Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has announced the opening of applications for its first Ph.D. cohort in Human-Computer Interaction. The MBZUAI HCI program will begin in Fall 2026.

The university reported that the new cohort will join its expanding research community focused on how people adopt, adapt, and repurpose artificial intelligence. The research scope covers human-AI alignment, multimodal interfaces, cognitive augmentation, brain-computer interfaces, human-data interaction, and the development of adaptive, transparent, and accessible interactive systems.

Timothy Baldwin, Provost and Professor of Natural Language Processing at MBZUAI, said the launch comes at a key moment in global AI discussions. He noted that as AI becomes more powerful, it must also become more meaningful to people. Baldwin added that MBZUAI HCI brings together science, engineering, and design to create AI systems that improve lives responsibly, transparently, and at scale. He also revealed that the program supports the UAE’s ambition to build an innovation-led economy based on trust, inclusion, and strong scientific capability.

Elizabeth Churchill, Department Chair and Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at MBZUAI, said HCI sits at the center of how people experience intelligent systems. She explained that the department combines psychology, neuroscience, data science, and design to study how technology appears in daily life, how it influences behavior, and whether it meets real human needs. Churchill added that MBZUAI is building a collaborative environment where AI research aims to empower individuals, enhance collective well-being, and include voices often overlooked in technology development.

Key research areas in the MBZUAI HCI PhD program include:

• Human-AI alignment, multimodal interfaces, and cognitive augmentation
• Brain-computer interfaces and human-data interaction
• Adaptive, transparent, and accessible AI systems

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