AI is taking over the world, and it even took over Ibtissame (Sam) Jabir‘s life — well, for a good reason.
Studying AI in Shanghai wasn’t a part of Sam’s life plan, at least not at first.
“I didn’t even know I was going to study AI,” the Shanghai University of Engineering Science student recalls. “I thought it would be computer science or something related to it.”
Then came 2022, a list of university programmes, and one unfamiliar option: artificial intelligence.
“At the time, AI was still kind of new to me,” Sam says. “I was like, ‘What is AI? I don’t know what that is.’ There were so many questions in my mind, I needed to know the answers.”
Instead of skipping over it, she did what every curious student does best — she Googled it. The deeper she went, the more it clicked. It had everything she wanted to do, and best of all, it’s closely related to computer science.
The moment changed everything. Sam chose AI, and not long after, she decided on something that would shape her entire experience: Shanghai.
Before studying AI in Shanghai, Sam knew little about the subject and the city. Source: Ibtissame (Sam) Jabir
Studying AI in Shanghai is underrated
Studying AI in Shanghai wasn’t even part of her original plan. Sam applied to multiple universities in different countries without knowing exactly where she’d land.
“When I applied, I didn’t know I would end up studying in Shanghai,” she explains. “But when I got accepted to the Shanghai University of Engineering Science, I was like, yeah – I’m happy.”
But her dad had other ideas. He wanted her to attend a university in France, because one, it was closer to home, and two, she was already fluent in the language.
“But I didn’t want to go,” she shares. “I don’t like it there. I prefer Asian countries, and was already deciding between China, Japan, or South Korea.”
Fun fact: Shanghai has the world’s longest metro, the fastest elevators in the Shanghai Tower, and was formally a small fishing village. Source: Edward Eyer, Pexels
Japan and South Korea proved challenging for admissions. China worked out. Besides, for Sam, Shanghai exceeded every expectation.
“Before I came, I just thought Shanghai was a big, expensive city,” Sam admits.
What she didn’t expect was how futuristic everyday life would feel, especially for someone studying AI.
“Here, everything is on your phone,” she shares. “You pay by phone, by face, or even by palm — you don’t need cash at all.”
What shocked her the most wasn’t just young people using digital payments. Even the older generation knew how to use their phones.
Then, there were the robots.
“In malls, hotels, and even on the street, you see robots cleaning or delivering things,” Sam says. “It’s so interesting because that’s actually my major.”
For Sam, studying AI in Shanghai is like existing in a living lab — she gets to see AI work in real-time, in person, every single day.
Instead of studying AI in Shanghai, Sam’s father preferred she join a French university instead. Source: Ibtissame (Sam) Jabir
What it’s like to study AI
As incredible as it is to be studying AI in Shanghai, Sam does get two recurring questions from the people around her: “Are you working with ChatGPT?” or “Is AI going to replace humans?”
She’s noticed a clear gap in understanding.
“The world knows about AI, but they only know ChatGPT,” she explains. “They don’t know how AI is integrated into robotics. The AI used in robots is different. It’s not like OpenAI websites because you use models and algorithms like reinforcement learning.”
To break it down, you first provide the robot with information, and then let it learn on its own. It makes mistakes in the beginning, but later, it learns everything on its own.
Despite this explanation, Sam says it can still feel almost impossible to educate people about it.
“I try my best to explain what AI is, but they still don’t understand,” Sam laughs. “So I just say it’s computer science, then they know what it is.”
For Sam, studying AI isn’t about replacing humans — it’s about building tools. Robots can’t work on their own, and humans will have to programme them either way.
Shanghai’s AI industry has reached 380 billion yuan (approximately US$52 billion) in 2023, with over 300 major AI enterprises and a talent pool of over 250,000, representing about one-third of China’s total. Source: Pavel Danilyuk, Pexels
What it’s like to study in Shanghai
Today, Sam’s life in Shanghai feels efficient, exciting, and aligned with her goals.
“The metro, delivery apps, convenience stores everywhere, it makes life easier,” she says. “I don’t feel stressed.”
Looking back, Sam has no regrets. Studying AI in Shanghai gave her more than a degree — it gave her clarity.
“If I had to do it all over again,” she says without hesitation. “I would choose studying AI. And I would choose studying in Shanghai.”
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