MBZUAI has launched the MBZUAI Metaverse Center (MMC) and the MBZUAI Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC). The Metaverse Center focuses on AI-driven immersive technologies for communication, healthcare, entertainment, and education. The Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center will focus on catalyzing AI innovation and adoption in industry. Why it matters: These centers signal MBZUAI's commitment to expanding AI research and fostering a startup ecosystem in the UAE.
MBZUAI's Dr. Hao Li is working on using AI and 3D telepresence to transform communication, work, and education by replacing physical transportation with virtual teleportation. His research focuses on the intersection of computer graphics, computer vision, and AI, specifically virtual avatar creation and facial performance capture. Li aims to improve communication using AI to achieve what cannot be done in real life. Why it matters: This research has the potential to reduce carbon footprints by enabling remote work and virtual collaboration, while also positioning MBZUAI and the UAE as leaders in AI-driven metaverse technologies.
Hao Li, CEO of Pinscreen and associate professor at MBZUAI, discussed the Metaverse at GITEX 2022. Li's work focuses on virtual humans, reality capture, and AI synthesis to enable AI and immersive technologies. He aims to develop tools that prevent cyberthreats like deepfakes. Why it matters: This highlights the GCC's growing role in shaping the development and ethical considerations of metaverse technologies.
MBZUAI welcomes Hao Li, CEO of Pinscreen, as a new faculty member specializing in virtual humans. Li envisions a future where virtual humans facilitate interactions and overcome limitations of physical presence, citing benefits like improved education and remote collaboration. His work focuses on the intersection of computer vision, computer graphics, and machine learning to enable immersive digital experiences. Why it matters: This signals MBZUAI's commitment to advancing research in virtual reality and the metaverse, potentially positioning the UAE as a leader in this emerging field.
This article previews a talk by Dr. Wei Cai of CUHK-Shenzhen on the history, development, and future trends of the Web3 metaverse. The talk will cover industrial Web3 metaverse cases, recent research outcomes, and the metaverse research spectrum. Dr. Cai's research interests include blockchain, Web 3.0, digital games, and computational art. Why it matters: As metaverse technologies continue to evolve, understanding the Web3 perspective and research directions is important for regional AI and technology development.