The Institute of Foundation Models (IFM) is a research division of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), a graduate-level university established in 2019 in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. MBZUAI is ranked among the world's top ten AI universities by research credentials. The university offers Master's and Ph.D. programs across technical domains including computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and computational biology.
IFM is focused on the research, development, understanding, and risk management of large-scale AI systems. Its work contributes to the university's mission of advancing AI science and education, preparing graduates to become leaders in the field. The institution has attracted a diverse community, with its inaugural student cohort representing 29 countries.
The university's academic model combines rigorous training with practical applications, aiming to support economic diversification and position the United Arab Emirates as a global hub for emerging technologies. Research spans core AI disciplines alongside newer areas such as foundation models.
