Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has entered a new phase of its development with the official launch of The Academy, a platform designed to encourage global dialogue at the intersection of artificial intelligence, culture and leadership.
The announcement was made 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 launch coincided with the university’s five-year anniversary, the graduation of the sixth MBZUAI Executive Program cohort and the introduction of its first AI x Arts Fellowship.
The fellowship’s inaugural cohort includes eight internationally recognised creatives and innovators. Among them are Refik Anadol, James Gerde, Emi Kusano and Lachlan Turczan, joined by Amrita Sethi, Daniel Ambrosi, Ahmad AlAttar and curator Giuseppe Moscatello. Two residencies planned for 2026 will bring the fellows together with AI researchers and cultural organisations across Abu Dhabi.
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 showcased artworks from the university’s collections that document how scientific knowledge has been interpreted through culture.
A central element of The Academy is the MBZUAI Executive Program, which supports senior leaders in leveraging AI for national and organisational priorities.
The event also highlighted applied innovation through Leading Capstone Projects, including an AI-powered longevity companion aimed at improving public health outcomes. More regional news is available at https://abudhabi-news.com/.
