Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has formally introduced The Academy, a new strategic initiative aimed at expanding how artificial intelligence knowledge is shared and explored across disciplines. Positioned as a global forum, The Academy brings together expertise from science, technology, the arts and the humanities to examine AI’s growing influence on society.
The launch took place in the presence of His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Member of the MBZUAI Board of Trustees, alongside Professor Eric Xing, President and University Professor at MBZUAI. The announcement formed part of the university’s five-year milestone celebrations and coincided with the graduation of the sixth cohort of the MBZUAI Executive Program and the unveiling of the AI x Arts Fellowship.
The first fellowship cohort includes eight internationally recognised figures such as Refik Anadol, filmmaker James Gerde, multidisciplinary artist Emi Kusano and water and light artist Lachlan Turczan. They are joined by UAE NFT pioneer Amrita Sethi, neural network landscape artist Daniel Ambrosi, Emirati innovator Ahmad AlAttar and curator Giuseppe Moscatello. The fellows will take part in two Abu Dhabi-based residencies in 2026, collaborating with AI scientists and cultural institutions across the emirate.
Spring Chunxiao Fu, Managing Director at the MBZUAI Academy said: “The launch of The Academy reflects the mission of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to move AI beyond the laboratory and into the heart of society. By bringing together the world’s greatest minds – from the artists in our new fellowship to the leaders in our executive programmes – we hope to shape the narratives and elevate the global conversation beyond technology to purpose and impact, while contributing to Abu Dhabi’s ambitious role in the global AI landscape.”
Hosted at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, the event featured previews from the university’s art collections, highlighting the historical relationship between scientific discovery and artistic interpretation.
The Academy also incorporates the MBZUAI Executive Program, a 16-week initiative supporting senior leaders in applying AI to national priorities. The most recent cohort included 43 participants from sectors such as energy, healthcare, finance and policy, with more than two-thirds holding executive positions. Over 200 leaders have completed the programme to date.
The event concluded with presentations of Leading Capstone Projects, including an AI-powered personalised longevity companion designed to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs in Abu Dhabi. More regional news is available at https://abudhabi-news.com/.
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