Who We Are

The Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a global center of excellence dedicated to advancing the science, scale, and social value of foundation models.

We are building a future where the most powerful AI systems are not only technically advanced but socially meaningful – open, collaborative, and built to solve real-world problems.

From our headquarters in Abu Dhabi, with research hubs in Silicon Valley and Paris, IFM brings together world-class talent across continents to create foundation models that redefine what AI can achieve.

Our mission is ambitious yet grounded: to produce the world’s leading models across modalities – language, vision, multimodal, and domain-specific systems – while ensuring our work drives measurable, positive impact for society.

We operate at the cutting edge of academic AI research, pushing the frontiers of generative AI with scientific rigor and scale.

Our models are trained using high-performance computing infrastructure, published openly for global collaboration, and tested against real-world applications to ensure practical value. Whether tackling scientific discovery, enabling human-AI interaction, or supporting public good, IFM’s work aims to create technologies that are both state-of-the-art and fit-for-purpose.

Our commitment to openness is foundational. IFM champions transparent research and cross-sector partnerships – from academia and research institutes to tech startups and enterprise leaders – accelerating shared progress through responsible innovation. 

We believe that generative AI’s future is not only about building bigger models, but better ones – systems that are safer, fairer, and more aligned with human needs.

From the President

“At IFM, we are committed to advancing Generative AI in ways that truly make a difference. Innovation carries responsibility, and our goal is to drive meaningful progress with social impact. Our research is not just about what technology can achieve, but how it can be used ethically to address global challenges, transform industries, and set new standards for responsible AI. The future is shaped by those who innovate with purpose—let’s build it together.”

— Prof. Eric Xing, President, MBZUAI

A Home for Innovation and Collaboration

IFM is designed to be as collaborative as it is cutting-edge. We work hand-in-hand with scientists, researchers, policymakers, and technologists to ensure that our models serve diverse disciplines and global needs.

Whether you’re a researcher seeking large-scale compute and open models, a university interested in co-publishing, or a founder looking to build on advanced AI infrastructure – we welcome partnerships that scale the impact of our work.

Shaping the Future of AI

With pioneering models, a deep-rooted academic ethos, and an international team of AI experts, IFM is more than a research institute, it’s a launchpad for tomorrow’s most transformative technologies.

We’re not just imagining the future of AI, we’re engineering it.

Join us on the journey.