Nabeel Durrani

AI robotics scientist and IT project manager

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Nabeel Durrani is an AI robotics scientist who works in AI for the Australian Defence Force, looking after algorithms. He also works three days a week in IT as a senior project manager. Born in Peshawar, he completed a PhD in artificial intelligence and robotics in 2021.

Early life and background

Durrani was born in Peshawar into a middle-class family. His mother worked for an NGO, and his father also had a job. His father was an electrical engineer who also taught. [1]

Education

Durrani completed his schooling up to matric at an army public school. He completed his FSc in Pakistan at a degree college, taking it with a computer and technology focus. He enrolled at a university for a BBA. He started teaching IELTS for pocket money. [1]

In his first university semester Durrani earned high distinctions, a grade he explained as a mark above 85 per cent. He downloaded lectures that were online. He did not have to pay the fee for one subject. He graduated in 2013, a year later than planned. By the time he graduated he had seven or eight student clients. [1]

Durrani completed a part-time master's degree while working full time. His master's degree was in business administration. He also studied for a PhD part time while working in IT. His PhD was in artificial intelligence and robotics, and its research covered autonomous robotics and drones, with a military focus. He completed it in 2021. [1]

Moving abroad

Durrani felt Pakistan would not value him, because people there judged him by his age. He has said people judged him on his age and physique. He was told that Griffith University had been chosen for him and was asked to sign a form. He received his visa within a month. [1]

His mother put an envelope in his hand. The envelope held their entire savings and contained about 2,500 AUD. He went to Brisbane. [1]

Career

Durrani's first job, which he got on his second day, was catalogue delivery. He worked double shifts of 16 to 17 hours. He did three jobs. [1]

He opened a website called seek.com.au. He had a job at a council. He was approached by a law firm and started going into project management. He started a business in IT, in tech support. By 2013 he had become an IT manager. [1]

Current work

Durrani works in AI for the Australian Defence Force, looking after algorithms. He works on different kinds of drones, technologies and robots. He also works three days a week in IT as a senior project manager. His IT work is related to an ASX 200 company. [1]

Durrani has led a team of more than 20 staff, including business analysts and programmers. He oversaw the whole project. He mentioned a big hospital being built in Townsville. He now does only contract work, and he says there are no permanent jobs in Australia. [1]

Views on AI and work

Durrani says AI should be seen as a positive force rather than a negative one. He said machines can easily do many jobs and replace the people who do them. He says he saw autonomous robots already working at Brisbane airport. He says most accountants have been made redundant. He says marketing work will largely disappear. [1]

Durrani predicts no mediocre programmer will have a job within five years. He says Microsoft has already released Power Apps. He described typing a script in simple English. He says ChatGPT is only a small part of AI. [1]

He said the profit premium needs to be taxed and distributed to humans. He says Dubai has already started an autonomous taxi programme. He expects taxi drivers, and potentially restaurant workers, to eventually come back. [1]

Durrani said plumbers sometimes earn more than doctors. He says plumbers and electricians will not be made redundant. He says trade courses in Australia can lead to permanent residency. He says cyber security will be a major field in the future. [1]

Durrani says a robot costs about 25,000 dollars, sometimes more. He thinks robots may become generalized in about ten years. He says military technology is usually about 20 years ahead of public technology. He says autonomous military robots are quite dangerous. [1]

Durrani says AI is controllable today, but he also sees it as a potential threat. He believes a time may come when robots control people and people cannot control them. He says he argued that human emotions are humanity's biggest weakness. He says governments might be replaced by artificial intelligence in maybe 50 to 100 years. [1]

Durrani predicts Western countries will begin changing immigration policy within five years. He is a big proponent of sending people abroad. He says institutes should open from now. He says he has experienced racism only twice in 15 years. [1]

Personal life

Durrani's nikah was in 2016 and his rukhsati in 2017. His marriage was arranged. His hobby is gaming, especially VR games. [1]

He has sent money to his parents since 2009. He paid off a total of 7 lakh rupees within seven months. [1]

Timeline

2009
Began sending money to his parents.[1]
2013
Graduated, a year later than planned.[1]
2013
Had become an IT manager.[1]
2016
Nikah.[1]
2017
Rukhsati.[1]
2021
Completed his PhD.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2023-12-08 Nabeel Durrani: my mother told me, if you fail, don't come back Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nabeel Durrani?

Nabeel Durrani is an AI robotics scientist who works in AI for the Australian Defence Force. He was born in Peshawar. He also works three days a week in IT as a senior project manager.[1]

What does Nabeel Durrani do?

Nabeel Durrani works in AI for the Australian Defence Force, looking after algorithms, and works on different kinds of drones, technologies and robots. He also works three days a week in IT as a senior project manager. He now does only contract work.[1]

Where did Nabeel Durrani study?

Nabeel Durrani enrolled at a university for a BBA. He completed a part-time master's degree in business administration while working full time. He also studied for a PhD part time and completed it in 2021.[1]

Where is Nabeel Durrani from?

Nabeel Durrani was born in Peshawar into a middle-class family. His father was an electrical engineer who also taught.[1]

What is Nabeel Durrani's PhD in?

Nabeel Durrani's PhD was in artificial intelligence and robotics. Its research covered autonomous robotics and drones, with a military focus. He completed it in 2021.[1]

When did Nabeel Durrani graduate?

Nabeel Durrani graduated in 2013, a year later than planned. By 2013 he had also become an IT manager.[1]

What does Nabeel Durrani think about AI?

Nabeel Durrani says AI should be seen as a positive force rather than a negative one. He says AI is controllable today, but he also sees it as a potential threat. He says ChatGPT is only a small part of AI.[1]

What does Nabeel Durrani say about jobs and automation?

Nabeel Durrani says machines can easily do many jobs and replace the people who do them. He says most accountants have been made redundant and that marketing work will largely disappear. He says plumbers and electricians will not be made redundant.[1]

References

  1. Nabeel Durrani: my mother told me, if you fail, don't come back . Thought Behind Things , 2023-12-08.
Show the source passages (82 statements)
  1. He was born in Peshawar into a middle-class family. Toh Peshawar mein paidaish hui, ek middle class family mein.
  2. His mother worked for an NGO, and his father also had a job. Mother uh job kiya karti thin in an NGO, father bhi job karte the.
  3. His father was an electrical engineer who also taught. woh jo electrical engineer the lekin woh teaching bhi karte the
  4. He completed his schooling up to matric at an army public school. Garrison Army Public School se. So from up till matric maine wahan se ki thi.
  5. He completed his FSc in Pakistan at a degree college. maine FSC mein study kar liya tha Pakistan mein. And that too in FG degree college.
  6. He took his FSc with a computer and technology focus. Kyunki FSC maine computer mein kiya tha, technology mein
  7. He enrolled at a university for a BBA. Toh maine City University mein admission liya uh BBA ke liye.
  8. He started teaching IELTS for pocket money. Toh maine IELTS teach karna shuru kar diya for a bit of pocket money.
  9. He felt Pakistan would not value him, because people there judged him by his age. Maine kaha yaar yeh uh Pakistan mein meri qadar nahi hogi, yahan toh age dekh rahe hain.
  10. He said people judged him on his age and physique. yahan mujhe sab age se aur physique se dekh ke judge kar rahe hain.
  11. He was told that Griffith University had been chosen for him and was asked to sign a form. yeh Griffith University maine choose kar li, aapke liye aap bas is form pe sign karein.
  12. He received his visa within a month. Aap believe karein within a month I got my visa.
  13. His mother put an envelope in his hand. Aur meri mother ne mere haath mein ek envelope thamaya.
  14. The envelope held their entire savings. Unki kul jama punji thi, literally kul sarmaya tha.
  15. The envelope contained about 2,500 AUD. there it was 2000, 2 and a half thousand dollars AUD.
  16. He went to Brisbane. I went to Brisbane, yes.
  17. His first job, which he got on his second day, was catalogue delivery. definitely first job mujhe mili, even second day pe, woh thi catalogue delivery.
  18. He worked double shifts of 16 to 17 hours. mujhe double shift lagti thi 16 17 hours ki shift.
  19. He earned high distinctions in his first university semester. Lekin faida yeh hua ke when I was in university, first semester mein mere HDs aa gaye.
  20. He explained that a high distinction means a mark above 85 per cent. High distinction, above 85%.
  21. He downloaded lectures that were online. To main lectures jo hain online download kar leta tha.
  22. He graduated in 2013, a year later than planned. I graduated in 2013. 2013. It took me a year more
  23. He did not have to pay the fee for one subject. To because of that ek subject ki fees nahi pay karni padti thi.
  24. He had seven or eight student clients by the time he graduated. by the time I graduated I had seven eight students they were my customers.
  25. He opened a website called seek.com.au. I've opened this uh website called seek.com.au.
  26. He had a job at a council. Council mein job thi.
  27. He was approached by a law firm. then I got approached by a law firm.
  28. He started going into project management. I started going into project management.
  29. He started a business in IT, in tech support. maine ek business start kiya tha IT mein, tech support ka.
  30. By 2013 he had become an IT manager. 2013 tak uh main as a as a IT manager ban chuka tha.
  31. He completed a part-time master's degree while working full time. Maine masters study kiya part time while I was working full time.
  32. His master's degree was in business administration. Business administration mein maine masters kiya
  33. He studied for a PhD part time while working in IT. Aur PhD was my hobby. So I did PhD part time as well while I was working in IT.
  34. His PhD research covered autonomous robotics and drones, with a military focus. Research was the autonomous of robotics in in drones. So in more sort of in a military usage.
  35. His PhD was in artificial intelligence and robotics. That is artificial intelligence. So AI and robotics.
  36. He completed his PhD in 2021. completed my PhD. That's in 2021.
  37. His employer made him redundant during COVID. during COVID I got laid off. I got made redundant from my company.
  38. His own IT business grew quickly after he was made redundant. Mera business tha IT mein and that suddenly Alhamdulillah boomed.
  39. His nikah was in 2016 and his rukhsati in 2017. Nikah was in 2016, rukhsati was 2017.
  40. His marriage was arranged. Definitely arranged marriage thi.
  41. He works in AI for the Australian Defence Force, looking after algorithms. I work for the defense, Australian Defense Force in in AI in AI in looking after the algorithms.
  42. He works on different kinds of drones, technologies and robots. different tarah ki ke drones, technologies and robots hain us pe main kaam karta hoon.
  43. He works three days a week in IT as a senior project manager. And three days a week I work in in information technology, IT as a senior project manager.
  44. His IT work is related to an ASX 200 company. Woh bhi ASX 200 company ke related hi main kaam karta hoon.
  45. He led a team of more than 20 staff, including business analysts and programmers. I had a whole team to myself 20 plus 20 plus staff members, business analysts, programmers.
  46. He oversaw the whole project. I was overseeing the whole project.
  47. He mentioned a big hospital being built in Townsville. there was a big hospital getting built somewhere in Townsville.
  48. He now does only contract work. I only do contract work now.
  49. He says there are no permanent jobs in Australia. there's no permanent in Australia.
  50. He says AI should be seen as a positive force rather than a negative one. AI hamari friend hai. Us ko hum as as a negative nahi dekhna chahiye, us ko positive lena chahiye.
  51. He said machines can easily do many jobs and replace the people who do them. Tamam woh kaam jo ke machine bahut hi easily kar sakti hai aur inko bade aasaani se replace kar sakti hai.
  52. He says he saw autonomous robots already working at Brisbane airport. Brisbane airport pe main dekh kar aaya hoon ke abhi autonomous robots kaam kar rahe hain.
  53. He says most accountants have been made redundant. So they've made almost most of the accountants redundant.
  54. He says marketing work will largely disappear. Your marketing is going to be gone.
  55. He predicts no mediocre programmer will have a job within five years. aapke next 5 years mein aapka koi bhi mediocre programmer exist nahi karega.
  56. He says Microsoft has already released Power Apps. Kyunki aapke abhi se Microsoft ne Power Apps release kar diye hain.
  57. He described typing a script in simple English. in a simple English ek script type karte hain
  58. He says ChatGPT is only a small part of AI. Chat GPT is a very small part of AI
  59. He said the profit premium needs to be taxed and distributed to humans. it is that profit premium that needs to be taxed to distribute that amount to to humans.
  60. He says Dubai has already started an autonomous taxi programme. Dubai taxi is already starting their autonomous vehicle autonomous taxi program
  61. He expects taxi drivers, and potentially restaurant workers, to eventually come back. Taxi driver wapas aayega. Potentially restaurant workers, you know, a lot of these folks will eventually come back.
  62. He said plumbers sometimes earn more than doctors. Plumber doctors ke muqable mein kabhi kabhi usse zyada kamata hai.
  63. He says plumbers and electricians will not be made redundant. Plumbers will not be redundant. Electrician will not be redundant.
  64. He says trade courses in Australia can lead to permanent residency. Australia mein trade courses pe aapko wahan pe PR milti hai.
  65. He says cyber security will be a major field in the future. cyber security is is going to be huge in the future.
  66. He says a robot costs about 25,000 dollars, sometimes more. ek robot $25,000 ka aapko cost karta hai, sometimes even more.
  67. He thinks robots may become generalized in about ten years. maybe in 10 years I think it will be generalized
  68. He says military technology is usually about 20 years ahead of public technology. military technology hoti hai, it's always 20 years ahead of time.
  69. He says autonomous military robots are quite dangerous. autonomous robots, it is quite dangerous as well.
  70. He says AI is controllable today, but he also sees it as a potential threat. I see AI at the moment, you can see AI is controllable, but I also see that as a as a potential threat.
  71. He believes a time may come when robots control people and people cannot control them. there may come a time where robots may control us and you may not control the robots
  72. He says he argued that human emotions are humanity's biggest weakness. My argument was that the biggest weakness in humans as a super species is the is is is is basically our emotions
  73. He says governments might be replaced by artificial intelligence in maybe 50 to 100 years. maybe 50 to 100 years from now, our governments might just be replaced by artificial intelligence
  74. He predicts Western countries will begin changing immigration policy within five years. next five years mein yeh tamam western countries apni immigration change karna shuru karengi
  75. He is a big proponent of sending people abroad. I am a big proponent of sending people abroad.
  76. He says institutes should open from now. To abhi se institutes khulni chahiyein.
  77. He says he has experienced racism only twice in 15 years. 15 saal mein mere saath sirf do se do baar racism hua hai.
  78. His hobby is gaming, especially VR games. hobby meri gaming hai aur achi VR gaming mein main woh karta hoon.
  79. He has sent money to his parents since 2009. I've been sending money to my parents since 2009.
  80. He paid off a total of 7 lakh rupees within seven months. total 7 lakh rupees tha. I paid that off within 7 months.
  81. He did three jobs. No, I did three jobs.
  82. Nabeel Durrani is described as an AI Robotics Scientist. Nabeel Durrani is an AI Robotics Scientist.