The Augmented Humans International Conference 2025 (AHs) was held at MBZUAI in Abu Dhabi, focusing on technology's role in advancing human capabilities. The conference, in cooperation with ACM, attracted over 180 researchers to discuss innovations from AI-enhanced storytelling to AI-enhanced prosthetics. The program included talks, papers, posters, demonstrations, and workshops on topics like AR/VR interaction, bionic systems, and cognitive augmentation with AI. Why it matters: Hosting AHs at MBZUAI highlights the UAE's growing role as a hub for AI research and its applications in enhancing human potential.
MBZUAI is hosting the Augmented Humans International Conference 2025 in the Middle East for the first time, in cooperation with the ACM. The conference focuses on physical, cognitive, and perceptual augmentations of humans through digital technologies. 30 papers were selected from 77 submissions, with participation from researchers from institutions like MIT Media Lab and the University of Tokyo. Why it matters: This event underscores the UAE's commitment to AI research and human-computer interaction, fostering collaboration and driving progress in augmentation technologies for societal benefit.
MBZUAI will present two assistive AI prototypes at GITEX 2025: smart glasses with a camera and eye tracker that identify objects and medication, and a brain-computer interface (BCI) device integrated with robotics to control a robotic dog's movements. The smart glasses use a multimodal large language model (LLM) to help visually impaired individuals, while the BCI aims to restore hands-free communication for people with mobility limitations. Hisham Cholakkal leads the research team, which received a Meta Regional Research Grant 2025 for its work on multimodal LLM for smart wearables. Why it matters: The research demonstrates the potential of AI to improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations and addresses the challenge of providing cost-effective care for aging societies.
MBZUAI will showcase AI applications for energy transformation at ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting technologies for safety, efficiency, and competitiveness. Demonstrations will include intelligent cooling, autonomous inspection robotics, and AI-powered decision support. Sami Haddadin emphasizes AI's role as critical infrastructure, while Ramzi Ben Ouaghren notes its role in enabling a sustainable energy future. Why it matters: This participation underscores the UAE's commitment to leveraging AI for global impact in the energy sector, promoting innovation and technology transfer.
MBZUAI will participate as an official partner at Machines Can See 2025 (MCS 2025) during Dubai AI Week, showcasing AI innovation with expert speakers and live demos. MBZUAI will present BiMediX2, a multimodal virtual assistant that answers medical questions in Arabic and English and won Meta’s Llama Impact Innovation Award. They will also demonstrate Voodoo XP, a one-shot face re-enactment tool, and LAIKA, an AI-powered robot dog. Why it matters: This event highlights MBZUAI's contributions to AI and robotics, strengthening the UAE's position as a leader in science and technology, especially in healthcare and advanced robotics.