MBZUAI has launched "WAI", a community initiative to provide youth and senior citizens with a foundational understanding of AI and its applications. The inaugural event hosted over 30 youth and 15 senior citizens at MBZUAI’s campus for a day of learning and discussion. The program includes interactive sessions and hands-on activities in prompt engineering, with all participants receiving certificates of completion. Why it matters: This initiative promotes AI awareness across generations and aligns with the UAE’s Year of Community 2025, fostering inclusivity and shared learning in the digital age.
MBZUAI has launched a series of monthly educational webinars called "MBZUAI AI Talks" starting July 7. These webinars will be led by MBZUAI faculty and leadership, and are open to the public via video conferencing. The talks will cover AI applications across healthcare, transportation, education, energy, and other sectors. Why it matters: This initiative helps to increase public knowledge and understanding of AI and its potential impact on various industries in the region.
MBZUAI hosted an event for UAE students to demonstrate generative AI and its potential, featuring an interactive storytelling demonstration on Jais, the Arabic LLM. A survey at the event showed that 77% of students aged 12-15 believe AI skills will be required for future employment. The event included speakers from MBZUAI and NASA, showcasing AI applications in education and creative fields. Why it matters: This event highlights the UAE's focus on AI literacy among youth and MBZUAI's role in promoting AI education and awareness, aligning with the country's national AI strategy.
MBZUAI launched its Executive Program, a hybrid course for government and industry leaders to promote greater engagement with AI. The program's first session, led by MBZUAI President Eric Xing, covered the history and future of AI and machine learning. It aims to accelerate AI development across various sectors in the UAE, focusing on efficiency, cost savings, and environmental impact reduction. Why it matters: This initiative signals the UAE's commitment to fostering AI literacy and driving AI adoption across key sectors, aligning with national economic development plans.
MBZUAI is hosting a public webinar on October 6 titled ‘Evolution of Artificial Intelligence: Past, Current and Future’. Dr. Munawar Hayat will discuss AI developments, breakthroughs, and future impact, highlighting deep learning, computer vision, NLP, autonomous driving, and reinforcement learning. The session will also cover AI limitations and future research directions. Why it matters: Public engagement initiatives like this webinar are crucial for fostering broader understanding and trust in AI technologies within the UAE community.