A session of first Machine Learning School in Doha organized by QCRI in collaboration with BigML recently. Pic: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
DOHA: Amid growing demand for machine learning, Qatar Center for Artificial Intelligence (QCAI) run by Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has begun spreading knowledge about artificial intelligence techniques to relevant stakeholders in the country.
“Machine learning algorithms are being used almost in every walk of the life,” said QCAI Research Director, Sanjay Chawla (pictured) adding that now it is getting more visible. Previously, only big companies were using them, but now even medium-to-small companies are joining, in a bid to optimize their business and cut operational costs.”
Chawla was speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the first Machine Learning School in Doha, organized by QCRI in collaboration with BigML - a company that pioneered the creation of Machine Learning as a Service (MLAAS) - at their event at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel recently.
“The two-day crash course provided a hands-on introduction to machine learning for industry practitioners, developers, graduate students and undergraduates,” said Chawla. He also explained that the Machine Learning School in Doha 18 (MLSD18) was one of the earliest educational initiatives of the Qatar Center for Artificial Intelligence, which QCRI launched in September.
The course covered the main machine learning techniques of classification, regression, time series, clusters, anomaly detection, association discovery, and topic models. Giving a detailed picture about machine learning of artificial intelligence, Chawla said: “This technique is being used in various fields. For example in the healthcare sector, the technique could be used to personalize medication. A specific treatment could be designed based on genomics data, DNA and information collected through vital signs of a cancer patient. All information will be used to devise a specific treatment rather than having one treatment for everybody thanks to machine learning.
“QCAI is encouraging local companies to adopt machine learning solutions. We also worked with research institutes to develop solutions which are customized for Qatar.”
Chawla revealed that the QCAI team was working with companies including Qatar Airways, Karwa, Al Jazeera, Sidra Hospital and other entities to compile data and collaborate with them to design new machine learning programs that could be used and applied in Qatar. He also said that QCAI held a successful food security workshop last month, with another event on using AI in transportation scheduled for November 22.
“The workshop focusing on transportation applications will be attended by many experts from all over the world,” Chawla explained.The QCAI will also organize events on artificial intelligence for high school teachers in February, 2019. The event aims at educating teachers about using machine learning techniques to ease the learning process.
BigML CEO Francisco Martin said Doha was a great city to deliver the MLSD18. “Machine learning is a transformational technology which helps enhance and automate decision-making.”
Martin said there was no single sector, business or area of public administration that could escape the deep optimization and efficiency that companies which embrace machine learning accrue. “We teamed up with QCRI to share our knowledge and experience during this machine learning school,” he said.
