About Us | Center for Cognitive Intelligence and AI Systems

Who We Are

The Center for Cognitive Intelligence and AI Systems (CIAS) at Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd University (PMU) is an international research and innovation hub dedicated to advancing Human-AI Institutional Development in Higher Education, aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

CIAS brings together researchers from across the world to collaboratively enhance the human and societal experience through ethical, human-centered, and AI-driven innovation. The Center integrates frontier agentic AI systems, cognitive science, computational social science, and interdisciplinary humanities to design transformative solutions for education, healthcare, governance, and society.

Research at CIAS is structured into five interconnected thematic tracks, each led by domain experts. These tracks collectively ensure that AI innovation remains ethical, inclusive, interdisciplinary, and societally impactful, while strengthening PMU's position as a global leader in Human-AI innovation.

Mission

Aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 pillars of human-capital development, knowledge-economy growth, and sustainable transformation, CIAS integrates frontier agentic AI systems with advancements in cognitive sciences to generate ethical, human-centered, and institutionally transformative research. The center delivers tangible impact across education, social development, precision health systems, and the natural sciences, fostering innovation that shapes a more equitable future.

Vision

CIAS leads research and development in the integration of AI and cognitive sciences through a human-agency first model. We center ethical responsibility, interdisciplinary innovation, and real-world societal impact, ensuring that technological advancement augments—but never replaces—human creativity, judgment, and accountability. Our goal is to foster AI systems that enhance human potential while addressing complex societal challenges with integrity and practical relevance.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

Our Aims

CIAS is guided by a strategic set of aims designed to position PMU as a global leader in Human-AI institutional innovation:

Institutional Leadership in Human-AI Innovation

•Establish PMU as a pioneer in Institutional Higher Education Human-AI Innovative Development
•Develop scalable models of the Human-AI University
•Transform institutional governance through agentic AI systems

Ethical and Human-Centered AI Systems

•Design AI systems grounded in human agency, ethical coherence, and accountability
•Ensure transparency, fairness, and bias mitigation in all AI-driven innovations
•Embed responsible governance frameworks across all research tracks

Advancement of Agentic AI and Cognitive Systems

•Develop decision-intelligent agentic AI systems for real-world applications
•Integrate cognitive science, education, and social systems with AI technologies
•Reorient Computational Social Science toward applied innovation

Research Excellence and Global Impact

•Produce high-impact research contributions in AI, education, health, and governance
•Strengthen PMU's international research reputation
•Contribute meaningfully to global scientific literature and innovation ecosystems

Societal Transformation and Applied Innovation

•Deliver impactful solutions in education, precision health, social development, and public systems
•Bridge the gap between research, policy, and real-world implementation
•Support Saudi Arabia's transition to a knowledge-based economy

FIVE THEMATIC TRACKS

Research Tracks

Cognitive Intelligence & Inclusive Learning

Lead Researcher: Dr. Arifi Noman Mohammed Waked

This track explores the biological, cognitive, and computational foundations of human learning and intelligence. It focuses on enhancing educational access through AI-driven adaptive systems that support diverse and marginalized populations.

Key Focus Areas

•Cognitive modeling of learning processes and brain-behavior interaction
•AI-driven inclusive education for learners with disabilities (ASD, ADHD, hearing impairment, etc.)
•Support systems for English language learners and lifelong learners
•Trauma-informed and neurodiversity-aware learning frameworks
•AI-assisted cognitive training for developmental and acquired conditions

Strategic Aims

•Establish collaborations with national and international disability and education authorities
•Develop AI-based assistive learning systems grounded in evidence-based pedagogy
•Enhance inclusive access to cognitive and educational development tools
•Strengthen partnerships with medical and educational institutions

Social Dynamics & Elicitive Learning

Lead Researcher: Dr. Alia Amir

This track examines the intersection of AI, ethics, culture, religion, language, and societal transformation in the context of Saudi Vision 2030 and global digital transformation.

Key Focus Areas

•AI ethics, governance, and value-aligned systems
•Islamic values, cultural identity, and digital society transformation
•Language, communication, and human interaction in AI environments
•Philosophy, sociology, and psychology of AI-mediated societies
•Human-centered and culturally responsive AI design

Strategic Aims

•Foster interdisciplinary dialogue on AI ethics and societal values
•Study AI's role in shaping human communication and behavior
•Promote culturally grounded AI governance frameworks
•Advance methodological innovation in human–AI social research

AI Integration in Education & Healthcare

Lead Researcher: Dr. Jose P. Cerin

This track pioneers agentic AI systems for educational governance and precision healthcare, combining technical excellence with ethical, human-centered innovation.

Key Focus Areas

•AI-driven educational governance and institutional intelligence
•Personalized and adaptive learning ecosystems
•Precision healthcare and hyper-personalized (N-of-1) medicine
•Multi-agent systems for clinical decision support
•Translational AI for education and healthcare systems

Strategic Aims

•Develop scalable Human-AI systems for education and healthcare
•Improve institutional efficiency through agentic AI workflows
•Enable predictive, personalized, and adaptive interventions
•Strengthen international collaborations in applied AI systems

Mathematical Foundations & Scientific Inquiry

Lead Researcher: Dr. Najma Saleem

This track advances the mathematical, statistical, and computational foundations required for AI systems and scientific discovery.

Key Focus Areas

•Mathematical modeling of complex physical and cognitive systems
•Computational science and AI-driven numerical methods
•Statistical learning, optimization, and data-driven modeling
•Interdisciplinary applications in engineering, physics, and biology
•AI integration in STEM education and scientific reasoning

Strategic Aims

•Promote interdisciplinary research linking mathematics and AI
•Strengthen scientific literacy and analytical thinking in education
•Develop computational tools for real-world scientific challenges
•Integrate mathematical reasoning into AI-driven education systems

Transdisciplinary Humanities & Societal Studies

Lead Researcher: Dr. Edyta Wolny-Ibrahim

This track explores the role of humanities, culture, and social sciences in shaping ethical AI systems and understanding societal transformation.

Key Focus Areas

•Cultural transformation in the age of AI
•Islamic jurisprudence, ethics, and digital societies
•Human behavior, identity, and meaning-making in AI environments
•Humanities-driven AI governance frameworks
•Interdisciplinary social science approaches to AI systems

Strategic Aims

•Strengthen cultural and ethical grounding of AI systems
•Promote interdisciplinary humanities–AI research
•Analyze societal transformation in digital ecosystems
•Ensure AI systems align with human values and cultural identity

MULTI-LEVEL IMPACT

Strategic Impact

CIAS is designed to generate multi-level transformative impact across institutional, national, and global dimensions:

Institutional Impact

•Establish PMU as a global model for Human-AI Institutional Development
•Transform teaching, learning, and governance through agentic AI systems
•Enhance academic excellence and interdisciplinary innovation

Research & Innovation Impact

•Produce high-impact global research in AI, cognition, and society
•Develop patents and scalable AI-driven systems
•Advance frontier knowledge in Human-AI collaboration

Societal Impact

•Improve education, healthcare, and social systems through AI innovation
•Enable inclusive and equitable access to intelligent technologies
•Strengthen human well-being through ethical AI systems

National & Global Impact

•Contribute to Saudi Arabia's knowledge economy transformation
•Position PMU as a global leader in ethical AI governance
•Export Human-AI institutional models internationally

POSITIONING STATEMENT

CIAS represents a next-generation research ecosystem where artificial intelligence, cognitive science, mathematics, social sciences, and humanities converge to create ethical, human-centered, and institutionally transformative innovation that advances both scientific discovery and societal well-being.