The International Center for AI Research and Ethics, in collaboration with UNESCO and the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence, has announced an open call for submissions for the research workshop accompanying the Global Forum on the Ethics of AI. The forum will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from September 14 to 17, 2026, aiming to strengthen international scientific participation and advance global dialogue on AI ethics and governance, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Submission Tracks and Eligibility
Submissions are invited under two tracks: scientific research abstracts and panel session proposals. Researchers, academics, practitioners, policymakers, and students are eligible to participate. The call coincides with the fifth anniversary of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, the only globally agreed normative framework in this field.
Research Topics and Publication
Research may cover topics including implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation, international AI governance, ethical AI design and deployment, policy alignment across sectors such as health, education, environment, and media, and future approaches to ethical AI governance. All submissions will undergo peer review, and selected papers will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development.
Key Dates
The submission deadline is July 18, 2026. The workshop will be held on September 14, with proceedings published on October 31.
Saudi Arabia's Commitment
Hosting the forum reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting the responsible use of AI, advancing an ethical and inclusive digital future, and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. It also coincides with the Kingdom's designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence and the Saudi Data and AI Authority’s organization of the Global AI Summit, scheduled for September 15-17.
