Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), has hosted the fourth edition of its Mailis community dialogue series under the theme The Art of Intelligence and Human Creativity. The session, held at the university’s Masdar City campus, formed part of ADMAF’s Riwaq Al Fikr initiative, a platform dedicated to talks that explore evolving ideas in arts and culture.
AI’s Influence on Cultural Preservation and Creative Innovation
Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and the Abu Dhabi Festival, underscored the strategic partnership’s focus on integrating AI into cultural preservation, digital archiving and knowledge-sharing. She noted that AI’s communication capabilities can create interactive, multilingual experiences while supporting efforts to safeguard heritage for future generations.
She added that through Riwaq Al Fikr, ADMAF and MBZUAI aim to empower Emirati youth with future-ready skills, drawing on the expertise of international artists, scientists and cultural leaders working at the intersection of technology and the creative industries.
Rawdha Almeraikhi, Director of Outreach at MBZUAI, highlighted the programme’s role within the university’s Year of Community initiative, saying the intersection of AI and art represents “a powerful space where new forms of expression are born.” She emphasised the importance of ensuring AI enhances human creativity rather than constraining it.
Panel Discussions, Live Demonstrations and Emirati Creative Talent
The event featured a dynamic panel discussion titled AI and Human Creativity, moderated by Dr Gus Xia, MBZUAI faculty member and Founder of Music X Lab. He was joined by Fatima Al Dhaheri, Development Executive at Image Nation Abu Dhabi, and Emirati filmmaker and conceptual artist Mansour Al Heera. The conversation explored how AI is reshaping filmmaking, music composition and design, and how technology is broadening artistic imagination.
Dr Xia also led an AI and Piano GPT showcase, demonstrating how live human performance can interact in real time with AI-generated musical accompaniment. The performance was followed by an Emirati creative showcase highlighting emerging local talent and storytelling rooted in the UAE’s cultural identity.
An interactive Q&A session concluded the programme, encouraging participants to reflect on how AI can enhance artistic expression and support the UAE’s growing creative economy.