Fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI Concludes in Riyadh
The fourth edition of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI 2026) concluded Thursday in Riyadh, drawing 60 ministers and heads of delegations and international organizations, 200 speakers from around the world, and more than 10,000 visitors. GFEAI featured more than 100 sessions, workshops, and side events, including, initiatives and agreements.
Discussions focused on translating ethical AI principles into policies and practices in institutions and technical systems, strengthening responsible governance, managing risks, and building capacity, while taking countries’ differing priorities and levels of readiness into account.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) launched five capacity-building frameworks in data and AI and four professional certifications in data management and governance. GFEAI also honored eight government entities that achieved advanced levels in the first assessment cycle of the National AI Index. The Ministry of Energy was recognized in the “Excellence” category, while seven entities were honored in the “Empowerment” category.
SDAIA and the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, in partnership with the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), launched the third edition of the Data and AI Glossary. The edition adds Spanish and more than 200 new terms, bringing its total to more than 1,400 terms in four languages.
ICAIRE, in partnership with IBM, launched the third edition of the Elevate initiative, which aims to train 25,000 women in AI. ICAIRE also announced a program in cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and in partnership with the Apolitical platform. The program aims to train 10,000 public-sector leaders over two years, with expansion to include ICESCO member states.
SDAIA organized GFEAI in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in cooperation with ICAIRE, and in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. Held from September 14 to 17, 2026, GFEAI took place in an Arab country for the first time.
