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Dear Friends,
Passover begins next week, and while contemplating the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt and the foundation of Jewish peoplehood, I started to think about new beginnings. Passover is a holiday in which we not only celebrate our freedom but also reflect on our resilience. "In every generation" has never been truer than in this past year, and with each Passover there is a new beginning.
This also marks one year of sharing Tel Aviv University (TAU) news with you in my role as the Chairman of American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU). In my decade of involvement with the University, I have witnessed many new discoveries and developments, but one that has evolved and been embraced at a rapid pace is Artificial Intelligence (AI), a transformative technology that is being used for good in almost every faculty on TAU's campus.
The Center for AI & Data Science (TAD) was established in 2019 as an interdisciplinary center with a mission to advance innovative research and education in these fields. The main goal of TAD is to support core research in AI and data science, proving once again that TAU is a leader in groundbreaking areas of study. One major partnership from TAD is the joint program between TAU and Google that promotes AI research in sustainability and education.
The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at TAU is using AI to turn nature lovers into contributors to scientific research with the Israel Center for Citizen Science. Using mobile platforms powered by artificial intelligence, like iNaturalist and Merlin Bird ID, the Center enables the public to identify species in real time and contribute valuable data to the study of biodiversity. By combining cutting-edge technology with community participation, the Center is making science more accessible, more dynamic, and more impactful than ever before.
The Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences has many researchers and labs that use AI, including a new study published this week in which researchers from TAU developed an AI-based method that reveals how cells respond to drug treatments. Using AI, the researchers try to understand how cells behave in changing biological environments such as those found within a cancerous tumor. The new system, called scNET, combines information on gene expression at the single-cell level with information on gene integrations, enabling the identification of important biological patterns.
A few other examples of labs using AI include:
At the Buchmann Faculty of Law, the Chief Justice Meir Shamgar Center addresses the dynamic developments at the crossroads of technology, society, and the law. The center's mission is to advance research on the challenges posed by the digital age, particularly regarding artificial intelligence, data use, social processes, and decision-making patterns. It aims to address the evolving role of individuals in technological systems and to explore regulatory frameworks that can adapt to these changes. The Center is supported by many partners, including Microsoft Israel.
It is in Tel Aviv University's DNA to push boundaries and embrace change with creativity and innovation. As we begin to understand AI and its endless possibilities, we can turn to any area at TAU to see this new technology being harnessed for good. The future remains hopeful, and I am optimistic about TAU's abilities to create new beginnings.
Wishing you a happy and healthy Passover. Shabbat shalom.
Sincerely,
Dr. Garry A. Rayant
Chairman, American Friends of Tel Aviv University
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