Abu Dhabi: The official news agency of the UAE, Emirates News Agency (WAM) has partnered with region’s premier institution, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) to enhance cooperation between the two sides in the media and artificial intelligence sectors through the exchange of knowledge, experiences and training.
Mr. Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of WAM and Mr. Sultan Al Hajji, Vice President for Public Affairs and Alumni Relations at MBZUAI signed the agreement to formalize the ties at WAM’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
THE PARTNERSHIP
The agreement will pave way for MBZUAI to become the strategic academic sponsor of the Global Media Congress, which is organized by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), in association with WAM, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center from 15th to 17th November, 2022.
The University will also allocate a number of seats in its executive program for WAM employees, with the aim of supporting the Agency’s efforts to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and enhance its effectiveness and productivity.
MBZUAI is also expected to provide consultancy services to the Agency within the framework of establishing an AI laboratory. Through the laboratory, WAM will develop and harness AI applications to support innovation in the media field.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Al Rayssi emphasized the significance of the strategic partnership with MBZUAI, pointing out that AI has become an essential pillar for sustainable growth across all sectors, adding that this cooperation will contribute to launching promising programs in service of joint cooperation between the two sides.
This agreement contributes greatly to the development of the media sector in the country, as MBZUAI ‘s sponsorship of the Global Media Congress, which is organized by ADNEC, in partnership with the Emirates News Agency, highlights the pivotal role played by the university in the future vision of the media sector in the UAE, in addition to spreading knowledge and providing promising opportunities for young people
Mr. Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi stated about the agreement with MBZUAI.
For his part, Professor Eric Xing, President of MBZUAI, commented that, “Artificial intelligence will contribute to the advent of a qualitative leap across various sectors, including media, as the applications of computer vision and natural language processing will represent the main driver of this development – the two main areas of research at the university.”
“We are proud of our partnership with the Emirates News Agency, the leading institution that constantly seeks to raise national standards for media in the UAE. Through this partnership, we will work to provide our scientific expertise, as we look forward to supporting the Agency’s efforts during the events of the Global Media Congress,” Prof. Xing stated.
GLOBAL MEDIA CONGRESS
The Congress, whose first edition will focus on digital communication, stives 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.