MBZUAI's MAILIS Programme Explores AI's Transformative Role In Creative Industries

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) recently held the second session of its community engagement platform, MAILIS. This event, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Gaming, focused on the influence of artificial intelligence in the gaming sector. The session titled "AI Joins the Game" examined AI's role in gameplay, innovation, storytelling, and career development within the industry.

The MAILIS initiative is part of MBZUAI’s Year of Community outreach programme. It aims to unite students, researchers, and industry leaders to share insights and inspire future AI leaders in the UAE. The latest session featured speakers like Rawdha Almeraikhi from MBZUAI and Boris Kalmykov from Hypemasters. They discussed how AI is reshaping creativity in gaming and highlighted opportunities for local talent to contribute globally.

Rawdha Almeraikhi opened the session with a keynote speech highlighting MBZUAI’s dedication to empowering youth and fostering innovation. She stated that MAILIS provides an inclusive environment for meaningful discussions among young minds and experts about AI's transformative potential across various industries like health, energy, arts, transport, and education.

Marcos Muller-Habig from Abu Dhabi Gaming spoke about AI's impact on the gaming industry. He noted that AI enhances creativity rather than replacing it. According to him, AI personalises player experiences and enriches storytelling. He emphasised Abu Dhabi's emergence as a global hub for gaming innovation with AI creating new roles and business opportunities.

Boris Kalmykov shared his insights on how AI is revolutionising gameplay and player experiences. Drawing from his experience at Meta and Unity, he discussed AI's ability to transform business models and storytelling in modern games. His session provided valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of gaming technology.

Showcasing Student Projects

The event also showcased original projects by MBZUAI Ph.D. students. Ariana Bermudez Venegas presented her research on computer vision and human avatars focusing on AI simulation in virtual environments. Hamdan Hamid Al-Ali shared his work on AI-powered games rooted in Emirati heritage like Al Sharah and Emirati Tales which blend cultural storytelling with educational elements.

The programme concluded with an open Q&A session allowing audience members to engage with speakers about AI's potential to shape the creative economy's future. This interactive segment encouraged dialogue between participants and experts on various aspects of AI integration into creative industries.

MBZUAI’s MAILIS continues to serve as a vital platform connecting academia, industry, and community around exciting opportunities in AI. By focusing on gaming and creative sectors this session reinforced MBZUAI’s commitment to nurturing young talent inspiring innovation while contributing to UAE’s leadership in responsible inclusive AI development.

With inputs from WAM