Listen to the article
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has launched The Academy, a new initiative created to foster international dialogue around artificial intelligence and its impact across science, culture and society.
The launch was attended by His Excellency 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 announcement aligned with the university’s five-year milestone celebrations, the graduation of the sixth MBZUAI Executive Program cohort and the unveiling of the AI x Arts Fellowship.
The fellowship’s inaugural cohort brings together eight globally recognised figures, including Refik Anadol, James Gerde, Emi Kusano and Lachlan Turczan, alongside Amrita Sethi, Daniel Ambrosi, Ahmad AlAttar and curator Giuseppe Moscatello. Two residencies in Abu Dhabi scheduled for 2026 will connect fellows with AI scientists and 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.”
The launch event took place at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, where guests explored artworks from MBZUAI’s collections documenting the cultural interpretation of scientific advancement.
The Academy also includes the MBZUAI Executive Program, which has trained more than 200 leaders to apply AI to real-world challenges.
The event concluded with Leading Capstone Projects, including an AI-powered personalised longevity companion aimed at improving health outcomes.
