Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, attended the landmark conference AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditions, hosted and organized by Hamad Bin Khalifa University, at Qatar National Convention Centre and taking place over two days.
Attendance at the opening included Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, alongside ministers and other dignitaries, as well as leaders from the private sector.
Discussions across six thematic areas affected by the advancement of AI, namely healthcare, urban design, security, education, finance, and the future of the workplace, will bring together leading scholars, policymakers and industry experts to explore how rapid adoption of AI around the world impacts cultures, traditions, and values.
Commenting on the conference, Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, President, HBKU, highlighted: “As AI continues to transform every facet of our lives, it brings with it urgent ethical questions. From the amplification of bias to issues of underrepresentation, the challenges are complex. This conference marks a pivotal step toward building international, cross-disciplinary collaborations that can guide the ethical development of AI. The insights we gather here will help shape technologies that are not only innovative, but also inclusive and responsible.”
An array of keynotes, panels, plenary sessions, and policy roundtables are focusing on how cultural perspectives and moral traditions can shape cohesive frameworks for AI governance and responsible innovation. Expert voices will examine the urgent need for genuine collaboration to establish ethical standards that reflect humanity’s diversity and safeguard dignity among all societies.
The conference bridges technological advancement and ethical imperatives, ensuring AI aligns with the moral landscapes that shape the modern world. It significantly elevates alternative viewpoints beyond still predominantly Western-centric discourse, sparking new partnerships to drive innovation and the future trajectory of the field. This broad participation expands the intellectual scope of discourse and shows how multiple voices can shape a more balanced approach to emerging technologies. In the opening plenary session, a panel of experts specifically focused on the intersection of ethics with technology, moral traditions, and the future of humanity. The AI Ethics conference underscores HBKU’s role in Qatar’s leadership on matters related to ethics and AI regulation, reinforcing the university’s position as a leader in education and research and a convener of pressing topics shaping our world.
The conference is organized in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), along with strategic sponsor the Ministry of Public Health. Additional sponsorship is provided by Barzan Holdings. Esteemed institutions partnering with this event also include Skoltech, Scale, UNESCO, the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence - University of Cambridge, University of Washington School of Medicine, and organizations forming part of the Qatar Foundation ecosystem, World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Northwestern University in Qatar, and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.
