The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Egyptian Universities and Among Young People
Introduction:
Artificial Intelligence in Egyptian Universities. In recent years, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has witnessed remarkable growth and development worldwide. Egypt, known for its rich history and cultural heritage, is now making significant strides in embracing AI technology. Egyptian universities and young people are at the forefront of this revolution, actively engaging in research, innovation, and education in the field of AI. In this blog post, we will explore the growing presence of AI in Egyptian universities and its increasing popularity among the country’s youth.
Until a few years ago, Egyptians were strongly resistant to any aspects of digitizing their lives, and they had fears and reservations about withdrawing salaries and pensions with bank cards, as they preferred to deal with humans and not ATMs, and they were forced to deal with the latter, after the banks imposed commissions on… Direct withdrawal from branches.
With the “Covid-19” pandemic, many people were forced to turn to digital payment services, especially among new users, amid their anxiety and fear that their financial information would be stored on the Internet, or that their devices would not be sufficiently secured.
Artificial intelligence in their daily lives
During the past three years, artificial intelligence has become present in their daily lives and has begun to penetrate every corner of life, in the fields of education, health, economy, agriculture, banking, most government departments, social networking sites, etc., and its impact has become a reality that must be followed and an essential part of their choices.
At the strategic level, the Egyptian government launched the National Council for Artificial Intelligence in November 2019, headed by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and defined its responsibility for developing and implementing an artificial intelligence strategy.
The government has outperformed the performance of private sector companies in its performance in this field. The Ministry of Communications established the Applied Innovation Center, which works on using artificial intelligence applications in several fields, in addition to launching a special platform for artificial intelligence to be the official portal for the Arab Republic of Egypt in this field.
Artificial Intelligence in Egyptian Universities
The Ministry has also prepared special programs for university students, graduates and professionals, including technical and non-technical jobs, all the way to leaders in the private and public sectors.
As for the informal sectors, there are impressive models and efforts that have attracted global attention, at the level of individuals and emerging small companies interested in the technology sector and its branches related to the economy and finance.
Egypt advanced in the government artificial intelligence readiness index by 46 points, moving from 111th place in 2019 to 65th place in 2022, which is considered relatively advanced if we look at it from the perspective of the total number of countries in the world.
The achievements of Egyptian youth at the level of international competitions related to technology and artificial intelligence, in particular, recorded advanced levels, although most of the contributions were made by the efforts of teams, groups, or even individuals outside the official system, while some of them were under the supervision and follow-up of Egyptian universities.
Egyptian universities topped the participants in the first international competition for artificial intelligence (The International Collegiate Programming Contest) in 2021, with a group of teams composed of students from these universities.
Egypt is seen as being in a stage of great growth and development in the functions and importance of artificial intelligence, although most of it is related to external work, in the international services sector, given the weak infrastructure and obstacles that may face licensing projects like this that require access to information that Egyptian law considers “sovereign.”
Artificial intelligence in education
Despite parents’ resistance to the idea of the “tablet,” or what is known as a tablet computer, in Egypt three years ago, and their insistence on a paper book, pen, and notebook, contrary to future trends, public and private education are showing great interest in moving to this tool, which is being circulated in schools and universities.
In light of a globalized environment, and the availability of information in an almost free form on the World Wide Web, based on the responsibility of developing and developing personal skills after receiving the basics in an educational system that suffers from scarcity of capabilities.
Despite the widening gap between developed countries and Egypt in this field, the use of this technology is still in its infancy, and therefore, there is still an opportunity to catch up and understand what is going on in its scope.
Egypt has achieved remarkable progress in the field of artificial intelligence, according to what was recently announced by the Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hala Al-Saeed. It confirmed that Egypt advanced in the government artificial intelligence readiness index by 46 points, moving from 111th place in 2019 to 65th place in 2022, which is considered relatively advanced if we look at it from the perspective of the total number of countries in the world.
What does the future hold for young people?
Among young people and specialists, opinions differ regarding the situation in Egypt, universities, and students regarding artificial intelligence and what they expect to happen in the future. Christina Caesar, director of project programming at Vodafone International, who is in her late twenties, said in an interview with Al Majalla: “Egypt is currently focusing in many sectors on adopting artificial intelligence and innovation as it expands in cooperation with communications and information technology companies.” “After technology became a reality and a part of their lives, the state realized that we are facing a new era, even though it is still in its infancy.”
Artificial Intelligence in Egyptian Universities
Caesar tells us that Egyptian universities have recently tended to introduce the specialty of artificial intelligence in the colleges of computers and information, and the names of a number of them have been changed to colleges of computers and artificial intelligence so that they are ready to catch up with global developments in technology and qualify students to reserve places for them in the labor market, in addition to opening a number of From private universities in the cities of Galala and El Alamein to colleges specializing in artificial intelligence.
The Egyptian government prepared a strategy for artificial intelligence three years ago, and put its applications in mind, as a supportive tool for providing services remotely, and it also attracts young sectors to work without being linked to institutions in the stereotypical manner.
MEMBER OF THE EGYPTIAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CHAMBER, DR. AHMED SABRY
She added: “No student has graduated from these colleges yet, because those departments were established at the end of 2019, and therefore it is not possible to judge the success of this step or not.
Therefore, the students’ parents face many challenges because they are not convinced of the necessity of enrolling their children in those departments, which were not It is being linked to the labor market, and they still prefer to enroll in traditional colleges such as engineering, computers, and information, especially since the field of work in artificial intelligence technologies in Egypt is very limited, and because the quality of graduates of these colleges will mostly be judged internationally and not locally.”
Egyptians prefer dealing with humans rather than machines
Caesar points out that a percentage of Egyptians prefer dealing with humans rather than machines, due to the presence of many obstacles in the Internet infrastructure and the service sometimes stopping working.
Caesar believes that Egypt is not qualified in its infrastructure in general or its streets according to international standards for the major shift to artificial intelligence. For example, is there a suitable environment for cars that operate with artificial intelligence to drive on the streets of Cairo?
But she points out “the importance of organizations and universities working in Egypt to encourage work with artificial intelligence among students, in cooperation with the Information Technology Industries Development Authority (ITIDA) and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to provide complete courses in artificial intelligence to qualify university students technologically.”
Fear for jobs
Artificial intelligence technology raises some fears of competition with humans for jobs, and these fears are valid, according to Youssef Nashed, a young man who recently graduated in law. He says: “Artificial intelligence has become a necessity in our lives as young people in Egypt because it is a quick way to collect abundant information from… different sources in an organized manner.
He added in an interview “The disappearance of some professions during the next twenty years, in which artificial intelligence may outperform human intelligence in specific fields, is possible. But the human element remains the basis of innovation and development, as artificial intelligence is merely a tool to help humans save time.” In tasks that require long periods of work.
Seven percent to Egypt’s gross domestic product
It is expected that “artificial intelligence will contribute seven percent to Egypt’s gross domestic product by 2030,” based on data from the “Information and Decision Support Center” of the Council of Ministers.
Egyptian Information Technology Chamber
Dr. Ahmed Sabry, a member of the Egyptian Information Technology Chamber, told that the Egyptian government “prepared a strategy for artificial intelligence three years ago, and put its applications in mind, as it is a supportive tool for providing services remotely, and it also attracts young sectors to work without being linked to institutions on a regular basis.” “Style grammar.”
AI Education in Egyptian Universities:
AI education in Egyptian universities refers to the inclusion of artificial intelligence as a subject of study within the academic programs offered by these institutions. Recognizing the growing importance of AI in various industries and sectors, Egyptian universities have taken proactive steps to incorporate AI into their curriculum.
These universities offer specialized AI courses and degree programs that cover a wide range of AI-related subjects. Students have the opportunity to learn about machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and other relevant topics. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in AI theory, algorithms, and practical applications.
Necessary skills and knowledge
By offering AI education, Egyptian universities aim to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the field of AI.
This education enables students to understand the underlying principles of AI, develop AI models and algorithms, and apply AI techniques to solve real-world problems. It also prepares them for careers in AI research, development, and implementation.
AI education in Egyptian universities goes beyond theoretical knowledge. It often includes practical components, such as hands-on projects, internships, and collaborations with industry partners. These opportunities allow students to gain practical experience and apply their AI skills in real-world scenarios.
AI education fosters critical thinking
Moreover, AI education in Egyptian universities fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. Students are encouraged to explore innovative ideas, think creatively, and develop solutions using AI techniques. This education not only prepares students for the job market but also cultivates a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The inclusion of AI education in Egyptian universities is a response to the increasing demand for AI professionals in various sectors. It reflects the recognition that AI has the potential to drive economic growth, improve efficiency, and address societal challenges.
By providing AI education, Egyptian universities are contributing to the development of a skilled workforce that can contribute to the advancement of AI technology and its applications in Egypt and beyond.
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The Egyptian Charter for Responsible Artificial Intelligence
The Egyptian Charter for Responsible Artificial Intelligence was also launched in April 2023 to crystallize regulatory frameworks for the ethical and responsible use of smart technologies in society. Countries around the world, particularly in Europe and Asia, have responded by drafting comprehensive AI legislation.
On the other hand, developing countries, including Egypt, are still finding their way in developing the legislation required to regulate artificial intelligence applications and practices, especially after the unprecedented spread of the “ChatGPT” chatbot.
Regional Center for Space Sciences
On the other hand, Dr. Alaa Al-Nahri, Vice President of the Regional Center for Space Sciences, points out to Al-Majalla that “Artificial intelligence has recently begun in Egypt and is in its initial stages, and the state is interested and trying to encourage it, but the problem it faces is not linking graduates of those universities to the labor market, which is linking “It is the main motivator and basis, as young people want to join these universities, but they have fears that the labor market will not meet their ambitions, in addition to the lack of familiarity of many companies in Egypt with knowledge of artificial intelligence.”
Al-Nahri calls on the private sector to adopt this field, as it is the most flexible sector to meet the requirements of young people for business development, and he believes that “the most prominent current sectors that focus on artificial intelligence in Egypt are space sciences and the communications sector, and with the continued impact of artificial intelligence on our lives in general, the need to enact More urgent laws, especially for developing countries like Egypt.”
Citizen versus artificial intelligence
An opinion poll conducted by the Information and Decision Support Center in the Egyptian Council of Ministers during June 2023, which included a sample of citizens aged 18 years and over, revealed the danger of artificial intelligence technology to the future, that a large percentage of Egyptian citizens see it as a danger and a major threat, and that the dangers of artificial intelligence Future artificial intelligence will have implications for human and societal lifestyles, decision-making and governance standards, as well as implications for education and jobs.
Canadian University in Egypt
Jojo Ashraf, a student at the Faculty of Computer Science at the Canadian University in Egypt, who is studying a course in artificial intelligence sciences, agrees with this opinion, considering that artificial intelligence has many dangers, most notably the elimination of many jobs and reliance on this technology because it saves time, effort, and salaries, and it can He can intervene in wars to reduce human intervention. He can program weapons and combat equipment, and he can also make the decision to attack. Another negative is the elimination of the human mind, as it will depend on artificial intelligence without thinking and innovation, and will reach the stage of information saturation.
The development of artificial intelligence in Egypt will be limited to individual attempts by small companies working in the field of software within the Egyptian market for the benefit of other, larger international entities that are more capable of benefiting from it and developing those companies.
Artificial Intelligence in Egyptian Universities
Ashraf told : “In the next five years, artificial intelligence can eliminate many jobs, even the job of the programmer himself, because it will possess all the data and information about life and practical matters, enabling it to bypass people, and even completely dispense with the human element.
We read about International companies specializing in sales and e-commerce have laid off thousands of workers, including: “Amazon” and “e.g. Bai, and replacing it with robots and artificial intelligence programs.
He added: “But at the same time, artificial intelligence has many positives because it has become a reality and inevitable. It reduces effort and time as it facilitates many things for students in their studies by conducting research and programming. It also helps students in education through “ChatG.” with me. T., which is better than Google in searching for information, as it can communicate with the user and authenticate him.
Ashraf pointed out that there are many programming “codes” that can be obtained through artificial intelligence.
The maintenance engineer at a foreign company active in sports and entertainment, George Jamil, agrees with Ashraf, as he explained that “despite Egypt establishing the National Council for Artificial Intelligence, the lack of education and software infrastructure postpones hopes in this regard to “Not soon, especially if we compare Egypt’s position in the software and information systems market with other countries such as India as an example of a country suffering from similar problems, but it has made great strides in developing the software and technology sector.”
Conclusion:
I’m Hassan Saeed, a Clinical Psychology graduate deeply engaged in the realms of WordPress, blogging, and technology. I enjoy merging my psychological background with the digital landscape. Let’s connect and explore these exciting intersections!
