00:00Today marks a significant milestone for higher education and technological development in the
00:05Caribbean with the official launch of the University of the West Indies Artificial
00:10Intelligence Innovation Center. According to Dr. Craig Ramlal, Executive Director of AI
00:15Innovation Skills Training, the center is designed to move artificial intelligence beyond theory,
00:22focusing on research, innovation and real-world applications that address regional challenges.
00:28Through the IntelliGrid Lab, we are working to embed AI into diagnostics of grid infrastructure
00:33so that we can build exportable services. We are looking at advanced algorithms for generation
00:38dispatch with renewable energy and interestingly how AI can be used to enable energy justice.
00:45But the center's work extends far beyond the energy sector. It also aims to reshape how artificial
00:51intelligence is understood and applied across a wide range of industries.
00:56The Dream Lab embodies the successful merging of the arts and engineering in a manner that ethically
01:03and positively serves creative and cultural practitioners. We usually think about AI as
01:09chart GPT, but in reality many industries will be enabled by AI embedded into devices that we use
01:17every day and as well as any sector you can think imaginable from healthcare to vehicle diagnostics to robotics to agriculture.
01:28A central focus of innovation centers ensuring that artificial intelligence developed locally reflects Caribbean realities
01:35and addresses the region's social and economic needs. Our fundamentals group is focused on designing AI
01:43architectures and semi-conductor systems that are made within the Caribbean with the needs of the region in mind.
01:50We develop AI that directly addresses regional challenges like the digital divide by making our models as small as possible.
01:58Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Dr. Prakash Passad, says collaboration will be key to ensuring the center's long-term impact,
02:07calling for partnerships across education industry and the creative sector.
02:12Therefore, I look forward to see the initiation and outcome of joint projects with UTT, the robotics group,
02:20mechatronics groups in particular, who have a lot of experience in building robots and in decision models.
02:26The Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center is expected to position Trinidad and Tobago as a regional leader in AI research,
02:48skills training and technology development.
02:51Charlotte Gisto, TV6 News.
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