Latest news with #MBZUAI
TECHx
10-07-2025
- Science
- TECHx
MBZUAI Announces Largest Undergraduate AI Internship Cohort
Home » Emerging technologies » Artificial Intelligence » MBZUAI Announces Largest Undergraduate AI Internship Cohort Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has announced the successful conclusion of its 2025 Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP). The program hosted its largest and most diverse cohort to date. This fully funded, four-week residency brought together 57 top undergraduate students from 24 countries. Participants came from leading institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, and Nazarbayev University. The program took place at MBZUAI's campus in Abu Dhabi. UGRIP offers students in their final or penultimate year an immersive opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned faculty on cutting-edge AI research. This year's projects covered machine learning, computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, and core computer science disciplines. The research aims for real-world impact. Professor Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI's Provost, revealed that the 2025 edition was record-breaking, with nearly 2,000 applications. The acceptance rate was just 4%, reflecting the program's growing competitiveness. According to Professor Baldwin, the program attracts the best undergraduate AI talent globally. MBZUAI and Abu Dhabi are increasingly recognized as leading destinations for AI research and innovation. The experience also allows students to engage with the UAE's unique culture and expanding AI ecosystem. Students were selected based on academic excellence, research potential, and passion for AI. They came from STEM fields including computer science, engineering, mathematics, data science, biotechnology, and software engineering. Egypt, the US, Russia, India, and Kazakhstan were among the most represented countries. Interns joined faculty-led teams working on impactful projects such as brain tumor detection, automated media bias detection, interactive music generation, dialectal Arabic machine translation, and brain-machine interface frameworks. These projects showcase MBZUAI's research breadth and provide hands-on collaborative experiences. Applications for UGRIP 2026 will open in January. MBZUAI invites undergraduate STEM students with a CGPA of 3.5 or higher in their final or second-last year to apply. Key points: MBZUAI concluded its largest UGRIP cohort with 57 students from 24 countries. The program offers fully funded AI research internships in Abu Dhabi. Applications for UGRIP 2026 open in January for STEM undergraduates.
Al Etihad
10-07-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Undergraduate Research Internship Program 2025 attracts global participation
10 July 2025 14:47 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has successfully concluded the 2025 edition of its flagship Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) - its largest and most diverse programme to fully funded, four-week residency brought together 57 top-performing undergraduate students from 24 countries and leading global institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology; Georgia Institute of Technology; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Campinas; Monterrey Institute of Technology; and Nazarbayev annually at MBZUAI's campus in Abu Dhabi, UGRIP offers students in their final or penultimate year of undergraduate study an immersive opportunity to work alongside world-renowned faculty on cutting-edge AI research projects. This year's projects spanned machine learning, computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, and core computer science disciplines for real-world impact.'UGRIP is a cornerstone of our mission to open up AI education and research to the brightest talent globally, regardless of background or geography,' said Professor Timothy Baldwin, Provost and Professor of Natural Language Processing, MBZUAI.'This edition was a record-breaking year for applications and selectivity, and the programme has clearly emerged as one of the most competitive and sought-after undergraduate AI research experiences globally.'With an acceptance rate of 4%, the 2025 edition attracted nearly 2,000 applications from outstanding students around the world, a year-on-year increase of 91%.Professor Baldwin said, 'As these numbers show, the very best undergraduate students from around the world are looking to engage in AI research and innovation and increasingly look to MBZUAI and Abu Dhabi as the destination of choice to achieve that ambition. While deep immersion into research is at the heart of the experience, we also provide opportunities for students to engage with the unique culture of the UAE and its rapidly growing AI ecosystem.'Participants in this year's programme were selected based on academic excellence, research potential, and a demonstrated passion for AI and came from STEM disciplines such as computer science, computer engineering, mathematics, data science, biotechnology, and software engineering. The most represented countries among participants were Egypt, the United States, Russia, India, and were embedded in faculty-led research teams working on a range of high-impact projects. These included developing models for brain tumour detection; creating an automated system for media bias detection; designing interactive music generation systems; machine translation for dialectal Arabic; and building early-stage frameworks for brain-machine interface projects reflect the breadth and depth of MBZUAI's research and give students the opportunity to contribute to original work in a hands-on and collaborative for UGRIP 2026 will open in January of next year. MBZUAI invites undergraduate students in STEM-related fields, with a CGPA of 3.5 or above (or equivalent), who are in their final or second-last year of study, to apply. For more information and to apply for UGRIP 2026, visit
Zawya
10-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
MBZUAI's Undergraduate Research Internship Program draws record global interest with projects for real-world impact
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has successfully concluded the 2025 edition of its flagship Undergraduate Research Internship Program (UGRIP) - its largest and most diverse cohort to date. The fully funded, four-week residency brought together 57 top-performing undergraduate students from 24 countries and leading global institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology; Georgia Institute of Technology; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Campinas; Monterrey Institute of Technology; and Nazarbayev University. Hosted annually at MBZUAI's campus in Abu Dhabi, UGRIP offers students in their final or penultimate year of undergraduate study an immersive opportunity to work alongside world-renowned faculty on cutting-edge AI research projects. This year's projects spanned machine learning, computer vision, robotics, natural language processing, and core computer science disciplines for real-world impact. 'UGRIP is a cornerstone of our mission to open up AI education and research to the brightest talent globally, regardless of background or geography,' said Professor Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI's Provost and Professor of Natural Language Processing. 'This edition was a record-breaking year for applications and selectivity, and the program has clearly emerged as one of the most competitive and sought-after undergraduate AI research experiences globally.' With an acceptance rate of 4%, the 2025 edition attracted nearly 2,000 applications from outstanding students around the world, an incredible year-on-year increase of 91%. 'As these numbers evidence, the very best undergraduate students from around the world are looking to engage in AI research and innovation and increasingly look to MBZUAI and Abu Dhabi as the destination of choice to achieve that ambition. While deep immersion into research is at the heart of the experience, we also provide opportunities for students to engage with the unique culture of the UAE and its rapidly growing AI ecosystem,' Professor Baldwin said. Participants in this year's cohort were selected based on academic excellence, research potential, and a demonstrated passion for AI, and came from STEM disciplines such as computer science, computer engineering, mathematics, data science, biotechnology, and software engineering. The most represented countries among participants were Egypt, the United States, Russia, India, and Kazakhstan. Interns were embedded in faculty-led research teams working on a range of high-impact projects. These included developing models for brain tumor detection; creating an automated system for media bias detection; designing interactive music generation systems; machine translation for dialectal Arabic; and building early-stage frameworks for brain-machine interface systems. These projects reflect the breadth and depth of MBZUAI's research and give students the opportunity to contribute to original work in a hands-on and collaborative environment. Applications for UGRIP 2026 will open in January of next year. MBZUAI invites undergraduate students in STEM-related fields, with a CGPA of 3.5 or above (or equivalent), who are in their final or second-last year of study to apply. About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) MBZUAI is a research-focused university in Abu Dhabi, and the first university dedicated entirely to the advancement of science through AI. The university empowers the next generation of AI leaders, driving innovation and impactful applications of AI through world-class education and interdisciplinary research. In 2025, MBZUAI launched its first ever undergraduate program, a Bachelor of Science in AI, with two distinct streams: Business and Engineering.
Tahawul Tech
03-07-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
MBZUAI's MAILIS, AD Gaming to spotlight AI's role in future of game development
Abu Dhabi — Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) hosted the second session of its flagship community engagement platform, MAILIS, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Gaming. The session entitled 'AI Joins the Game' explored the growing impact of artificial intelligence across the gaming industry, from gameplay and innovation to storytelling and career pathways. As part of MBZUAI's Year of Community outreach initiative, MAILIS brings together students, researchers, and industry leaders to exchange ideas and inspire the UAE's future AI leaders. This latest session featured: Rawdha Almeraikhi, Director of Outreach, MBZUAI; Hamdan Al Ali, Ph.D. Candidate in Natural Language Processing, MBZUAI; Boris Kalmykov, Co-founder and CEO of Hypemasters and former executive at Meta and Unity; Marcos Muller-Habig, Abu Dhabi Gaming Sector Enablement Director; and Ariana Bermudez, Project Manager, MBZUAI. Participants shared their observations and experiences on how AI is transforming creativity in the rapidly evolving games industry, and highlighted opportunities for local talent to contribute to global innovation and creation. The session was hosted in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Gaming, the government-led initiative driving the emirate's transformation into a global gaming hub. Rawdha Almeraikhi, Director of Outreach at MBZUAI, opened the session with a keynote focused on the University's commitment to creating platforms that empower young people and stimulate innovation. In her remarks, she said: 'Our MAILIS initiative offers an inclusive space where meaningful conversations begin with young minds, seasoned experts, and aspiring creators, who are excited and passionate about how AI can transform industries such as health, energy, creative arts, transport, and education. In this session, we explored the gaming universe through an AI lens, bridging imagination and innovation.' The program featured remarks from Marcos Muller-Habig, Abu Dhabi Gaming Sector Enablement Director, who discussed the growing impact of AI on the gaming industry, from unlocking new careers to driving business ambition. 'Artificial intelligence is not here to replace creativity or human ingenuity – it's here to amplify it,' said Marcos Muller-Habig. 'In gaming, AI is unlocking new possibilities that were once unimaginable, from personalising player experiences to more immersive storytelling. At Abu Dhabi Gaming, we are fostering local talent in this evolving space, supporting individuals and companies that are exploring new ways to move the industry forward. Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming a global hub for innovation in gaming, with AI serving as a powerful tool to create new roles and business opportunities – and we're excited to be a part of this movement.' Boris Kalmykov, Co-founder and CEO of Hypemasters and former executive at Meta and Unity, delivered a session on how AI is revolutionizing gameplay and player experiences. Drawing on his global experience in gaming and technology, Kalmykov shared perspectives on the power of AI to reshape the business and storytelling dimensions of modern games. The session also spotlighted original projects from MBZUAI Ph.D. students. Ariana Bermudez Venegas, whose research focuses on computer vision and human avatars, presented work on AI simulation and real-time interaction in virtual environments. Hamdan Hamid Al-Ali, a system developer at Dubai Police and NLP Ph.D. candidate, shared his AI-powered games rooted in Emirati heritage, including Al Sharah and Emirati Tales, which combine cultural storytelling with educational game mechanics. The program concluded with an open Q&A session, inviting dialogue between audience members and speakers on how AI can shape the future of the creative economy. MBZUAI's MAILIS continues to grow as a platform designed to connect academia, industry, and community around AI's most exciting opportunities. By focusing on gaming and creative industries, this session affirmed MBZUAI's vision to nurture young talent, inspire innovation, and contribute to the UAE's global leadership in responsible and inclusive AI.
Mid East Info
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
MBZUAI's MAILIS teams up with Abu Dhabi Gaming to spotlight AI's role in the future of game development - Middle East Business News and Information
Abu Dhabi, UAE, July 2025: Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) hosted the second session of its flagship community engagement platform, MAILIS, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Gaming. The session entitled 'AI Joins the Game' explored the growing impact of artificial intelligence across the gaming industry, from gameplay and innovation to storytelling and career pathways. As part of MBZUAI's Year of Community outreach initiative, MAILIS brings together students, researchers, and industry leaders to exchange ideas and inspire the UAE's future AI leaders. This latest session featured: Rawdha Almeraikhi, Director of Outreach, MBZUAI Hamdan Al Ali, Ph.D. Candidate in Natural Language Processing, MBZUAI Boris Kalmykov, Co-founder and CEO of Hypemasters and former executive at Meta and Unity Marcos Muller-Habig, Abu Dhabi Gaming Sector Enablement Director Ariana Bermudez, Project Manager, MBZUAI Participants shared their observations and experience on how AI is transforming creativity in the rapidly evolving games industry, and highlighted opportunities for local talent to contribute to global innovation and creation. The session was hosted in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Gaming, the government-led initiative driving the emirate's transformation into a global gaming hub. Rawdha Almeraikhi, Director of Outreach at MBZUAI, opened the session with a keynote emphasizing the University's commitment to creating platforms that empower young people and stimulate innovation. In her remarks, she said: 'Our MAILIS initiative offers an inclusive space where meaningful conversations begin with young minds, seasoned experts, and aspiring creators, who are excited and passionate about how AI can transform industries such as health, energy, creative arts, transport, and education. In this session, we explored the gaming universe through an AI lens, bridging imagination and innovation.' The program featured remarks from Marcos Muller-Habig, Abu Dhabi Gaming Sector Enablement Director, who discussed the growing impact of AI on the gaming industry, from unlocking new careers to driving business ambition. 'Artificial intelligence is not here to replace creativity or human ingenuity – it's here to amplify it,' said Marcos Muller-Habig. 'In gaming, AI is unlocking new possibilities that were once unimaginable, from personalizing player experiences to more immersive storytelling. At Abu Dhabi Gaming we are fostering local talent in this evolving space, supporting individuals and companies that are exploring new ways to move the industry forward. Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming a global hub for innovation in gaming, with AI serving as a powerful tool to create new roles and business opportunities – and we're excited to be a part of this movement.' Boris Kalmykov, Co-founder and CEO of Hypemasters and former executive at Meta and Unity, delivered a session on how AI is revolutionizing gameplay and player experiences. Drawing on his global experience in gaming and technology, Kalmykov shared perspectives on the power of AI to reshape the business and storytelling dimensions of modern games. The session also spotlighted original projects from MBZUAI Ph.D. students. Ariana Bermudez Venegas, whose research focuses on computer vision and human avatars, presented work on AI simulation and real-time interaction in virtual environments. Hamdan Hamid Al-Ali, a system developer at Dubai Police and NLP Ph.D. candidate, shared his AI-powered games rooted in Emirati heritage, including Al Sharah and Emirati Tales, which combine cultural storytelling with educational game mechanics. The program concluded with an open Q&A session, inviting dialogue between audience members and speakers on how AI can shape the future of the creative economy. MBZUAI's MAILIS continues to grow as a platform designed to connect academia, industry, and community around AI's most exciting opportunities. By focusing on gaming and creative industries, this session affirmed MBZUAI's vision to nurture young talent, inspire innovation, and contribute to the UAE's global leadership in responsible and inclusive AI. About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence MBZUAI: MBZUAI is a research-focused university in Abu Dhabi, and the first university dedicated entirely to the advancement of science through AI. The university empowers the next generation of AI leaders, driving innovation and impactful applications of AI through world-class education and interdisciplinary research. In 2025, MBZUAI launched its first ever undergraduate program, a Bachelor of Science in AI, with two distinct streams: Business and Engineering. About Abu Dhabi Gaming: Abu Dhabi Gaming is a government-led initiative that coordinates the broad efforts throughout Abu Dhabi to transform the emirate into a global gaming hub. With a focus on talent development, business attraction and community & esports, Abu Dhabi Gaming is accelerating the growth of the region's gaming industry. Since its foundation, Abu Dhabi Gaming has been driving the ecosystem's expansion by providing opportunities for aspiring talent, while working collaboratively with strategic global and local partners across the games industry spectrum. This initiative is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East, with a network of over 100 partners specializing in games development, publishing, esports and more.
