09 Sep AI Summer School 2025 – responsible technology use in focus at Morocco’s AUI
Al Akhawayn University has successfully hosted the third edition of its AI Summer School, taking place over 25th to 30th August on-campus in Ifrane, Morocco, welcoming hundreds of students, researchers, and professionals from across Morocco and the world, to benefit from a chance to explore, collaborate, and debate.
The program featured a series of inspiring lectures, hands-on workshops, and an intensive hands-on hackathon, all designed to help provide participants with new technical knowledge and critical reflection.
This year’s theme, ‘Responsible AI: Designing with security, fairness, and impact,’ captured the focus of the week’s key conversations, emphasising the powerful impact of AI, in addition to the responsibility that comes with shaping its use and future.
Microsoft’s Akram Zaytar opened the week by showcasing advances from the ‘AI for Good Lab,’ focusing on satellite-assisted disaster assessments, data-centric mapping tools and more.
Day two shifted the conversation towards security and trust in AI systems, with voices including Professor Kamal Bechkoum of the Minsky Academy; Lakshmi Goel Dean of AUI’s School of Business Administration (SBA); and Boubakr Nour, Senior Cybersecurity Researcher at Ericsson, to name just a few of those leading practical discussions on how to build safe and reliable tools.
Another highlight of the week was the special program on ‘women in AI,’ shining a spotlight on equity, inclusivity, and leadership.
Google DeepMind’s Amal Rannen-Triki gave a fascinating talk titled “An AI for All = An AI by All,” while IBM’s Ruchi Mahindru led a workshop evaluating AI agents in real-world IT automation.
These sessions served to celebrate women’s contributions in the field and also encouraged participants to view diversity as a cornerstone of responsible innovation.
Behind the scenes, the event was made possible by the dedication of AUI’s School of Science and Engineering, led by Dean Professor Salah Al-Majeed, and supported by AFRETEC, volunteers, and faculty.
Reporting by Mark Ferguson of More Fire PR in Morocco.
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