Riyadh: The debate over artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer centered on whether machines can learn, analyze, and make decisions, but on how those capabilities can improve people's lives and deliver lasting benefits to societies. That shift is on display in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia is hosting the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (GFEAI 2026).
According to Saudi Press Agency, the forum brings together policymakers, experts, academics, and representatives of international organizations to discuss the future of AI. Discussions focus on responsible deployment and the gap between the pace of technological development and the ability of governments and institutions to govern it. Sessions have highlighted gaps in infrastructure, capabilities, skills, and access to technology, alongside calls for a more equitable distribution of the benefits of the global AI transformation.
The discussion is also reshaping the concept of technological progress. AI's true value is measured not only by its ability to process vast amounts of data or perform complex tasks, but also by its impact on people's lives and its ability to provide solutions that improve services, support development, increase efficiency, and expand access to knowledge and innovation.
Riyadh is providing a platform for exchanging expertise and perspectives on directing AI toward development rather than treating it solely as a technological shift. Discussions also focus on encouraging innovation to serve people and the public good.