Abu dhabi: Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has entered a new chapter in its mission to shape the future of technology and society with the official launch of The Academy. Unveiled as a core strategic pillar of the university, The Academy serves as a global platform for high-level exchange, dedicated to disseminating cutting-edge AI knowledge and convening the world's most brilliant minds to reimagine the intersection of science and the humanities.
According to Emirates News Agency, the launch was held in the presence of Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Member of the MBZUAI Board of Trustees, and Professor Eric Xing, President and University Professor at MBZUAI. The event marked a defining moment in the university's journey, forming part of MBZUAI's five-year milestone celebrations. The announcement of its first AI x Arts Fellowship coincided with the graduation of the sixth cohort of the MBZUAI Executive Programme (MEP).
The inaugural cohort of eight fellows includes a group of global visionaries, such as large-scale data pioneer Refik Anadol, filmmaker James Gerde, multidisciplinary artist Emi Kusano, water and light artist Lachlan Turczan, and the UAE's first NFT artist Amrita Sethi. They are joined by neural network landscape artist Daniel Ambrosi, Ahmad AlAttar, the first Emirati to combine AI with cultural heritage, and curator Giuseppe Moscatello. These fellows will participate in two residency programmes in 2026 in Abu Dhabi, aimed at connecting artists and AI scientists to co-create conceptual frameworks of the world significantly influenced by technology while connecting with major museums and cultural platforms across the emirate.
Spring Chunxiao Fu, Managing Director at the MBZUAI Academy, stated that the launch of The Academy reflects the university's mission to move AI beyond the laboratory and into the heart of society. By bringing together the world's greatest minds, from the artists in the new fellowship to the leaders in the executive programmes, the aim is to shape narratives and elevate the global conversation beyond technology to purpose and impact, while contributing to Abu Dhabi's role in the global AI landscape.
The launch event, held at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, previewed artworks from the university's special collections and art collection that document the historical development of scientific knowledge and its cultural interpretation through artistic practice.
The MEP, a cornerstone of The Academy, empowers UAE government and business leaders to leverage AI for national priorities. The 16-week programme brought together 43 senior leaders from critical sectors, including energy, healthcare, finance, and policy, with more than two-thirds of participants holding high-level executive roles such as undersecretaries, CEOs, and senior vice presidents. To date, the MEP has trained over 200 leaders, providing the technical foundation necessary to adopt AI solutions effectively across the emirates.
The launch event also highlighted the university's commitment to tangible impact through the presentation of its Leading Capstone Projects. Among the winning solutions was an AI-powered personalised longevity companion designed to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare spending in Abu Dhabi.