UNESCO Launches New Ethical AI Tools in Riyadh

Riyadh hosted a global forum on ethical artificial intelligence governance, held at The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh in the Al-Hada district from 14 to 17 September 2026. The event brought together international experts under the theme “Transforming Global Cooperation for Ethical AI Governance.”

The forum was co-hosted by UNESCO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh. It forms part of Saudi Arabia’s implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

On 16 September 2026, three new tools were launched. These included the Readiness Assessment Methodology RAM 2.0, an updated national framework for assessing AI readiness; a meta-analysis summarizing global AI governance trends from completed country assessments; and the AI Environment and Ecosystems Toolkit, aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of AI systems and supporting climate action, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.

What the program covered

The program featured a plenary session titled “A New Phase of AI Readiness: Evidence from RAM and the Road Ahead,” presenting results from more than 50 completed RAM assessments and over 25 ongoing assessments. Parallel sessions addressed Environment & Energy, a Gender Lens, and Synthetic Biology, including the formal launch of the Environment and Ecosystems Toolkit and discussions on gender-responsive AI governance.

A research component linked to the forum included a call for abstracts and panel proposals, with a submission deadline of 18 July 2026 via email using the subject line “GFEAI 2026 Submission.”

For residents and professionals in the Kingdom, the forum reflects Riyadh’s growing role as a hub for shaping how AI is developed and governed responsibly, an area of increasing relevance to workplaces and public services across the community.

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