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Dr. Fatmah Baothman: A Trailblazer in Artificial Intelligence

The First Woman in the Middle East to Earn a Ph.D. in AI

Dr. Fatmah Baothman is a Saudi Arabian computer scientist and the first woman in the Middle East to earn a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence. A pioneer in AI research and education, she has dedicated over 25 years to advancing the field and advocating for women in STEM.

Recently, she was appointed board president of the Artificial Intelligence Society, further solidifying her role as a leader in AI development and governance in Saudi Arabia.

Education and Academic Contributions

Ph.D. in AI and Linguistic Research

Dr. Baothman earned her Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from The University of Huddersfield, School of Computing and Engineering (UK) in 2003. Her dissertation focused on phonology-based automatic speech recognition for Arabic, contributing to advancements in Arabic speech processing and computational linguistics.

Establishing Women’s Presence in Computer Science

Upon returning to Saudi Arabia, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Women’s Department at King Abdulaziz University (KAU). This initiative laid the foundation for the Computer Science College at KAU.

She also became the first female teaching assistant faculty member in the department, marking a historic milestone for women in Saudi computer science education.

Current Role in Academia

Today, Dr. Baothman serves as an assistant professor at King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Computing & Information Technology. She continues to mentor students and conduct cutting-edge AI research, focusing on AI applications in linguistics and speech recognition.

Leadership and Advocacy in AI and Engineering

Dr. Baothman is a strong advocate for women in engineering and AI, holding several leadership positions, including:

• Chairwoman of IEEE Women in Engineering (Western Region)
• Founder of the King Abdulaziz University IEEE Chapter for Women
• President of the Women Engineers Committee at the Saudi Council of Engineering (Western Region)

Her commitment to empowering women in STEM has led to groundbreaking initiatives that support female engineers and AI researchers in Saudi Arabia.

Research and Key Publications

Areas of AI Research

Dr. Baothman’s research spans:

• Speech recognition
• Computational linguistics
• AI-driven language processing

Notable Publications

Some of her key publications include:

• “Representing Coarticulation Processes in Arabic Speech” (2006) – co-authored with Michael Ingleby and S. Boudelaa
• “Phonology-Based Automatic Speech Recognition for Arabic” (2002) – her Ph.D. research
• “Comparative Study from Several Business Cases and Methodologies for ICT Project Evaluation” (2016) – co-authored with Farrukh Saleem, Naomie Salim, and others
• “Empty Nuclei in Arabic Speech Patterns and the Diacritic Sukūn” – co-authored with Michael Ingleby
• “Syllabic Markov Models of Arabic HMMs of Spoken Arabic Using CV Units” – co-authored with Michael Ingleby

Her research continues to influence AI applications in linguistics and speech recognition, contributing to the development of Arabic language processing technologies.

Shaping the Future of AI in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Baothman’s appointment as board president of the Artificial Intelligence Society marks a significant step forward in AI governance and innovation in Saudi Arabia. She is actively involved in discussions on:

• Ethical AI and responsible AI implementation
• Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy under Vision 2030

Her Vision for AI Development

Dr. Baothman’s mission includes:

• Enhancing AI research and innovation in Saudi Arabia
• Advancing Arabic AI applications for speech recognition and machine learning
• Creating more opportunities for women in AI and computing

Legacy and Inspiration

As a pioneering Saudi woman in AI, Dr. Baothman has broken barriers and inspired a new generation of female scientists and engineers. Her contributions to AI research, education, and leadership reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing STEM and artificial intelligence.

Her journey and achievements make her a perfect subject for Sciarabia, a platform dedicated to showcasing remarkable scientific advancements and Saudi contributions to global technology.