Nahyan bin Mubarak opens a summit "Machines can think 2026" In Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, 27 JANUARY / WAM / Yesterday, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, opened the “Machines Can Think 2026” summit, the leading event for adopting artificial intelligence in the UAE, at the Park Hyatt Saadiyat Hotel in Abu Dhabi. It lasted for two days, and was jointly organized and hosted by Polynom Group and the Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence.
The summit brought together a high-level elite of policymakers, scientists, researchers, technologists, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and artificial intelligence experts from around the world and formed an international platform to discuss how artificial intelligence systems can move from the stage of ambition and experimentation to achieving broad national impact through practical applications in the real world, thus contributing to strengthening the UAE’s position as a global center for the development and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The “Industrial Summit Day” built on the momentum achieved by the opening events, bringing together decision-makers, technologists, researchers and industry leaders to discuss operational artificial intelligence, leadership readiness, sectoral transformations, mechanisms for expanding the scope of artificial intelligence applications at the national level, and linking technical innovation to economic and development opportunities.
In his speech during the opening of the summit, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan said: “I am pleased to be with you today at the opening of the “Machines Can Think 2026” summit, and to welcome to the UAE this distinguished gathering of leading global minds, from deep technology pioneers, policy makers, and artificial intelligence experts from academic, industrial and governmental circles. You are meeting today at an exceptional moment in human history, when we no longer develop tools limited to calculation. Not only are we building systems that learn, adapt, and become increasingly able to think alongside humans, and we use machines that help us see the world more clearly, make decisions, and create a new reality.”
His Excellency added that the question before this summit is not whether machines can think, as this answer has become clear through the innovations we are witnessing today. Rather, the deeper and more urgent question is: How will humans choose to think, act, and lead in the era of smart machines? If a machine is capable of thinking, then we have to ask about the purpose of this thinking: should it be limited to efficiency and speed only? Or should a truly intelligent system be geared to deal with the complexities of the human condition? Is it sufficient to reflect the world as it is with all its faults, or does it help us move towards the world we aspire to?
His Excellency said that this is the challenge we face today, and it is a challenge that we in the UAE are prepared to deal with, as the country’s approach to the future is being shaped under the wise and enlightened leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and with the firm conviction that technological progress and human values are not in conflict, and that the integration of ethics does not hinder innovation, but rather directs it to be useful and beneficial to humanity.
His Excellency added that His Highness the President of the State leads the Emirates with a firm belief that progress must be in the service of humanity, not the other way around, and that His Highness’s vision is not limited to the country being a consumer of advanced technology, but rather a global beacon in its proper use, stressing that the true standard of countries’ progress is not measured by the development of their machines, but by the dignity of their citizens and the quality of their lives.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak stressed that the UAE is investing in artificial intelligence out of its belief in science, education, and the future, and in parallel with its commitment to the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human brotherhood. He stressed the need for technology to serve all people without exception, respect cultural diversity, preserve human dignity, and enhance social cohesion. He explained that any technology that lacks these values cannot achieve real success.
His Excellency added that the difference between artificial intelligence, which fragments societies, and artificial intelligence, which unites them, does not lie in the algorithms, but in the intentions of those who design, organize, and use it, pointing out that the fundamental question in 2026 is no longer “What can we build?” Rather, “What should we build? And why?”, which requires a new type of leadership based on collaboration between engineers, ethicists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, and on understanding AI governance as a shared culture, values, and responsibility, not just regulatory frameworks.
His Excellency pointed out that artificial intelligence, by its nature, crosses borders, and that its risks, benefits, and effects are global, and that no single country or company can manage this field alone, which makes international cooperation a fundamental necessity to shape its future through common standards, mutual learning, and collective responsibility.
He said that scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs are not just technology developers, but guardians of the future, and that their choices, assumptions and values are what will determine the path of artificial intelligence, stressing that excellence in this field is no longer measured by performance alone, but by purpose and goal. While machines may learn, think and help, humans remain the only ones capable of choosing and implementing good governance, and that the future of artificial intelligence will not be determined by thinking machines, but by caring humans, wishing the summit all the best and success.
The Summit’s Industry Day included specialized keynotes, including a session entitled “The Next AI Data Centers: Accelerated, Energy-Aware, and Everywhere” presented by Mark Hamilton from NVIDIA, a session “Beyond Human Cognition” presented by Manohar Paluri, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at Meta, along with a session “Generative AI and Creative Thinking” delivered by Serge Belongie, Director of the Pioneer Center for AI at the University of Copenhagen, and a session “Is Intelligence Artificial necessity? Presented by Dr. Ahmed Sulaiman Al Dhaheri, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Center at Abu Dhabi Police.
The summit program addressed applications of artificial intelligence in the sectors of communications, self-delivery, speech technologies, education, and other vital sectors, in addition to organizing the Startup Competition Day, which allowed entrepreneurs to present their ideas and innovations before a specialized jury, and to link technical innovations with investors, industry leaders, and potential partners within the “Machines Can” system.
The “Machines Can Think 2026” summit was supported by a growing ecosystem of partners, including Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence, Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Yango Group, Mubadala, NVIDIA, Abu Dhabi Police, DDN, e&, Tahaluf, Aiphoria, Backwell Tech, the Women in Artificial Intelligence Club (Global Network and UAE Branch), Sandooq Al Watan, XPANCEO, MBuzz, Beco Capital, Hub71, Orbit, Jupiter E-Power, and VAST Data.
The chapters of the “Machines Can” series will continue with the “Machines Can See 2026” summit in April 2026, which will focus on machine perception technologies, vision systems, and their real-world applications in industrial sectors and public services, thus enhancing the UAE’s leadership role in shaping the future of responsible artificial intelligence globally.
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