‘Rising Stars’ in AI research explore reasoning, trust, and real-world impact‘Rising Stars’ in AI research explore reasoning, trust, and real-world impact
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As artificial intelligence grows more capable and more closely scrutinized, questions of reasoning, reliability, and impact are taking center stage.
At its fifth Rising Stars in AI Symposium, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) convened 25 exceptional early-career researchers selected from more than 430 applicants to explore how the next generation of AI will be built and how it can be trusted.
For Dr. Sahar Abdelnabi, a principal investigator at ELLIS Institute Tübingen, whose research examines how AI models alter their behavior when they know they are being evaluated, KAUST’s February 9–11 symposium was more than a platform to present her work. It was a space to connect and explore AI’s direction with fellow researchers.
“This event is a very useful tool for collaboration and networking,” she said, noting that her work aligns with broader trends highlighted during the Center of Excellence (CoE) for Generative AI event. “There are a lot of people working on reasoning models, which I think reflects the progress in the AI field in general.”
Rising Stars assembled senior Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty from around the world. Across keynotes, panels, and poster sessions, several themes emerged: the rapid evolution of reasoning models; AI’s convergence with global challenges; embodied systems; and the growing importance of trustworthy AI.
“KAUST brought in rising stars who have published significant research in top tier AI venues. Their work includes general-purpose AI models, methods, and theory as well as AI applications to energy, health, food, and water,” said Professor Bernard Ghanem, chair of the CoE. This year’s gathering reflected a focus on the intersection of AI and global challenges, he added. “That’s what will drive significant real-world impact going forward.”
Read the full story on KAUST News.
