Under the auspices of Dr Mohamed Samy Abdel-Sadek, president of Cairo University, Dr Hanan Mohamed Ali, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science has inaugurated the “Artificial Intelligence Economic observatory” on Monday November 11th 2024. Dr Adla Ragab, director of the Center for Economic and Financial Research and Studies at FEPS presented the Observatory’s vision, the objective behind its establishment and its importance, in light of the implementation of the Cairo University AI strategy.

She proceeded to showcase examples of AI applications in various domains, showing how it solved economic problems in specific, realistic, feasible and measurable ways. Dr Adla Ragab highlighted the importance of obtaining and analyzing data using digital technologies to build simulation and prediction models, predicting the future in such a way as to allow the mobilization of modern technologies and AI to serve the decision-making process.

Dr Hala El-Said, Economic Advisor to the President, Dr Maged Othman, ex-Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Dr Rabab El-Sherif, Dean of the Faculty for Graduate Studies in Nanotechnology, Dr Aly Fahmy, Dean of the Faculty of AI at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Dr Nevine Makram Labib, Director of the Information Technology Sector at Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, Dr Adel Fathy, director of the Technological business and solutions sector at the National Bank of Egypt, Mr Mohsen Sarhan, executive director of the Egyptian Food Bank, Dr Ayman Ghoneim, Director of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy and FEPS alumni, all participated in the discussion of the presentation. Equally present were Dr Hala Abu Ali, director of the Economics Section, Dr Kamal Selim, director of the Social Computing Section, Dr Ola El Khawaga, Dr Mona El Garf, Dr Taghrid Hasouba, Assistant Professor Haidy Aly, vice director of the Center for Economic Studies, Dr Shahinaz Gamal, director of the FEPS business incubator, and Dr Ola El-Sayed, director of the Center for Surveys and Statistical Applications.

Pathways for financing and future partnerships between the Economic Observatory and various research institutes were explored. Furthermore, all the guests underscored the importance of the Observatory taking on the task of observing and analyzing economic phenomena using AI, as well as raising awareness of the technologies of AI and its uses, building the capacities of researches and students, and offering innovative learning solutions for people of determination.

In the end, all the guests agreed on beginning to formulate an executive plan for the Observatory and selecting the team, as well as specifying the necessary technical requirements to begin the Observatory’s work.