MBZUAI launches first PhD in human-computer interaction

Fall 2026 intake focuses on human-AI alignment research

Illustration (Image credit: MEAIN via Google Gemini)

#UAE #education - Abu Dhabi AI research university Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has opened applications for its inaugural PhD cohort in Human-Computer Interaction, with studies commencing in fall 2026. The programme is the university’s first doctoral offering in HCI, focusing on human-AI alignment, multimodal interfaces, cognitive augmentation, brain-computer interfaces, human-data interaction, and adaptive interactive systems. The initiative expands MBZUAI’s departmental structure to six specialised areas and supports the UAE’s ambition to build an innovation-led economy grounded in trust and inclusion whilst advancing research into how communities adopt and repurpose AI technologies.

SO WHAT? - The launch of the new department and PhD course in Human-Computer Interaction could position MBZUAI as a pioneer in addressing one of AI’s most critical upcoming challenges: ensuring powerful systems remain meaningful and accessible to users. As AI capabilities and impact accelerate globally, the programme’s research will examine how technology integrates into daily life, changes behaviour, and serves genuine human needs.

Here are a few key points about the new PhD programme:

• First announced in May 2024, the new Human-Computer Interaction department of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is chaired by renowned user experience expert, and former Senior Director of UX at Google, Professor Elizabeth Churchill.

• The PhD programme brings together specialists across cognitive science, psychology, design, neuroscience and social computing to explore how AI can empower individuals, strengthen collective well-being and elevate voices often overlooked in technology development.

• Research areas span human-AI alignment, multimodal interfaces, cognitive augmentation, brain-computer interfaces, human-data interaction, and the development of adaptive, transparent and accessible interactive systems that respond to real human needs and behaviours.

• Professor Churchill previously led teams at Google focused on creating developer tools for Fuchsia, a next-generation operating system, and formed research teams for Material Design and the open-source UI development kit Flutter.

• The HCI department becomes MBZUAI’s sixth specialised department, joining Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Robotics and Computer Science, following departmental expansions announced in August 2024.

• Applications for its first Ph.D. cohort in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) are now open with the inaugural intake beginning in Fall 2026.

• Meanwhile, applications for a Master of Science in HCI will open in 2026 for a fall 2027 intake, expanding the university’s graduate offerings beyond the inaugural doctoral cohort.

• MBZUAI is ranked among the top 20 globally for AI, computer vision, machine learning and natural language processing according to CS Rankings, and launched its first undergraduate programme, a Bachelor of Science in AI, in 2025.

• The university, which describes itself as the first dedicated entirely to advancing science through AI, had 276 students studying for masters degrees and PhDs in the 2023 academic year.

ZOOM OUT - The new convergence of AI and Human-Computer Interaction presents profound opportunities and challenges for how humans interact with intelligent systems. AI-powered interfaces can now personalise experiences through predictive text, voice recognition and recommendation systems that adapt to user behaviour in real-time. Yet significant challenges remain in preventing algorithmic bias, protecting user privacy, ensuring transparency in complex AI decision-making, and maintaining human agency as automation advances. Beyond technical considerations, more research is needed on emotional intelligence limitations, accessibility for diverse users, and broader societal impacts including mental health effects and the risk of social isolation from over-reliance on AI interactions rather than human connection.

LINK

• Apply for MBZUAI’s PhD in HCI (MBZUAI website)

Read more about studying at MBZUAI:

• Abu Dhabi announces Tahnoon bin Zayed AI scholarship (Middle East AI News)

• MBZUAI, MIT launch joint AI research programme (Middle East AI News)

• Sam Altman receives MBZUAI’s first honorary doctorate (Middle East AI News)

• MBZUAI enrolls largest ever student intake (Middle East AI News)

• MBZUAI graduates record AI cohort (Middle East AI News)