Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare (TCMAIH), Gulf Medical University (GMU), successfully organized the two-day International Conference on Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Society (ICA2S 2025) on November 13–14, 2025, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bhopal, India. The international conference brought together academicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders from Austria, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, India, and the United Arab Emirates, fostering rich global perspectives on emerging trends in artificial intelligence and its applications in healthcare and society.
The conference was graced by Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Chancellor, Gulf Medical University, and, Prof. Hesham Marei, Vice Chancellor Academics, Gulf Medical University, whose presence added significant academic and institutional stature to the event. The conference commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Amir Zeid, Dean, Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare, who highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in AI-driven healthcare education and research.
The program featured keynote addresses, plenary sessions, industry insight talks, panel discussions, and research paper presentations. A highlight of the conference was the Industry Insights session, delivered by Ms. Amal Dimashki, Regional Director – MENAT, Turnitin, UAE, who shared perspectives on academic integrity and AI in education, and Mr. Mohannad AlKalash, Vice President – METAP Region, Zoom Video Communications, who discussed digital transformation, virtual collaboration, and AI-enabled communication technologies in healthcare and education.
The conference also hosted distinguished keynote and plenary sessions, including an insightful plenary lecture by Prof. Ulrich Bodenhofer, Professor at the University of Applied Sciences, Upper Austria, who shared expert insights on advanced AI methodologies and their societal and healthcare implications. Additional keynote contributions by Dr. Dina Elbestawy from the Emirates Health Services (EHS) further enriched the academic discourse, offering contemporary perspectives on artificial intelligence, data-driven innovation, and real-world applications.
The plenary sessions were followed by engaging research paper presentation sessions, which significantly enhanced academic and professional discussions. ICA2S 2025 received more than fifty research paper submissions from four continents, of which twenty-five papers were shortlisted, and twenty papers were successfully presented during the conference, reflecting the global reach and academic rigor of the event.
Another key milestone of ICA2S 2025 was the inauguration of the Thumbay AI Clinic, powered by Zoom, offering telemedicine services enhanced by AI capabilities. The launch marked an important step toward integrating artificial intelligence into accessible and technology-driven healthcare delivery.
Thumbay College of Management and AI in Healthcare extends its heartfelt gratitude to the leadership of Gulf Medical University and IIIT Bhopal, esteemed speakers, panelists, industry partners, organizing committee members, and participants for their invaluable support in making ICA2S 2025 a resounding success. The conference reaffirmed GMU’s vision of promoting innovation, strengthening international collaboration, and advancing knowledge at the intersection of artificial intelligence, healthcare, and society.