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How can artificial intelligence advance while protecting people’s rights and dignity?
This question shaped the 4th UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 14–17 September 2026.
The Forum welcomed 6,800 participants, more than 100 speakers and representatives of 194 UNESCO Member States, creating a global space to discuss how AI can be governed responsibly and used for the public good.
The UNESCO Doha Office was part of these conversations, with our Director, Salah Khaled, and our Head of Social and Human Sciences, Ms Amina Hamshari, contributing to discussions on AI governance, regional cooperation, culture, humanitarian action and the protection of people affected by conflict and displacement.
Regional cooperation in the age of AI
Our Director, Salah Khaled, took part in the high-level ministerial dialogue “AI, Multilateralism and Diplomacy,” contributing to a panel on regional cooperation in the Arab States.
The discussion looked at how countries in the region can work more closely as AI continues to develop, and how greater coordination can support more inclusive and responsible approaches to AI governance.
His participation also extended to the cultural sector, with discussions on “The Ethical Use of AI in Museums” and “Shaping the Future of Work for Culture in the Age of AI and Digital Technologies.”
The conversations explored how museums and cultural institutions can use AI responsibly, as well as how the technology is changing cultural heritage, creative industries and the way people work across the cultural sector.
Mr Khaled highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in ensuring that AI develops responsibly and in line with the needs and priorities of societies. He also stressed the importance of keeping culture at the heart of the AI conversation, ensuring that new technologies support museums, heritage and creative sectors while respecting cultural diversity and human values.
Mr Khaled as Director of Regional Office participated in a large number of bilateral meetings with regional organisations and high representatives of Arab countries. He also co-chaired with the UN Resident Coordinator, Mohamed El Zarkani, the closed briefing for UN Agency Heads in Riyadh held on 14 September 2026 including the participation of Åsa Regnér, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO. The Briefing provided a strategic platform to examine where does the ethics of AI stand within the UN system and in Saudi Arabia vis a vis the rapid development of artificial intelligence, moving the conversation from global AI governance principles towards practical implementation, development impact and coordinated UN action.
AI, humanitarian action and the people most at risk
Our Head of Social and Human Sciences, Ms Amina Hamshari, took the stage to moderate “At Speed or at Risk? Leaving no one behind in the age of AI,” putting the experiences of refugees, displaced communities and people affected by conflict at the heart of the discussion.
The session asked some of the most important questions surrounding the use of AI in humanitarian settings. Could biased data leave vulnerable people behind? How can privacy and personal data be protected? Who is accountable when AI influences decisions that affect people’s lives? And how do we ensure that people themselves have a say in technologies designed to support them?
Ms Hamshari guided the discussion with experts from FilmAid Kenya, UNRWA, the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the CDAC Network/SAFE AI.
Reflecting on the responsibility that comes with using AI in humanitarian contexts, Ms Hamshari highlighted that the ethical use of AI becomes even more critical in humanitarian settings, where decisions can directly affect people’s lives. She stressed the importance of protecting the rights, dignity and data of refugees and displaced communities, while ensuring transparency, accountability and human oversight at every stage.
Together, they examined bias and exclusion, AI-driven decision-making in humanitarian assistance, privacy and informed consent, transparency and accountability, and the importance of keeping human oversight at the centre of decisions.
Keeping people at the heart of AI
Across the Forum, the conversations addressed different uses and impacts of AI, but they shared one central concern: how do we make sure technological progress continues to serve people?
For the UNESCO Doha Office, the Forum provided an important opportunity to contribute the perspectives of the Gulf States and Yemen to this global dialogue and to advance discussions on AI that is ethical, inclusive and grounded in human rights and dignity.
As AI continues to develop, UNESCO’s message remains clear: innovation must serve people, and people must remain at the heart of its future.
