Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has announced the creation of The Academy, a new global initiative designed to bring artificial intelligence into closer dialogue with the arts, leadership and society at large.
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 formed part of the university’s five-year milestone celebrations and coincided with the graduation of the sixth MBZUAI Executive Program cohort and the unveiling of the AI x Arts Fellowship.
The first fellowship cohort comprises eight internationally recognised figures, including Refik Anadol, James Gerde, Emi Kusano and Lachlan Turczan. They are joined by Amrita Sethi, Daniel Ambrosi, Ahmad AlAttar and curator Giuseppe Moscatello. In 2026, the fellows will participate in two Abu Dhabi-based residencies focused on collaboration with AI scientists and engagement with major 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 was held at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, where attendees were given a preview of works from MBZUAI’s collections highlighting the intersection of science and creativity.
The Academy also builds on the MBZUAI Executive Program, which has trained more than 200 senior leaders to apply AI across government and industry.
The event concluded with presentations of Leading Capstone Projects, including an AI-powered personalised longevity companion designed to reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes. More regional news is available at https://abudhabi-news.com/.
