MBZUAI is previewing PAN, a next-generation world model designed to simulate diverse realities and advance machine reasoning. PAN allows researchers to test AI agents in simulated environments before real-world deployment, enabling them to learn from mistakes without real-world consequences. It facilitates complex reasoning about actions, outcomes, and interactions, crucial for reliable AI performance in dynamic environments. Why it matters: PAN represents a significant advancement in AI by enabling comprehensive simulation and testing of AI agents, which can revolutionize fields like disaster management and healthcare where real-world experimentation is risky.
MBZUAI's Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) has developed PAN, a novel interactive world model capable of long-horizon simulation. PAN uses a Generative Latent Prediction (GLP) architecture, coupling internal latent reasoning with generative supervision in the visual domain. The model evolves an internal latent state conditioned on history and natural language actions, then decodes that state into a video segment using a Causal Swin-DPM mechanism for smooth transitions. Why it matters: PAN represents a significant advancement in AI's ability to simulate and predict evolving environments, enabling more steerable and coherent long-term video generation and opening new possibilities for interactive AI systems.
KAUST alumnus Jian Pan (M.S. '11) is working as general manager of Hangzhou Bertzer Catalyst, a water/wastewater treatment and pollution control technology company in China. Prior to this role, he worked at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center and the Environmental Technology Innovation Center of Jiande. He also developed 12 technologies/products, including catalysts for advanced wastewater treatment and a portable water guarantee system. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in nurturing talent that contributes to environmental solutions globally, specifically in water treatment and pollution control.
MBZUAI has launched the Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) with a new Silicon Valley Lab in Sunnyvale, CA, joining existing facilities in Paris and Abu Dhabi. The launch event showcased PAN, a world model for simulating diverse realities with multimodal inputs. The IFM lab is also advancing K2-65B and JAIS AI systems. Why it matters: This expansion enhances MBZUAI's global presence and connects it with a critical AI ecosystem, supporting the UAE's economic diversification through advanced AI technologies.
Liangming Pan from UCSB presented research on building reliable generative AI agents by integrating symbolic representations with LLMs. The neuro-symbolic strategy combines the flexibility of language models with precise knowledge representation and verifiable reasoning. The work covers Logic-LM, ProgramFC, and learning from automated feedback, aiming to address LLM limitations in complex reasoning tasks. Why it matters: Improving the reliability of LLMs is crucial for high-stakes applications in finance, medicine, and law within the region and globally.
Francisco Rodríguez-Henríquez, Technical Director at TII's Cryptography Research Center, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR). He is the first cryptographer from the Middle East to join the IACR board. His three-year tenure aims to foster cryptography development in the Middle East through conferences and seminars, and promote openly accessible cryptographic software and hardware. Why it matters: This appointment signals growing recognition of Middle Eastern expertise in cryptography and enhances the region's role in shaping global cryptographic research and development.