Saudi Arabia, UNESCO and ICAIRE Call for Wider Access to AI and Stronger Ethical Governance
RIYADH, September 15 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia, UNESCO and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics issued a joint statement on Tuesday calling for stronger international cooperation to close gaps in access to artificial intelligence and support its ethical development and use.
The statement followed a closed ministerial meeting in Riyadh where ministers and senior officials representing 60 countries discussed AI’s opportunities and challenges, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Participants highlighted the needs of developing countries, particularly in Africa, and called for broader access to AI capabilities and infrastructure. They identified investment in skills, institutional capacity and knowledge sharing as essential to enabling countries to use the technology safely and ethically.
The meeting reaffirmed the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted in 2021, as a common foundation for AI development, deployment and use. Participants encouraged UNESCO to help member states develop national strategies that account for differing resources, national circumstances and cultural and linguistic diversity.
Governments, international organizations, universities, businesses and civil society were urged to strengthen cooperation on challenges extending across borders. Participants also emphasized the involvement of women and young people in AI development and governance.
The meeting’s co-chairs called for stronger implementation of the UNESCO recommendation, with responsible innovation and measures to address risks grounded in respect for human rights and dignity. They also highlighted AI literacy, children’s and young people’s participation in governance, and the protection of their rights and safety online.
The meeting was co-chaired by Saudi Data and AI Authority President Abdullah Alghamdi, who also chairs the ICAIRE board, and UNESCO Deputy Director-General Åsa Regnér.
It took place during the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from September 14 to 17.
Source: SPA
