The icons range from fully human-created to fully AI-generated content, with additional sub-classifications for fields like writing and design, providing nuanced insights into the content creation process.

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the importance of these icons as a global benchmark for ethical research and invited worldwide adoption to set a new standard in responsible AI use.

This pioneering system was developed by the Dubai Future Foundation to promote transparency in research and content production, addressing challenges in differentiating human creativity from artificial intelligence.

The classification includes five primary icons representing various levels of human and AI collaboration, from 'All Human' to 'All Machine,' along with nine functional sub-classifications indicating specific stages of collaboration such as ideation, data collection, and writing.

On July 16, 2025, Dubai launched the world's first Human–Machine Collaboration (HMC) classification system, approved by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to distinguish between human-created and AI-generated content.

The system also includes nine specific stages of human-machine collaboration, such as ideation, literature review, and data analysis, to detail the involvement of AI at each step.

This initiative underscores Dubai’s dedication to responsible innovation and aims to address ethical concerns related to AI in content creation, fostering trust and transparency.

The system is designed to be flexible and applicable across different sectors and content formats, including images and videos, to ensure clarity and credibility in the AI era.

Dubai's initiative aligns with the UAE's broader goal of becoming a leader in AI technology and diversifying its economy away from oil, emphasizing responsible innovation.

All Dubai government entities have been directed to adopt the HMC classification system in their research and knowledge-based projects, reinforcing the city's commitment to ethical AI practices.