Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most disruptive technologies in history. Several Spanish universities are at the forefront of this revolution. They develop innovative projects that promote new learning methods, but also address social and environmental issues of great importance.
Among others, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and the Distance University of Madrid (UDIMA) have stood out in this aspect. All They launch very creative initiativeswhich show the enormous capacity for innovation and proactivity of Spanish students.
The Capstone Project
One of the most interesting initiatives is Synthesis project from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). It is advanced under the program Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) and essentially gives students two great opportunities: 1) apply theoretical knowledge in practical projects; and 2) a common practice in Anglo-Saxon masters.
One of the fruits of this project is the creation of the “AI ScareCrow”, an intelligent scarecrow which was designed to solve the problem of invasive birds in urban areas. The author of this innovation was a team composed of Christian Eduardo Achong De Abreu, Iker van den Bosch Ramos and Josep Molina Martínez.
AI Scarecrow It is designed to recognize different types of birds and is only activated if invasive species appear. This avoids the need for other more aggressive methods such as chemicals or hunting. It allows for a more harmonious coexistence between wildlife and humans in urban environments.
Hate speech
The “Hate Hate Speech” project was designed by the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). The directors of the initiative are Víctor Távara Pérez, Alejandro Leo Ramírez and Javier Gil Rodríguez. Received the Best Capstone Project Award as part of the UPM Big Data program.
This project addresses one of the most pressing problems today: the increase in hate speech on social networks. This phenomenon has exacerbated polarization, intolerance and dogmatism. The worst part is that it is very difficult to control.
This project works carry out a real-time analysis of user interventions on social networksthrough the use of AI. Using natural language processing techniques, the project detects and catalogs hate speech that causes extreme noise in communication.
The final goal is to be able to isolate these expressions and carry out actions promoting the creation of safer and more respectful environments online. The idea is to block harmful messages and encourage positive dialogue between Internet users.
Other contributions
Currently, UDIMA (Distance University of Madrid) is carrying out another very interesting project. Its title is “Evaluation of the use of tools based on Artificial Intelligence in the field of Higher Education”. The initiative is led and coordinated by professors Luis Manuel Fernández and María Alcolea.
This project involved 18 teacher-researchers from 12 public and private universities in Spain and Latin America. This includes renowned institutions such as the Complutense University of Madrid, the University of Granada and the TEC of Monterrey.
The central objective is do a study on the effect of using AI in distance education. It aims to evaluate aspects such as student satisfaction, engagement academic, knowledge acquisition and personal transfer.
Teachers will carry out exploratory activities increase research skills, critical thinking and synthesis ability, through the use of AI. This includes activities such as literature review, image generation, and analysis of different topics.
Both at UDIMA and in other institutions The great potentials of AI for personalizing education are being discovered and transform learning into a much more active and dynamic experience.
Other universities
AI for data analysis at the University of Salamanca
The team from the University of Salamanca implemented an artificial intelligence project focused on analyze large volumes of data. Using data mining and deep learning techniques, this project seeks to extract patterns and trends from complex data, which can be critical to decision-making in industries such as marketing and social research.
Chatbot development at the University of Alicante
At the University of Alicante, a research group created advanced chatbots using natural language processing (NLP) to interact more effectively with users. These chatbots are able to understand and respond to user queries, making them useful tools for customer service and online training.
Conclusion
By fostering research and collaboration across disciplines, these institutions are helping to shape the future of AI and its applications across multiple sectors. Investment in these projects not only promotes technological development, but also prepares new generations of professionals for a job market that increasingly demands artificial intelligence skills.
Recommended Reading
AI in universities
University and the AI challenge
