AI belongs to everyone

The UNESCO Information For All Programme (IFAP) Working Group on Information Accessibility (WGIA) will host its sixth annual online one-day AI4IA Conference on September 28 to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

This year’s event is presented in collaboration with the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Alberta (Canada), and the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, under the auspices of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean and the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa.

On September 28, voices as diverse as teenage innovators in Chile, a young musical prodigy in India, and a legal expert from Denmark will join more than 70 speakers worldwide at the 6th Annual Global AI4IA Conference, demonstrating that the future of AI is not the privilege of a few, but the responsibility of all.

This year’s theme, ‘AI Access in Focus’, highlights the power of technology to open doors, or close them, depending on how it is developed, shared, and governed. The conference is not intended as an academic exercise, but as a gathering where youths, innovators, researchers, industry leaders, technocrats, and community advocates meet on equal footing.

More Than a Conference, A Global Forum

Every year, the AI4IA Conference draws presenters who volunteer their expertise from government officials and regulators to grassroots activists and child prodigies. This distinctive tradition has earned the event its reputation, transforming it into a genuinely global forum on AI access, fairness, and ethics with participants from every continent.

The 2025 programme features:

• Over 70 prerecorded presentations are available on demand in themed virtual rooms.

• Eight regional satellite events will be held in Canada (September 22), Chile (September 26), Europe (September 23), India (September 25), Latin America (September 25), Jamaica (September 24), South Africa (September 19), and Zimbabwe (September 23).

• There will be a fireside chat and live interactive session on 28 September (3:00–5:00 GMT), during which participants can engage in expert discussions with available presenters in real time.

Stories that Inspire, Voices that Matter

The Tremendas Girls of Chile

At the Latin America satellite event, two young women, university student Isidora Zapata and high-school student Martina Ortega, will take the virtual stage. Both are part of Tremendas, a movement active in 18 countries, embodying the philosophy of girls who want to change the world. Isidora merges AI and technology with mental health advocacy, while Martina inspires young people through astronomy outreach and STEM inclusion. Their presentation will highlight that the future of AI is not only technical; it’s personal, social, and profoundly human.

Niyati Chetransh, India

At just 13, Niyati has turned incredible adversity into success. Today, she has mastered 42 instruments, broken national records, and is now blending her talent with artificial intelligence.

At the India satellite event, she will perform a pioneering AI fusion symphony – one line created by AI, the next performed live by Niyati.

Denmark’s Bold Legal Frontier

During a live fireside chat, Danish copyright lawyer Anne-Sophie Kofoed Rasmussen will unpack Europe’s first-ever proposal to grant citizens copyright-like rights over their own likeness, voice, and body. In an age where deepfakes blur the boundaries of reality, Denmark’s move signals a profound shift, declaring that “your face is your property”. It’s a legal debate with global implications, and conference attendees will have an opportunity to be a part of it.

Why It Matters

AI can be a tool of empowerment – or exclusion. From biased algorithms to opaque “black box” systems, the risks are real. But so are the opportunities: AI that improves education, expands access for persons with disabilities, preserves cultural heritage, and gives communities a voice in shaping their future.

“From young innovators to seasoned policymakers, the AI4IA Conference reminds us that the future of AI cannot be left to chance or a select few. It must be shaped by everyone, for everyone,” said Cordel Green, executive director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica and vice-chair of the UNESCO Information For All Programme (IFAP) Working Group on Information Accessibility (WGIA).

How to Take Part

The 6th Annual Global AI4IA Conference is free and accessible to everyone who believes technology should promote equity, inclusion, and human dignity. To join the conference and regional satellite events, persons can register at https://ai4iaconference.com/.