
RIT Dubai study shows improvement in academic performance with integration of AI and robotics - Middle East Business News and Information
A study conducted by researchers from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) of Dubai has revealed the positive impact of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics into education at elementary school level. The groundbreaking project used a personalized AI-powered robot to interact with students directly, resulting in an average 8% improvement in academic performance, versus outcomes from human teaching. Led by Dr. Jinane Mounsef, Chair of the university's Electrical Engineering and Computing Sciences Department, the research highlighted the potential of personalization in robotic tutoring in a real-world educational setting.
Combining cognitive and emotional assessment to deliver tailored educational experiences, the tutoring system was tested with a group of grade four school students studying mathematics. In addition to measuring the speed and accuracy of a student's performance, the robot conducted real-time facial expression analysis to determine the learner's state of mind. The metrics were combined to classify students into three categories: Proficient Students (Prof.S), Meeting-Expectations Students (MES), and Developing Students (DVS). These classifications were then used to deliver customized learning content, motivational messages, and constructive feedback to the students.
The robot, known as Duet, employed powerful machine learning algorithms and the ROS framework to predict a student's proficiency level with 100% accuracy through indicators such as test scores, task completion time, and emotional engagement. It was then able to adjust the challenges and learning materials dynamically to suit each student's needs. The process also incorporated feedback mechanisms for participants to share their thoughts on the experience of learning through robotics and AI.
Explaining the rationale and findings of the research, Dr. Mounsef said, 'We wanted to explore whether personalization enhances the effectiveness of a robotic tutor in improving learning outcomes. To do this, we considered how engagement and academic performance were impacted by the personalization of robotic tutoring and how the results compared to a human teacher, which serves as a benchmark for evaluating the system's impact. Through post-diagnostic exams we found that the experimental group of students using the AI-robot system showed a significant improvement rate over the control group. This demonstrates that such systems can provide a powerful tool to improve efficiency and augment education outcomes.'
The research was the subject of an academic paper entitled, 'CARE: towards customized assistive robot-based education', authored by Dr. Mounsef, alongside RIT Dubai graduate student, Nafisa Maaz, and Assistant Professor at Lebanese American University Beirut, Dr. Noel Maalouf. The paper was published by Frontiers in Robotics and AI, a world-leading, multidisciplinary scientific journal.
Building on the project, Dr. Mounsef is now preparing to collaborate with colleagues at RIT New York to develop an AI-powered social robot. She concluded, 'We aim to take forward our work in cognitive development to explore the use of robotics in emotional intelligence. This will involve deploying a human-looking robot that can interact with students on a daily basis to ask questions, gather data and ultimately make recommendations that can help to address their concerns.'
About RIT Dubai
Established in 2008, RIT Dubai is a not-for-profit global campus of the esteemed Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, one of the world's leading technological-focused universities with more than 185 years of history. RIT Dubai is now operating from phase one of its new $136 million state-of-the-art campus which provides interactive learning space set over 129,000 square meters.
RIT Dubai offers highly valued Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business, psychology, media design, leadership, engineering, and computing. The curriculum provides students with relevant work experience through an innovative cooperative education program that helps students stand out in today's highly competitive job market. RIT Dubai offers American degrees issued directly from the main campus in New York, and all of RIT's programs are UAE Ministry accredited. Students of RIT Dubai also have the unique opportunity to choose to study abroad at the main campus in New York or at one of its other global campuses.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mid East Info
08-07-2025
- Mid East Info
RIT Dubai study shows improvement in academic performance with integration of AI and robotics - Middle East Business News and Information
Research demonstrates positive impact of personalized robotic tutoring in elementary education A study conducted by researchers from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) of Dubai has revealed the positive impact of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics into education at elementary school level. The groundbreaking project used a personalized AI-powered robot to interact with students directly, resulting in an average 8% improvement in academic performance, versus outcomes from human teaching. Led by Dr. Jinane Mounsef, Chair of the university's Electrical Engineering and Computing Sciences Department, the research highlighted the potential of personalization in robotic tutoring in a real-world educational setting. Combining cognitive and emotional assessment to deliver tailored educational experiences, the tutoring system was tested with a group of grade four school students studying mathematics. In addition to measuring the speed and accuracy of a student's performance, the robot conducted real-time facial expression analysis to determine the learner's state of mind. The metrics were combined to classify students into three categories: Proficient Students (Prof.S), Meeting-Expectations Students (MES), and Developing Students (DVS). These classifications were then used to deliver customized learning content, motivational messages, and constructive feedback to the students. The robot, known as Duet, employed powerful machine learning algorithms and the ROS framework to predict a student's proficiency level with 100% accuracy through indicators such as test scores, task completion time, and emotional engagement. It was then able to adjust the challenges and learning materials dynamically to suit each student's needs. The process also incorporated feedback mechanisms for participants to share their thoughts on the experience of learning through robotics and AI. Explaining the rationale and findings of the research, Dr. Mounsef said, 'We wanted to explore whether personalization enhances the effectiveness of a robotic tutor in improving learning outcomes. To do this, we considered how engagement and academic performance were impacted by the personalization of robotic tutoring and how the results compared to a human teacher, which serves as a benchmark for evaluating the system's impact. Through post-diagnostic exams we found that the experimental group of students using the AI-robot system showed a significant improvement rate over the control group. This demonstrates that such systems can provide a powerful tool to improve efficiency and augment education outcomes.' The research was the subject of an academic paper entitled, 'CARE: towards customized assistive robot-based education', authored by Dr. Mounsef, alongside RIT Dubai graduate student, Nafisa Maaz, and Assistant Professor at Lebanese American University Beirut, Dr. Noel Maalouf. The paper was published by Frontiers in Robotics and AI, a world-leading, multidisciplinary scientific journal. Building on the project, Dr. Mounsef is now preparing to collaborate with colleagues at RIT New York to develop an AI-powered social robot. She concluded, 'We aim to take forward our work in cognitive development to explore the use of robotics in emotional intelligence. This will involve deploying a human-looking robot that can interact with students on a daily basis to ask questions, gather data and ultimately make recommendations that can help to address their concerns.' About RIT Dubai Established in 2008, RIT Dubai is a not-for-profit global campus of the esteemed Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, one of the world's leading technological-focused universities with more than 185 years of history. RIT Dubai is now operating from phase one of its new $136 million state-of-the-art campus which provides interactive learning space set over 129,000 square meters. RIT Dubai offers highly valued Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business, psychology, media design, leadership, engineering, and computing. The curriculum provides students with relevant work experience through an innovative cooperative education program that helps students stand out in today's highly competitive job market. RIT Dubai offers American degrees issued directly from the main campus in New York, and all of RIT's programs are UAE Ministry accredited. Students of RIT Dubai also have the unique opportunity to choose to study abroad at the main campus in New York or at one of its other global campuses.


Mid East Info
18-06-2025
- Mid East Info
Ericsson ranks highest in Frost Radar™ 5G Network Infrastructure Market Report for fifth consecutive year - Middle East Business News and Information
Ericsson has been recognized as a forefront leader in Frost & Sullivan's 'Frost Radar: 5G Network Infrastructure, 2025' report for the fifth year in a row. This recognition highlights Ericsson's commitment to innovation and growth, as well as its ability to meet the evolving needs of communications service providers (CSPs) and enterprises worldwide. Frost & Sullivan independently plotted the top 23 companies in the Frost Radar analysis among over 100 global participants. These companies lead or innovate in various segments of the market. The report highlights Ericsson's contributions to the 5G landscape, cementing its position as a key player in shaping the future of mobile technologies. For the past five years, the company's innovative solutions have been acknowledged in this independent analysis as the leading portfolio for 5G network infrastructure. Ericsson's comprehensive portfolio includes products and solutions covering traditional radio access network (RAN), open and virtual RAN, core and edge networks, and private networks. Frost & Sullivan anticipates a shift towards open and virtual RAN across the industry, and notes that Ericsson's foray into Open RAN solutions 'will help make this a reality, especially since its first few customers are large and influential CSPs.' The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate network offerings and promote network APIs further demonstrates Ericsson's innovative approach to mobile networks, according to the Frost Radar report. Per Narvinger, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks at Ericsson, says: 'Our consistent top ranking in the Frost Radar report shows our dedication to innovation in a dynamic market. By focusing on customer-centric solutions and using advanced technologies like AI and intent-driven automation, we are enhancing network programmability. This enables differentiated connectivity and supports our customers in their journey toward autonomous networks.' 'Leading the global 5G network infrastructure market for five consecutive years is a remarkable achievement,' says Troy Morley, Senior Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan Information, Communications and Technologies. 'Ericsson has consistently outperformed traditional competitors and fended off emerging entrants in this challenging market. Despite its size, the market experiences fluctuations, with periods of growth and decline. Ericsson has adeptly navigated these complexities by evolving its portfolio, ensuring its own financial stability while maintaining its leadership position.' With customers in more than 175 countries, Ericsson has proven its ability to scale its innovations globally with 2G, 3G, 4G, and now 5G, according to the report, adding that Ericsson's dedication to research and development (R&D) – with 21.6 percent of its revenue invested in 2024 alone – shows its resolve to stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry. 'Moreover, the company's strategic adjustments and focus on profitability have positioned it for sustained growth and stability,' Morley says. The acquisitions of Cradlepoint in 2020 and Vonage in 2022 have expanded Ericsson's reach into the enterprise market, complementing its robust CSP and industry partner base. The Frost Radar report highlights the growth potential in private 4G and 5G networks, where Ericsson is well-positioned to collaborate with CSPs and industry partners to continue to lead the market in these enterprise opportunities. Additionally, as energy efficiency becomes increasingly critical, Ericsson has focused on designing hardware products that are smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient, while also rolling out a number of software solutions to optimize network resources. The full range is available to meet the growing demand for sustainable technology. The Frost Radar measures growth rates in addition to absolute revenue and combines them with several other factors to measure companies' performance along the Growth Index. The Frost Radar measures innovation for each company by assessing its product portfolio, the scalability of its innovations, the efficacy of its R&D strategy, and several other factors.


Egypt Independent
04-06-2025
- Egypt Independent
Google's DeepMind CEO has two worries when it comes to AI. Losing jobs isn't one of them
CNN — Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's AI research arm DeepMind and a Nobel Prize laureate, isn't too worried about an AI Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's AI research arm DeepMind and a Nobel Prize laureate, isn't too worried about an AI 'jobpocalypse.' Instead of fretting over AI replacing jobs, he's worried about the technology falling into the wrong hands – and a lack of guardrails to keep sophisticated, autonomous AI models under control. 'Both of those risks are important, challenging ones,' he said in an interview with CNN's Anna Stewart at the SXSW festival in London, which takes place this week. Last week, the CEO of high-profile AI lab Anthropic had a stark warning about the future of the job landscape, claiming that AI could wipe out half of entry-level white-collar jobs. But Hassabis said he's most concerned about the potential misuse of what AI developers call 'artificial general intelligence,' a theoretical type of AI that would broadly match human-level intelligence. 'A bad actor could repurpose those same technologies for a harmful end,' he said. 'And so one big thing is… how do we restrict access to these systems, powerful systems to bad actors…but enable good actors to do many, many amazing things with it?' Hackers have used AI to generate voice messages impersonating US government officials, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a May public advisory. A report commissioned by the US State Department last year found that AI could pose 'catastrophic' national security risks, CNN reported. AI has also facilitated the creation of deepfake pornography — though the Take It Down Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month, aims to stop the proliferation of these deepfakes by making it illegal to share nonconsensual explicit images online. Hassabis isn't the first to call out such concerns. But his comments further underscore both the promise of AI and the alarm that it brings as the technology gets better at handling complex tasks like writing code and generating video clips. While AI has been heralded as one of the biggest technological advancements since the internet, it also gives scammers and other malicious actors more tools than ever before. And it's rapidly advancing without much regulation as the United States and China race to establish dominance in the field. Google removed language from its AI ethics policy website in February, pledging not to use AI for weapons and surveillance. Hassabis believes there should be an international agreement on the fundamentals of how AI should be utilized and how to ensure the technology is only used 'for the good use cases.' 'Obviously, it's looking difficult at present day with the geopolitics as it is,' he said. 'But, you know, I hope that as things will improve, and as AI becomes more sophisticated, I think it'll become more clear to the world that that needs to happen.' The DeepMind CEO also believes we're headed toward a future in which people use AI 'agents' to execute tasks on their behalf, a vision Google is working towards by integrating more AI into its search function and developing AI-powered smart glasses. 'We sometimes call it a universal AI assistant that will go around with you everywhere, help you in your everyday life, do mundane admin tasks for you, but also enrich your life by recommending you amazing things, from books and films to maybe even friends to meet,' he said. New AI models are showing progress in areas like video generation and coding, adding to fears that the technology could eliminate jobs. 'AI is starting to get better than humans at almost all intellectual tasks, and we're going to collectively, as a society, grapple with it,' Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told CNN just after telling Axios that AI could axe entry-level jobs. In April, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he expects AI to write half the company's code by 2026. However, an AI-focused future is closer to promise than reality. AI is still prone to shortcomings like bias and hallucinations, which have sparked a handful of high-profile mishaps for the companies using the technology. The Chicago Sun-Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer, for example, published an AI-generated summer reading list including nonexistent books last month. While Hassabis says AI will change the workforce, he doesn't believe AI will render jobs obsolete. Like some others in the AI space, he believes the technology could result in new types of jobs and increase productivity. But he also acknowledged that society will likely have to adapt and find some way of 'distributing all the additional productivity that AI will produce in the economy.' He compared AI to the rise of other technological changes, like the internet. 'There's going to be a huge amount of change,' he said. 'Usually what happens is new, even better jobs arrive to take the place of some of the jobs that get replaced. We'll see if that happens this time.'