Rafik Hariri University (RHU) proudly celebrates the participation of RHU Associate Professor Dr. Oussama Mustapha and engineering students Hadi Wehbe, Abdulrahman Malak, and Mohamad Chehade at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Research and Applications (ICAIRA 2026), held at Istinye University in Istanbul, Türkiye, from September 2–4, 2026.
Representing RHU on this international academic platform, the team presented their research paper, “Personalized Facial Gesture Recognition and Emotion-Aware Gaming,” highlighting innovative applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Vision in recognizing personalized facial gestures and emotions and translating them into interactive gaming experiences.
Supported by the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) and the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS), ICAIRA 2026 brought together researchers, academics, and professionals worldwide to exchange knowledge, share research findings, and explore the latest advances in Artificial Intelligence and its diverse applications.
The research paper explores how Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision can recognize personalized facial gestures and emotions and translate them into engaging, interactive gaming experiences. By combining AI-driven facial gesture recognition with emotion-aware technology, the research highlights the potential to create more personalized and responsive digital experiences.
RHU’s participation in ICAIRA 2026 underscores the University’s commitment to advancing impactful research, fostering international academic collaboration, and empowering faculty and students to contribute to emerging technologies and shape the future of innovation.
Congratulations to Dr. Oussama Mustapha, Hadi Wehbe, Abdulrahman Malak, and Mohamad Chehade on this valuable international research contribution and for proudly representing Rafik Hariri University on the global academic stage.