DUBAI: The Dubai Future Foundation has unveiled the world’s first classification system to transparently define the role of human and machine collaboration in content creation, research, and publishing.

Approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai, the system is aimed at increasing accountability and clarity in an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

The new Human–Machine Collaboration Icon Classification System will introduce a set of five primary icons to indicate the level of collaboration between humans and intelligent machines, as well as nine additional functional icons that reflect the specific stages of a project where this collaboration occurred, such as ideation, data analysis, and visual design.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasized the growing challenge in distinguishing human creativity from artificial intelligence due to rapid technological advances.

The system is intended for use by researchers, writers, publishers, designers, and content creators worldwide, with a directive for Dubai government entities to implement it in their research and knowledge-based work.

This initiative reflects a growing reliance on intelligent systems such as generative AI, algorithms, automation tools, and robotics across academia, design, media, and scientific research.