UFC CEO Dana White visits MBZUAI to explore AI and robotics innovation
Dana White meets with university researchers to discuss AI’s global impact and future applications.
Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has visited the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi to meet researchers and explore the university’s latest work in robotics, startups, and applied AI.
The visit was shared in LinkedIn posts from MBZUAI and Alexander Buxton, the university’s Head of Research and Innovation Communications.
From robotics lab to real-world startups
White toured MBZUAI’s robotics lab with Sami Haddadin, Vice President of Research and Professor of Robotics, where the pair discussed how AI is shaping global business and society. Researchers demonstrated a series of projects including mind-controlled robots and large foundation models, while the university’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC) introduced AI-driven startups audiomatic.io and Pinscreen.
MBZUAI wrote: “We showcased our cutting-edge AI research, explored the future of robotics in our robotics lab, and shared insights into our thriving startup ecosystem.” The university described the exchange as “a powerful intersection of innovation, intelligence, and inspiration.”
Reflecting on the visit, Buxton posted: “This week, Prof. Sami Haddadin, our VP of Research and Professor of Robotics hosted Dana White CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A true meeting point of AI, sport, and human potential.”
He continued: “It was a fascinating exchange of ideas and vision. MBZUAI is such a unique place: where world-class science meets global ambition, and where AI’s future is being built every day.”
