New york: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Kenya, and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) collaboratively hosted a high-level event titled “Empowering Nations for Inclusive Prosperity in the Era of Artificial Intelligence” on September 23, 2025. This gathering took place on the fringes of the 80th Plenary Session of the United Nations General Assembly and received support from the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the event aimed to transform the UN secretary-general’s report on Innovative Voluntary Financing Options for Artificial Intelligence Capacity-Building into actionable steps. Saudi Arabia and Kenya spearheaded efforts to mobilize governments and stakeholders to establish a global network of AI capacity-building centers. The under-secretary-general and special envoy for digital and emerging technologies emphasized the invitation to member states to consider creating centers dedicated to exchange and cooperation. These centers will form part of a United Nations-supported network, facilitating coordination and in-kind contributions from universities, corporations, member states, and other relevant actors. This initiative aims to enhance access to skills, resources, and innovation for developing countries, strengthen institutional capacity, and promote inclusive participation in the digital age.
Governments from Saudi Arabia, Kenya, China, Trinidad, India, and Kazakhstan have pledged to explore the establishment of such centers within the United Nations-supported network. They called upon other member states to join the initiative and requested the support of the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies in forming and maintaining the network. Additionally, private sector and academic institutions, including WorldQuant University, Cisco, and Oracle, committed to collaborating with the network to provide skills training across various sectors.
Potential contributors to the network include ICAIRE (Saudi Arabia), the Center for Global AI Innovative Governance of Fudan University (China), the African Institute for Capacity Development (Kenya), the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (India), the forthcoming International Center for Artificial Intelligence (Kazakhstan), and the University of the West Indies Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center, which operates across the Caribbean. The meeting, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and ICAIRE, lays the foundation for drafting a charter that will outline the network’s parameters by the AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026.
Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) Vice President Sami Muqeem highlighted the focus on action over abstract principles, emphasizing the importance of building skills, expanding education, and ensuring equitable access to innovation. Kenyan Special Envoy for Technology Ambassador Philip Thigo underscored the necessity of capacity-building for safe and responsible AI adoption, advocating for collaborations to bridge the AI divide in the Global South.
The creation of a network of AI centers marks a significant step toward enhancing international cooperation, fostering responsible innovation, and expanding opportunities for inclusive AI capacity-building on a global scale.