Lahore (Pakistan News Online) Punjab University’s Faculty of Computing and Information Technology has established a Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence (AI) Laboratory to promote research into artificial intelligence based on human needs, requirements and its impact on society.
The laboratory has been established with the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Turkish government’s official development cooperation agency, marking a new step in educational and research collaboration between Pakistan and Türkiye.
The laboratory was inaugurated by TİKA Vice President Ali Erjan during a ceremony attended by Turkish Consul General Muhammad Aymen Shamsik, Punjab University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mahmood Saleem, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology Professor Dr Shehzad Sarwar, Dr Kamran Malik and other faculty members.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ali Erjan said Türkiye wanted to further strengthen academic ties and mutual cooperation between universities in Pakistan and Türkiye.
He said TİKA was providing financial support for several projects at educational institutions across Pakistan, adding that such initiatives would further strengthen educational cooperation between the two countries.
Erjan said artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace that is difficult for anyone to keep up with, while its potential in education, healthcare, research and public services is enormous.
He said the rapid development of AI had made it increasingly important to ask what these technologies were designed for, which people and communities they served, and what impact they would have on human lives.
He said the Human-Inspired AI Laboratory had been established with this vision in mind.
Erjan expressed hope that the laboratory would become a platform where students and researchers could not only develop technical expertise but also assess the impact of the AI systems they develop on human lives and society.
Turkish Consul General Muhammad Aymen Shamsik said Pakistan and Türkiye were committed to further strengthening academic relations and cooperation between their universities.
He said TİKA was supporting various projects at educational institutions in Pakistan, which would help promote academic cooperation between the two brotherly countries and contribute to achieving their mutual interests.
Dean of Punjab University’s Faculty of Computing and Information Technology Professor Dr Shehzad Sarwar said the newly established laboratory was equipped with modern computing and server facilities.
He also announced that a joint research agreement had been signed between Punjab University and Türkiye’s Yildiz Technical University.
Under the agreement, the two universities will collaborate on joint research projects and promote the exchange of faculty members and students.
Professor Dr Shehzad Sarwar said Punjab University and Yildiz Technical University would also work together to develop joint courses and academic programmes in the field of artificial intelligence.
The establishment of the Human-Inspired AI Laboratory and the research partnership with Yildiz Technical University are expected to expand opportunities for AI research, academic exchange and the development of human-centred artificial intelligence in Pakistan.