Arabic comics have in recent years grown into a thriving creative movement. BEIRUT--A computer scientist at the American University of Beirut is using artificial intelligence to classify the content of Arabic comics, applying the computer-based science to this cutting-edge art form in the Arab world. Artificial-intelligence specialists are always trying to stretch the capabilities of computer brainpower. If artificial intelligence can be used to play the ancient Chinese board game Go, or the American TV quiz game Jeopardy, then Arabic comics are also fair game. "I try to look for unusual applications for artificial intelligence and machine learning," explained Mariette Awad, the associate professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering at the American University of Beirut who is leading the project.