Adrian Weller, Programme Director for Artificial Intelligence, at the Alan Turing Institute, Cambridge University, is one of 24 renowned experts who are leading the development of a UNESCO Recommendation on AI and ethics. Rapid technological advances in AI, robotics and cloud computing is transforming the way we work, communicate and live – challenging our understanding of our existence and what it means to be human.

UNESCO is striving to ensure that advances in AI are inclusive, respect global norms and help to drive peace and development. In response to the lack of any international standards on the development of AI, in November 2019, UNESCO’s governing body launched a two-year process to develop the first global standard-setting instrument (known as a Recommendation) on ethics in AI.

Work began in March 2020 with a wide consultation involving scientists, people of different cultural backgrounds and ethical perspectives, minority groups, civil society, government and the private sector who will all be involved in helping to shape the Recommendation.