The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has awarded the inaugural UNESCO–Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize for Scientific Research on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), celebrating ethical AI development and fostering international scientific cooperation. Supported by the Uzbekistan Arts and Culture Development Foundation, the award ceremony was held as a side event during the 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, highlighting global efforts to advance responsible and ethical AI innovation.
The prize recognizes three laureates whose research, policy work, and innovative practices have made significant impacts in promoting ethical AI. Each laureate received a US$30,000 monetary award, a Beruniy medal, and a certificate. Professor Virgilio Almeida, Emeritus at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, was honoured for advancing inclusive, democratic, and human-centred AI, examining how algorithms influence democracy and social inequality.
Susan Perry, a human rights expert, and Claudia Roda, a computer scientist, were recognised for their pioneering work in youth-centred and anticipatory AI ethics, bridging technology and human rights research to address privacy, surveillance, digital inclusion, and education. The Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG) at Tsinghua University, led by Professor Lan Xue, also received the prize for advancing global AI governance research and policy, fostering international dialogue and collaboration on responsible AI development.
The UNESCO–Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize underscores the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that AI innovation aligns with ethical principles and human values. By celebrating research that combines scientific excellence with societal responsibility, the award sets a global benchmark for the ethical development and governance of artificial intelligence.
