SWABI: Speakers at a certificate awarding ceremony in Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) on Wednesday said thatArtificial Intelligence (AI) had rapidly changed the technological and scientific fields and it was expected to further revolutionise the entire landscape of human life.

The ceremony of the AI boot camp was held in GIKI in which Ashar Aziz,chairman, Sky Electric Inc was the chief guest.

Engineer Salim Saifullah Khan, president, Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan (SOPREST), executive director, Shakil Durrani and others were also present on the occasion.

The organisers said that the main objective of the boot camp was to impart high-impact knowledge and skill sets to those who were recently graduated in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and 54 participants were selected through a competitive process from across the country.

Ashar Aziz, in his speech, shared his vision of a future where AI-trained professionals would play a pivotal role in driving technological progress and economic growth.

Engr Salim Saifullah Khan, in his remarks, underscored the importance of the initiative in equipping the younger generation with the tools necessary to navigate and excel in the rapidly evolving technological landscape.

He said that they celebrated the accomplishments of dedicated participants and the power of collaboration between industry and academia. This boot camp represented a significant milestone in GIKI’s ongoing commitment to scientific and technological education, he maintained. The other speakers emphasised GIKI’s commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in engineering education and its due role in imparting contemporary education to youngsters of the country.

They said that the participants gained valuable insights from leading experts and engaged in collaborative learning experiences designed to enhance their problem-solving abilities and technical skills.

The trained participants are expected to significantly contribute to enhancing Pakistan’s global standing in the field of AI, they concluded. Anmul Sansullah Khan, a participating student from Chitral, said:

“I got the AI skills which are extremely vital for human life and new thinking in present rapidly changing world.”

The chief guest gave away certificates to students who displayed outstanding performance.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2024