The Arabian Gulf University (AGU) participated in the 33rd session of the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence “IJCAI 2024”, recently held in South Korea.
During the event, Prof. Adel Bouhoula, Head of the Information Technology Department at the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences, presented a research paper that reviewed a new and innovative technology for designing safe and reliable critical systems across various vital sectors. His research addressed the fundamental problem of errors and security vulnerabilities in the software utilised in these sectors, standing out among 8,000 submitted research papers at the conference.
IJCAI is one of the most prestigious and oldest international conferences in the field of artificial intelligence, traceable to 1969, and is classified as a top-level conference (A*).
In his research, prepared in collaboration with Dr Miki Herman from the Ecole Polytechnique in France, Prof. Bouhoula outlined solutions to the issues posed by software errors and security vulnerabilities that could lead to severe consequences in fields such as medicine, finance, aviation, space and defence. He explained that flaws in medical software could result in incorrect diagnoses or inappropriate treatments, while security vulnerabilities in financial software could enable data theft or unauthorised financial transfers.
Elaborating further, he said: “Compared to traditional techniques, this technology allows for the automated and reliable verification of software’s integrity, ensuring it is free from errors and security vulnerabilities. This enhances safety and security across various critical sectors, thereby fostering a safer and more reliable digital society.”
The reviewers of Prof. Bouhoula’s paper emphasised the high quality and significant importance of the new technology, underscoring its potential impact on the design of secure and reliable systems.
In a related context, it is noteworthy that the Arabian Gulf University will launch a master’s programme in artificial intelligence and formal methods for cybersecurity in September. This programme integrates cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and formal methods, aiming to graduate experts capable of safeguarding sensitive systems using cutting-edge technologies in the cybersecurity domain.
By leveraging artificial intelligence technologies, graduates will gain insights into hacker behaviour, enhancing their ability to detect cyber threats proactively and reduce risks associated with ever-evolving cyber-attacks. Furthermore, the incorporation of formal methods in the curriculum will ensure that future professionals can identify and eliminate security vulnerabilities in critical systems, thus contributing to the development of robust and secure communication protocols.
