Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation hosted the latest Mairis event at the MBZUAI campus in Masdar City.
MBZUAI uses Mailis sessions to expose academic and technical conversations to a wide audience, with each edition exploring a different theme related to AI. In this article, we focused on the art of intelligence and human creativity, exploring how AI is impacting art production, cultural preservation, and creative decision-making.
MBZUAI focuses on graduate-level AI research and education, while ADMAF runs cultural programs and initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Festival. This session was part of ADMAF’s Riwaq Al-Fikr series, which brings together artists, researchers, and cultural leaders for public discussions.
Held under the theme “The Art of Intellect and Human Creativity,” Maylis’ session examined how AI is impacting music, film, visual arts, and other creative fields. The organizations said the event aimed to highlight the growing crossover between AI capabilities and artistic practice, as well as questions around preservation, access, and cultural identity.
Huda Alkamis Kanu, founder of ADMAF, said: “For the third year in a row, within the framework of our strategic partnership with Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, we are committed to strengthening the role of artificial intelligence in preserving cultural heritage and enhancing its value through digitization, archiving and big data.”
Discussion focused on collaboration between AI and human creativity
The program included a panel discussion entitled “AI and Human Creativity” moderated by Gus Xia, Associate Professor of Machine Learning at MBZUAI. Panelists included Fatima Al Dhaheri of Image Nation Abu Dhabi and conceptual artist Mansour Al Heera. Discussions focused on AI’s ability to support tasks such as film development, generative music, and design, and panelists outlined examples where the technology is already in use.
MBZUAI said the session is part of its broader Year of the Community initiative, which aims to support dialogue about the social and cultural impact of AI. “The nexus of art and AI is a powerful space for new forms of expression to emerge,” said Lauda Almeraiki, Director of Outreach at MBZUAI. “As part of our Year of Community initiative, we are fostering the critical conversations necessary for AI to act as a partner to enhance, rather than limit, human creativity across music and the visual arts.”
The event featured a demonstration by Xia of how AI-generated accompaniment interacts with live piano performance. This was followed by the UAE Creative Showcase, highlighting local artists and projects centered around culture, storytelling and innovation. The program concluded with open questions from participants, and the discussion focused on the potential of AI to contribute to the UAE’s creative economy and support emerging talent.
Alkhamis-Kanoo concludes: “AI is a tool and a roadmap, but the land is ours and our culture is our story, and we will tell it and preserve it for future generations.”
