Karachi: From AI-powered cough analysis for tuberculosis diagnosis to machine learning models supporting maternal and child health, researchers at Aga Khan University (AKU) are leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Intelligence (DI) to tackle pressing challenges in health, education, and development.
According to the Aga Khan University, these innovations were featured at the AKU Global Research Showcase: Harnessing AI and Digital Intelligence for Impact. Organized by the AKU Research Office, the event was attended by faculty, students, alumni, donors, partners, policymakers, and members of the public from AKU's global network. Held both in Karachi and online, the hybrid event showcased how AI-enabled research is being ethically applied across low- and middle-income settings.
AKU President and Vice Chancellor, Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, opened the event by emphasizing the university's active role in responsibly shaping the future of AI. The Showcase included presentations by AKU faculty and students on AI-assisted cancer diagnostics, digital twins in radiotherapy, and AI-supported learning tools in nursing and mathematics education. Other topics covered AI applications in areas such as respiratory disease diagnosis, maternal and fetal health, childhood development, and public health hotlines.
The keynote address, delivered by Dr. Ravi Pendse, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at the University of Michigan, focused on ensuring AI innovation is grounded in trust, ethics, and societal benefit. Dr. Pendse highlighted the importance of human-centered AI that strengthens research and expands human capabilities responsibly.
The event also presented AKU's first institution-wide Digital Innovation Mapping Report, identifying over 300 digital and AI-enabled initiatives at the University. The report emphasized the need for stronger governance, ethical oversight, and interdisciplinary collaboration to scale high-impact innovations responsibly.
A panel discussion featuring experts from AKU, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and the NHS addressed data governance, privacy, algorithmic bias, and accountability. Panelists underscored the role of universities in shaping governance frameworks to ensure AI technologies are equitable and transparent.
Professor Salim Virani, Vice Provost, Research at AKU, noted the potential of AI to help universities address complex challenges responsibly. Closing the event, AKU Provost and Vice President, Academic, Dr. Tania Bubela, remarked on the institution's strength in fostering innovation across boundaries to solve community-relevant challenges.
The Showcase reinforced AKU's role in advancing collaborative, AI-enabled research that addresses real-world issues while contributing to global discussions on ethical innovation and responsible technology use.