Riyadh: Saudi Arabia, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) issued a joint international statement following a closed ministerial meeting held today in Riyadh as part of the Fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), hosted by Saudi Arabia from September 14 to 17, 2026, and attended by more than 52 ministers and international representatives from around the world.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the meeting was co-chaired by President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and Chairman of the ICAIRE Board Dr. Abdullah Alghamdi, representing Saudi Arabia, and UNESCO Deputy Director-General ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦sa Regn©r. Alghamdi welcomed the Kingdom's guests to the forum and commended the constructive cooperation between Saudi Arabia and UNESCO across various fields for the benefit of peoples worldwide, particularly in AI, a rapidly evolving sector driven by global technological advancements.
The international statement emphasized the significance of strengthening international cooperation to ensure that AI development, deployment, and use contribute to human well-being, sustainable development, and the public good. Participants reaffirmed the importance of adhering to the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted in 2021, as a global framework for ethical, safe, inclusive, and sustainable AI practices.
Participants praised UNESCO's leadership in AI governance and encouraged further support for member states in crafting national strategies informed by its frameworks, accounting for varying national contexts and cultural diversity. The meeting underscored the necessity of international cooperation, intercultural dialogue, and mutual learning amid rapid technological growth and complex global challenges.
The discussion highlighted the need to bridge gaps in AI capabilities and infrastructure, particularly in developing regions such as Africa, emphasizing multilateral cooperation to foster trust and inclusive participation in AI development. Participants also stressed the importance of strengthening infrastructure, institutional capacity, skills, and knowledge sharing to ensure the ethical use of AI while enhancing cooperation among governments, international organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society.
The co-chairs called for strengthened implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on AI Ethics, urging support for international cooperation in developing and deploying AI ethically and sustainably. They highlighted the importance of promoting AI literacy, empowering youth, facilitating their participation in AI governance, and safeguarding their rights in the digital landscape.