AI and the Arts: MBZUAI and ADMAF Mailis Puts Creativity First
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation hosted the fourth Mailis session at MBZUAI's Masdar City campus, with a clear brief: explore how AI works with human creativity across music, film, and visual art.
Under the theme The Art of Intelligence and Human Creativity, the event looked at artistic production, cultural preservation, and creative decision-making-what's useful now, what needs care, and where artists can lead.
Who was in the room
MBZUAI, focused on graduate-level AI research and education, partnered with ADMAF, the organization behind cultural programs like the Abu Dhabi Festival. The session was also part of ADMAF's Riwaq Al Fikr series, which connects artists, researchers, and cultural leaders for public dialogue.
Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF, underscored the priority: "For the third consecutive year, within the framework of our strategic partnership with Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, we are working to strengthen the role of artificial intelligence in preserving our cultural heritage and enhancing its value through digitization, archiving and big data."
Panel: AI and Human Creativity
Moderated by Gus Xia, Associate Professor of Machine Learning at MBZUAI, the panel featured Fatima Al Dhaheri of Image Nation Abu Dhabi and conceptual artist Mansour Al Heera. The discussion was grounded and example-driven.
- Film: AI for story development, script analysis, shot planning, and post-production assists.
- Music: generative systems for melody sketches, harmony ideas, and accompaniment trials.
- Design and visual art: concept iterations, reference generation, style studies, and asset prep.
- Cultural work: digitization, archiving, and structured datasets to protect and share heritage.
According to MBZUAI, the session supports its Year of Community initiative-prompting open conversations on AI's social and cultural impact. As part of that effort, Rawdha Almeraikhi, Director of Outreach at MBZUAI, emphasized using AI as a creative partner that supports human originality across music and visual art, not a replacement for it.
Live demo and local voices
Xia presented a live demonstration of AI-generated accompaniment interacting with a piano performance-useful for composers and performers who want quick iterations without losing feel. An Emirati creative showcase followed, highlighting artists and projects rooted in culture, narrative, and innovation.
Audience questions focused on practical outcomes: how AI can contribute to the UAE's creative economy, improve access for emerging talent, and keep cultural identity intact as tools evolve.
Alkhamis-Kanoo closed with a clear stance: "AI is the means and the roadmap, but the land is ours, and the culture is our story, which we narrate and preserve for future generations."
Takeaways for creatives
- Use AI for idea sprints: draft mood boards, rough cuts, or melody lines-then refine by hand.
- Treat datasets like materials: know the sources, respect rights, and document your process.
- Define boundaries: what AI can propose, what only you decide, and where credit is due.
- Prototype live: test AI tools in rehearsal or pre-production to see what actually helps.
- Think preservation: archive versions, metadata, and context to future-proof your work.
Explore more
- MBZUAI
- Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF)
- AI tools for generative art (curated list)
- AI courses by job: options for creatives
Your membership also unlocks:
