We are honored to announce that Amit Sahai, a professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Symantec Chair Professor, has been elected as a NAAI Corresponding Member. This honor aims to recognize Professor Sahai's pioneering research in the field of artificial intelligence fundamental theory, particularly his revolutionary contributions in cryptography, complexity theory, and security technology. These achievements have laid the key foundation for privacy protection and trusted computing in modern artificial intelligence systems.
Introduction to Professor Amit Sahai
Amit Sahai is a professor of computer science and mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), as well as a Symantec Chair Professor of Computer Science. He is a Simmons Fellow (2021), ACM Fellow (2018), IACR Fellow (2019), and AMS Fellow (2024). He also serves as a consultant for the prison mathematics project. His main research interests include cryptography, coding theory, complexity theory, and security. He is a co inventor of attribute based encryption, functional encryption, and indistinguishable obfuscation. He was invited to give a speech at the 2022 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM 2022, special session) and was awarded the 2022 National Academy of Sciences Herder Prize for his contributions in the field of indistinguishable confusion. His research achievements have won five time test awards (STOC 2024, FOCS 2023, Eurocrypt 2023, Eurocrypt 2020, ACM CCS 2016) and the Best Paper Award in STOC 2021. In terms of teaching, he was awarded the 2016 UCLA Camry School of Engineering Lockheed Martin Teaching Excellence Award. Many years ago, he was a member of the world championship team for the 1996 ACM International Collegiate Programming Competition (ICPC) at the University of California, Berkeley.
Academic Contribution: Reshaping the Technological Boundary of Cryptography and Security
Professor Sahai is a leading figure in the field of international cryptography, and his research achievements have profoundly influenced the cross development of artificial intelligence and information security. The Attribute Based Encryption and Functional Encryption technologies proposed by him and his collaborators have redefined the paradigm of data privacy protection, making dynamic and fine-grained security permission management possible. His groundbreaking theory of indistinguishability obfuscation has opened up a new path for program security, software tamper resistance, and secure multi-party computation, earning him the title of "one of the holy grails of cryptography" in academia.
Professor Sahai's academic achievements have been recognized with numerous top international awards
-The 2022 Held Prize of the National Academy of Sciences recognizes his groundbreaking work in the field of indistinguishable confusion;
-The five time test awards (STOC 2024, FOCS 2023, Eurocrypt 2023/2020, ACM CCS 2016) confirm the lasting impact of their research;
-The STOC 2021 Best Paper Award highlights the original value of its cutting-edge exploration;
-Invited to give a speech at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM 2022) in 2022, showcasing his interdisciplinary academic radiation.
Education and Social Responsibility: Cultivating Talents and Promoting Equity
As the recipient of the 2016 Lockheed Martin Excellence in Teaching Award from UCLA Samurai School of Engineering, Professor Sahai has always been committed to cultivating the next generation of computer science leaders. His students are spread across top universities and technology companies around the world, continuously promoting the integration of cryptography and artificial intelligence in industry, academia, and research. At the same time, he serves as a consultant for the Prison Mathematics Project, advocating for empowering marginalized groups through education and fulfilling the mission of academic excellence.
NAAI Corresponding Member: Equal Honor and Responsibility
The NAAI Corresponding Member title is awarded to top scholars worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to basic research, technological innovation, or social applications in artificial intelligence. The election of Professor Sahai is not only a supreme recognition of his personal academic achievements, but also a recognition of NAAI's emphasis on the core issue of "secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence". His work provides the theoretical foundation for building next-generation AI systems that are privacy protected, verifiable, and resistant to attacks, which is highly aligned with NAAI's strategic goal of promoting the development of "responsible artificial intelligence".