MBZUAI showcased its AI research and innovation at GITEX Global 2022 in Dubai, featuring an interactive exhibit. The university highlighted faculty research, student innovations, and presentations, including a keynote by President Eric Xing. A key focus was on AI technologies for the metaverse, led by Hao Li, and innovations like a communication aid for speech-impaired individuals. Why it matters: MBZUAI's presence at GITEX underscores its commitment to advancing AI literacy and demonstrating practical AI applications across diverse sectors in the UAE.
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.
MBZUAI showcased AI applications for health, education, and climate at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023. Talks highlighted AI's capacity to address challenges in climate change and other sectors, aligning with the UAE’s vision for technology-enabled solutions. MBZUAI researchers will demonstrate real-world AI applications and discuss research related to climate, health, and education. Why it matters: MBZUAI's focus on AI for sustainability demonstrates the UAE's commitment to leveraging advanced technology for addressing global challenges and advancing its leadership in clean energy and emissions reduction.
MBZUAI will showcase AI research for sustainability at COP28 in Dubai, highlighting AI's role in addressing climate change. The university will present research projects including generative AI, efficient AI operating systems, remote patient monitoring, and AI solutions for urban heat islands. MBZUAI will also emphasize its role in developing the UAE’s AI ecosystem. Why it matters: This underscores the increasing recognition of AI as a crucial tool for achieving sustainability goals in the Middle East and globally.
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 and Quris-AI have partnered to launch a Bio-AI center in Abu Dhabi during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The center will focus on developing personalized medications tailored to the MENA region's diverse populations, leveraging Quris-AI's 'patient-on-a-chip' technology and MBZUAI's AI expertise. Quris-AI is establishing a UAE subsidiary, Quris-UAE, in Abu Dhabi as part of this collaboration. Why it matters: This initiative positions Abu Dhabi as a hub for Bio-AI research and personalized medicine, potentially accelerating drug development and reducing clinical trial failures in the region.
The IEEE International Conference on Data Mining (ICDM) opened in Abu Dhabi, marking the emirate as a growing hub for global AI conferences. Three faculty members from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) hold key positions in the ICDM organizing committee. Abu Dhabi has recently hosted IROS in October and will host COLING in January 2025, with MBZUAI faculty heavily involved in these events. Why it matters: Hosting top-tier AI conferences in Abu Dhabi, with strong MBZUAI participation, enhances the region's reputation and visibility in the global AI community.