TLDR: UNESCO, in partnership with the Uzbekistan Arts and Culture Development Foundation, has launched the UNESCO–Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize for Scientific Research on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The inaugural ceremony, held on November 6, 2025, in Samarkand, celebrated three laureates for their significant contributions to fostering ethical AI development through research, policy, and innovative practices. The prize aims to guide technological advancement with human values and promote international scientific cooperation.
Samarkand, Uzbekistan – In a significant move to steer the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence towards human-centric values, UNESCO, supported by the Uzbekistan Arts and Culture Development Foundation, officially inaugurated the UNESCO–Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize for Scientific Research on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The prestigious award ceremony took place on November 6, 2025, in Samarkand, as a pivotal side event of the 43rd General Conference. The prize is designed to champion ethical innovation, foster scientific cooperation, and recognize groundbreaking contributions in the field of AI ethics.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, underscored the critical importance of ethical guidance in an era of unprecedented technological change. “In a world transformed by the rapid rise of new technologies — whether artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, or now neurotechnology — we need an ethical compass. Not as a brake, but as a guiding star, to ensure that innovation is always directed toward the common good,” stated Azoulay during her opening remarks at the ceremony.
Gayane Uemerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture and Development Foundation, presented the prize alongside UNESCO’s Director-General. Uemerova highlighted the enduring legacy of Abu Rayhon Beruniy, a renowned polymath scholar closely associated with Samarkand’s great centers of learning. “Biruniy’s legacy is more than his discoveries, it was about his relentless curiosity, his respect of other cultures and the relentless pursuit of knowledge… AI offers us the opportunity to advance science and medicine, but as ever some of the practitioners have warned about using it without ethics,” Uemerova remarked, drawing a parallel between Beruniy’s intellectual spirit and the contemporary need for ethical AI.
The inaugural prize celebrated three distinguished laureates, each receiving a monetary reward of US $30,000, a Beruniy medal, and a certificate, in recognition of their profound impact on ethically developing AI through their research, policy contributions, and innovative practices.
Professor Virgilio Almeida was honored for his pioneering work in youth-centered and anticipatory AI ethics. Alongside Susan Perry, a human rights expert, and Claudia Roda, a computer scientist, Professor Almeida has been instrumental since 2012 in bridging technology and human rights research, addressing critical concerns related to privacy, surveillance, education, and digital inclusion. Their interdisciplinary approach is vital for advancing ethical AI while safeguarding fundamental rights.
Another recipient was the Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG) at Tsinghua University, China. The Institute was recognized for its significant advancements in research and policy concerning the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence. Under the leadership of Professor Lan Xue, I-AIIG actively promotes global dialogue through initiatives such as the International AI Cooperation and Governance Forum and the U&AI Youth AI4SDG Bootcamp, thereby fostering inclusive, responsible, and sustainable AI governance worldwide.
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Through the UNESCO–Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize, UNESCO and its partners reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that scientific discovery is consistently guided by human values, collaborative efforts, and a dedication to the betterment of humanity. The work of these laureates serves as a powerful testament to how AI innovation can be harmonized with responsibility and ethical foresight, ensuring that technology truly serves the common good. As UNESCO emphasizes, “ethics is not a limit on progress – it is its foundation. It is what allows technology to remain connected to humanity, and what enables us to use knowledge as a force for inclusion and sustainable development.”
