MBZUAI Launches Institute of Foundation Models and Establishes Silicon Valley AI Lab
SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has expanded its global footprint with the launch of its Institute of Foundation Models (IFM). The IFM is a multi-site initiative consisting of a newly established Silicon Valley Lab in Sunnyvale, CA, combined with previously announced lab facilities in Paris and Abu Dhabi.
The launch event yesterday at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, establishes the third node in its global research network. This strategic expansion connects the university with California's vibrant ecosystem of AI researchers, startups, and tech companies.
For the UAE and MBZUAI, this move represents another strategic step in the country's long-term economic diversification plan. By investing in cutting-edge technologies like advanced AI foundation models, the UAE continues to build knowledge-based sectors to support its long-term economic and social transformation efforts.
'Today's launch of the IFM represents a major step forward for the collaboration and global development of frontier-class AI foundation models,' said Professor Eric Xing, President and University Professor, MBZUAI. 'Our expansion into Silicon Valley provides a critical footprint to grow our presence in one of the most vibrant AI ecosystems in the world. We're creating pathways for knowledge exchange with leading institutions and accessing a talent pool that understands how to scale research into real-world applications.'
The launch event drew representatives from the world's leading AI companies and academic institutions, highlighting the growing interest in MBZUAI's global approach to foundation model research.
At the heart of MBZUAI's demonstrations was PAN, a world model capable of infinite simulations of diverse realities ranging from basic physical interactions to complex agent scenarios.
Unlike previous systems focused primarily on generating text, audio, or images, PAN predicts comprehensive world states by integrating multimodal inputs like language, video, spatial data, and physical actions. This enables advanced reasoning, strategic planning, and nuanced decision-making for applications from autonomous driving to robotics.
PAN's innovative hierarchical architecture supports multi-level reasoning and real-time interaction within simulations, maintaining high accuracy over extended scenarios. Its companion, PAN-Agent, showcases its utility in multimodal reasoning tasks, such as mathematics and coding, within dynamic simulated environments.
K2 and JAIS: Advanced Foundation Models with Global Impact
The IFM lab is also advancing two flagship AI systems demonstrating the commitment to further advance frontier-class foundation models: K2 and JAIS.
A soon to be released update to K2-65B will focus on delivering breakthrough reasoning capabilities with sustainable performance.
JAIS stands as the world's most advanced Arabic large language model. At the IFM JAIS will continue to expand in capability with increased language support and add more context to preserve and promote the cultures it supports.
Building AI in the Open: Transparency as a Core Value
MBZUAI has established one of the industry's most transparent approaches to AI development, open-sourcing not just models but entire development processes—positioning IFM as a leader in building openly. The LLM360 initiative provides researchers with complete materials including training code, datasets, and model checkpoints. This openness is balanced with safeguards including international advisory boards and peer review processes that maintain research integrity.
The IFM's structure includes dedicated teams focused on model architecture, training methods, evaluation frameworks, and safety systems—combining the agility of a startup with the resources of an established research institution.
About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)
MBZUAI is a research-focused university in Abu Dhabi, and the first university dedicated entirely to the advancement of science through AI. For more information, visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae.
For press inquiries:
Aya Sakoury
Head of PR and Strategic Communications
[email protected]
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2695164/MBZUAI.jpg
View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mbzuai-launches-institute-of-foundation-models-and-establishes-silicon-valley-ai-lab-302464305.html
SOURCE MBZUAI
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania bill looks to prohibit use of AI in political campaigns
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania Representative announced legislation that aims to prohibit the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in political campaigns. The bill, authored by Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia), argues that while AI has the potential to make content creation 'more efficient,' it also equally has the power to spread disinformation — propaganda intended to mislead against a rival or media. Khan noted that as AI has become more widely available, 'bad actors' have used the programming to produce content targeting political candidates, public officials and government programs. The Federal Election Commission has considered a proposal to limit AI-generated political content, but it is currently uncertain whether regulatory action will be taken or not. Khan argued that while that decision is being made, Pennsylvania must join the 14 other states that have adopted laws or resolutions related to AI. 'Voters need accurate information on political candidates to make the best and most informed decisions for their families and communities,' Khan wrote. 'Please join us in protecting Pennsylvania voters against deception and manipulation by signing on to this proposal.' Under the legislation, the dissemination of a campaign advertisement containing an artificially generated impersonation of a candidate would be prohibited if done without consent and with the intent to influence the election outcome. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
FDA approves first AI tool to predict breast cancer risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first artificial intelligence (AI) tool to predict breast cancer risk. The authorization was confirmed by digital health tech company Clairity, the developer of Clairity Breast – a novel, image-based prognostic platform designed to predict five-year breast cancer risk from a routine screening mammogram. In a press release, Clairity shared its plans to launch the AI platform across health systems through 2025. Ai Detects Ovarian Cancer Better Than Human Experts In New Study Most risk assessment models for breast cancer rely heavily on age and family history, according to Clairity. However, about 85% of cases occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer, likely stemming from genetic mutations that occur because of aging, health agencies report. Read On The Fox News App Traditional risk models have also been built on data from predominantly European Caucasian women, which Clairity said has not been "generalized well" to diverse backgrounds. The AI tool analyzes subtle images from a screening mammogram that correlate with breast cancer risk, then generates a "validated five-year risk score" and delivers it to healthcare providers, the company noted. Ai Detects Woman's Breast Cancer After Routine Screening Missed It: 'Deeply Grateful' Dr. Connie Lehman, Clairity founder and breast imaging specialist at Mass General Brigham, stressed the importance of mammograms in early cancer detection. "Now, advancements in AI and computer vision can uncover hidden clues in the mammograms – invisible to the human eye – to help predict future risk," she said in a press release. "By delivering validated, equitable risk assessments, we can help expand access to life-saving early detection and prevention for women everywhere." Dr. Robert A. Smith, senior vice president of early cancer detection science at the American Cancer Society, also commented in a statement that personalized, risk-based screening is "critical to improving breast cancer outcomes, and AI tools offer us the best opportunity to fulfill that potential." "Clairity's FDA authorization is a turning point for more women to access the scientific advances of AI-driven cancer risk prediction," Larry Norton, founding scientific director of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, wrote in another statement. "Breast cancer is rising, especially among younger women, yet most risk models often miss those who will develop the disease," he said. "Now we can ensure more women get the right care at the right time." More than 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year, including more than 370,000 in the U.S., despite "decades of progress," according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Cases have particularly been on the rise among younger women under the age of 50. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter In a Tuesday appearance on "America's Newsroom," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel called Clairity's development "profound." "Just looking at a mammogram … sometimes [radiologists] will see things that aren't clear, they have to follow it over time," he said. "AI improves how focused and how predictive it is, [shown] very dramatically in studies." Siegel confirmed that radiologists across the country are generally in support of leveraging AI for cancer detection, especially in areas of the country that are "underserved" in terms of healthcare. For more Health articles, visit "In areas where you're relying on radiologists without special training, this is even more important," he said. "This is the wave of the future. AI is going to be part of the equation, but it's not going to take over."Original article source: FDA approves first AI tool to predict breast cancer risk
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Disgusting Abomination': Elon Musk Slams Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'
Elon Musk again attacked the centerpiece of Donald Trump's legislative agenda, the Big Beautiful Bill Act, this time calling the tax and spending package as a 'disgusting abomination.' Meanwhile, additional criticisms are being directed at the legislation from GOP lawmakers, including one who voted for it, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). More from Deadline Jon Stewart Celebrates Elon Musk's Departure From Government, Says Trump Has "Broken" The "Poor Bastard" Paramount Schedules Annual Shareholder Meeting, Sets Board Expansion Amid Skydance Merger Watch Alex Marquardt Says He's Leaving CNN After 8 Years Musk wrote on X today, 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.' 'It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.' At the White House briefing, Fox News' Peter Doocy read off part of Musk's comment. Doocy asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 'How mad do you think President Trump is going to be [about Trump's comments]?' She answered, 'Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn't change the president's opinion. This is one big beautiful bill and he's sticking to it.' Musk appeared with Trump in the Oval Office last week, as a farewell of sorts as the billionaire wrapped up his official government service leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency effort to slash the federal government workforce. The legislation passed the House by just one vote last month. The bill would extend and make permanent Trump's 2017 income tax cuts, while expanding spending on defense and border security. Democrats were united in their opposition, as it would make cuts to Medicaid, clean energy and other social programs. The Tax Foundation estimated that it would add as much as $2.6 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade. Other analyses put the figure even higher. The Senate is taking up the bill this month. GOP critics, like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), have said that they could not support the bill because of the deficit increase. Meanwhile, Greene wrote on X that she would have voted against the bill had she known that the bill includes a provision that restricts states from passing their own regulations on AI over the next decade. She wrote, 'Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years. I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there. We have no idea what AI will be capable of in the next 10 years and giving it free rein and tying states hands is potentially dangerous. This needs to be stripped out in the Senate. When the OBBB comes back to the House for approval after Senate changes, I will not vote for it with this in it. We should be reducing federal power and preserving state power. Not the other way around. Especially with rapidly developing AI that even the experts warn they have no idea what it may be capable of.' The provision, though, had caught to attention of some in the Senate. At a hearing on the No Fakes Act, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said last month that she would oppose including that provision in the Senate version of the legislation. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) responded to Greene. 'You have one job. To. Read. The. F–king. Bill.' Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
