Riyadh (UNA/SPA) – Riyadh is preparing to host an international event next Monday that will put the future of artificial intelligence on the table for decision-makers, with the launch of the fourth edition of the Global Forum on Artificial Intelligence Ethics 2026, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in the first Arab hosting of this international platform, amid broad international participation and anticipation of its outcomes from the organization’s 194 member states.
The forum will take place from September 14 to 17, with the participation of ministers and officials concerned with technology and artificial intelligence, policymakers, leaders of global technology companies, and representatives of international organizations, along with a select group of experts and researchers, in a gathering aimed at advancing the global discussion from the stage of setting principles to building practical policies for the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The forum is being held at a time when artificial intelligence applications are accelerating and their effects are expanding in the economy, education, health, media, labor market and other sectors, which raises the need for international rules that achieve a balance between unleashing the potential of innovation and protecting human beings and their rights.
Issues of algorithmic bias, discrimination, safety, privacy, and the digital divide top the list of challenges that require international cooperation, especially given the varying abilities of countries and societies to develop and utilize these technologies.
The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted by Member States in 2021, is one of the key international frameworks in this field, as it places human beings, their rights and dignity at the heart of the development and use of artificial intelligence technologies, and calls for the consolidation of justice, non-discrimination, accountability and safety.
The forum is being co-organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), in partnership with the International Centre for Research and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (ICAIRE), under the auspices of UNESCO, and in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.
Riyadh’s hosting of the forum provides a wider space to discuss issues related to the governance of artificial intelligence, by bringing together representatives of governments, international organizations, the private sector and the research community on one platform, to exchange experiences, discuss challenges and explore ways to build international consensus on the responsible use of these technologies.
Riyadh’s hosting of the forum provides a wider space to discuss issues related to the governance of artificial intelligence, by bringing together representatives of governments, international organizations, the private sector and the research community on one platform, to exchange experiences, discuss challenges and explore ways to build international consensus on the responsible use of these technologies.
Over four days, the forum will discuss key issues, including the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence, capacity building, responsible innovation, and international policies, in addition to reviewing global initiatives and experiences in developing regulatory and ethical frameworks for the use of artificial intelligence technologies.
The forum's activities are spread across more than 30 specialized sessions and workshops, with the participation of more than 100 speakers from various countries around the world, to discuss how to reconcile the speed of technological development with the requirements of safety and responsibility, and to enhance the ability of countries to benefit from artificial intelligence in a fair and sustainable manner.
The forum's outcomes are of particular importance given the need for policies that do not stop at national borders, but rather lay common ground for dealing with artificial intelligence, support the equitable distribution of its benefits, enhance the readiness of countries and societies, and contribute to reducing the digital divide.
The dialogue aims to advance international efforts towards employing artificial intelligence in a way that serves sustainable development and promotes the prosperity of societies, while preserving human rights, freedoms, and dignity.
Riyadh’s hosting of this international event reflects the growing Saudi role in the global dialogue on artificial intelligence and its ethics, and provides a platform that brings together decision-makers, experts and innovators to discuss the future of a technology that is reshaping various aspects of life, the economy and society.
The organizers have made it possible to register to attend the forum via the event's dedicated registration platform at the following link: https://registration-gfeai.icaire.org/en/join.
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