WAM and MBZUAI sign strategic cooperation agreement

Originally published by WAM on July 21, 2022

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to promote cooperation in the fields of media and artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge sharing, and training and development.

The agreement was signed by Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of WAM, and Sultan Al Hajji, Vice President of Public Affairs and Alumni Relations at MBZUAI, at WAM’s HQ in Abu Dhabi.

As part of the partnership, MBZUAI will be the Strategic Academic Sponsor of the upcoming Global Media Congress, which is being organized by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) in partnership with the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and taking place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center from 15th to 17th November 2022. MBZUAI will also allocate a number of its Executive Program seats to WAM employees in order to support the news agency’s efforts to leverage the power of AI and enhance efficiency and productivity.

Moreover, MBZUAI will offer consultancy services to WAM for the establishment of an AI lab. WAM’s aim in creating the lab will be to develop and implement the best innovative applications of artificial intelligence within the media industry.

On the occasion, Al Rayssi highlighted the importance of the partnership with MBZUAI, a leading university in AI research, noting that AI has become the cornerstone of sustainable growth across all sectors. He also expressed his hope that cooperation would help launch promising joint AI-driven programmes.

Mohammad Al Rayssi said: “Today’s agreement will greatly contribute to the development and continuing modernization of the UAE’s media sector. MBZUAI’s academic sponsorship of the Global Media Congress underscores the University’s key role in providing a forward-looking vision for shaping the future of the media industry, building knowledge and providing promising opportunities for youth.”

“AI promises to revolutionize global industry, including the media industry, with computer vision and natural language processing, two main areas of the university’s research, serving as the key driver of this development,” Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI said. “We are proud of our partnership with WAM, a leading institution that constantly aims to raise the bar of media standards in the UAE. Through this partnership, we will provide our scientific expertise, and we look forward to supporting the agency’s efforts during the Global Media Congress.”

The Congress, whose first edition will focus on digital communication, aims to reinforce the collaboration between media outlets from around the world, providing a qualitative platform that brings together industry leaders from different countries.

The global event comprises an exhibition and conference, held at the Abu Dhabi national Exhibition Center, underpinned by an ambitious program that will enable various media entities to seek potential partnerships and cooperation opportunities. It will also discuss several key topics, most notably digital communications, the impact of AI on contemporary media, and the integration of advanced technology and innovation in the media sector.