Riyadh is hosting the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI 2026) to discuss the future of AI and the ethics of its development and use.
According to SPA, Saudi Arabia is working to build a generation of national talent specializing in data and AI, focusing on responsibility and ethics during technological development.
Saudi researchers and specialists are developing AI technologies that go beyond algorithm efficiency and data-processing speed. Their work includes testing reliability and fairness, addressing digital bias and data protection, and considering privacy alongside cultural and linguistic diversity.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) are cooperating to integrate governance and ethical principles into the early stages of system design. To support the AI ecosystem, a professional badge system for specialists in data and AI has been implemented, with SDAIA previously honoring more than 52 experts who obtained these badges.
The GFEAI 2026 focuses on translating ethical principles into practical tools and practices while strengthening international cooperation on inclusive AI governance.
What is the focus of the GFEAI 2026 in Riyadh? The fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI 2026) focuses on strengthening international cooperation regarding ethical and inclusive AI governance. The forum aims to translate ethical principles into practical tools and practices while discussing the future of artificial intelligence and the ethics surrounding its development and use.
How is Saudi Arabia developing its AI talent and expertise? Saudi Arabia is building a generation of national talent specializing in data and AI by focusing on responsibility and ethics. This includes a professional badge system for specialists to develop, evaluate, and govern technology, with SDAIA having previously honored more than 52 experts who earned these professional badges.
What specific technical and ethical challenges are Saudi AI researchers addressing? Researchers are working on AI technologies that improve model efficiency and data-processing speed while testing for reliability and fairness. They are addressing challenges related to data protection and digital bias, while ensuring that privacy and linguistic and cultural diversity are taken into account during development.