Researchers at Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) have been granted a patent to develop a tool that can learn and mimic individual handwriting styles. This AI-powered technology could serve as an aid for people with disabilities that prevent them from writing. While the initial study focused on generating English handwriting, the university is now exploring ways to apply it to other languages, including Arabic.
According to MBZUAI, analyzing Arabic handwriting styles poses a greater challenge due to the way Arabic letters are connected in handwritten script. Despite this, the university remains determined to extend the technology’s capabilities beyond English.
The patent also highlights other potential applications for the handwriting replication technology. For instance, individuals might want to write notes in foreign languages in a way that appears authentic and matches their own handwriting style. Additionally, the technology could assist in improving machine learning models by recognizing vast amounts of handwritten data.
Salman Khan, an associate professor of computer vision at MBZUAI, reflected on the effectiveness of the technology based on user feedback. He mentioned that individuals who tried the program couldn’t distinguish the mimicked handwriting from actual handwriting, validating its performance.
Notably, the research model developed by MBZUAI does not require a large amount of training data. Instead, it only needs a few paragraphs of original handwriting. While this is impressive in terms of efficiency, it also raises potential concerns about misuse of the technology, considering the significance of handwriting as a representation of personal identity.
Rao Muhammad Anwer, an associate professor at MBZUAI, emphasized the university’s cautious approach to deploying the technology due to the personal nature of handwriting. He stressed the need for careful consideration before undertaking any implementation.
MBZUAI, the world’s first dedicated artificial intelligence university, was established in 2019 and started operating in 2020. Reflecting on the progress made by the university, Eric Xing, MBZUAI president, expressed pride in the achievements thus far and highlighted the ongoing contribution of the institution to the field of AI.
I am very proud that we have achieved so much in just four years of operation — with a host of milestones yet to come, Xing said. We are actively training the next generation of AI specialists who will contribute to and even elevate the level of knowledge and excellence in this important area of human development.
The development of this AI-powered technology that can replicate individual handwriting styles has the potential to revolutionize the way people with disabilities approach writing and communication. Furthermore, its applications in language learning and machine learning models could have a significant impact on various industries. As MBZUAI continues to explore and develop this technology, careful consideration and ethical implementation will be crucial to balance its potential benefits with the importance of preserving personal identity and privacy.
