance computing, which could transform medicine and health care around the world in the months and years ahead, according to Horst Simon, an internationally recognised expert in computer science.

“We shouldn't have to wait until someone has a heart attack,” said Mr Simon, who also serves as director of Adia Lab, Abu Dhabi’s independent institute dedicated to research in data and computer sciences.

“We should be able to predict with a lot of precision when it might happen, and take the proper preventive measures at the right time,” he said, reflecting on the type of research done by Adia Lab, a little more than one year after it was launched by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

“Abu Dhabi is in a perfect position right now, if you look at machine learning, it's recognised for that work done locally at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and you also have the work that G42 is doing,” Mr Simon said, referring to the UAE-based national-scale enabler for cloud and generative AI.

The challenge, in 2024 and beyond will be transforming the unprecedented amount of medical data into something that can be used by healthcare professionals around the world, he said.

Horst Simon, director of Adia Lab, says the UAE is in a good position to transform health care with data research and AI. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Horst Simon, director of Adia Lab, says the UAE is in a good position to transform health care with data research and AI. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

“Someone may have a great idea on how to analyse the medical data but to take the insight and turn it into a tool, even if we build the right software, and bringing it into the day-to-day medical practice is a big challenge,” he said.

“It's always a challenge going from research from deployment, and it always takes a long time.”

For the past year, Adia Lab has focused on looking at ways data and computational sciences could positively affect societally important topics such as health care, energy, climate telecoms and financial inclusion, Mr Simon said.

Adia Lab plans to expand activities in 2024 by offering more fellowships, sponsoring additional research projects, and launching new collaborations with universities and research institutes.

Throughout 2023, Adia Lab grew its advisory board to 10, with members such as former US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to 2012's Turing Award winner and computer scientist Shafi Goldwasser.

It also established its European headquarters in Spain, launching five research programmes with Spanish universities and research institutions to increase scientific knowledge.

Mr Simon also reflected on other areas where Adia Lab hopes to make inroads in light of recent news developments.

Just weeks after the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai, where a milestone agreement was reached to begin cutting back on fossil fuels, Mr Simon said there's an opportunity to look at how climate change policies might affect and change the economy.

“There's an energy surplus that currently creates wealth,” he said. “Nobody is thinking about what will happen if we change the energy balance.”

He also addressed the countless articles, discussions and debates revolving around artificial intelligence, cautioning against doomsday predictions that have come from various technology circles about how transformational technology might negatively impact the world. He compared it to the fears that surround genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and nuclear energy.

“Those fears were oversold,” Mr Simon said. “Any new technology experiences this, and there's concern from humans afraid of change … but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do research work,” he cautioned. “AI is not going to kill us.”

“We're going to see a lot of beneficial applications of AI in the next year,” he said, adding that by 2025, AI won't be seen as unusual or new.

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Warner 151 not out, Burns 97,  Labuschagne 55 not out

Pakistan 240 

Shafiq 76, Starc 4-52

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
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What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

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Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
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Adam Scott and Byeong Hun An (International) beat Bryson DeChambeau and Tony Finau (US) 2 and 1.

Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan (International) beat Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed (US) 1 up.

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Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

Ponti

Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan

Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
The 15 players selected

Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans

MATCH INFO

Sheffield United 3

Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90

Manchester United 3

Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79

Updated: November 21, 2024, 6:34 AM`