Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has announced the launch of The Academy, a new strategic pillar designed to extend the university’s influence beyond research and into global cultural and societal conversations around AI.
The launch was held 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 celebrations and coincided with the graduation of the sixth MBZUAI Executive Program cohort.
The launch also introduced MBZUAI’s first AI x Arts Fellowship. The inaugural group of eight fellows includes Refik Anadol, James Gerde, Emi Kusano, Lachlan Turczan, Amrita Sethi, Daniel Ambrosi, Ahmad AlAttar and curator Giuseppe Moscatello. Two residencies in 2026 will allow fellows to collaborate with AI scientists and engage with Abu Dhabi’s cultural institutions.
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 launch event featured selected works from MBZUAI’s art collections exploring scientific knowledge through artistic expression.
The Academy also builds on the MBZUAI Executive Program, which empowers senior leaders to deploy AI across national priority sectors.
The event concluded with the presentation of Leading Capstone Projects, including an AI-powered personalised longevity companion designed to support better healthcare outcomes. More regional news is available at https://abudhabi-news.com/.
