December 3-5, 2026
King Fahad National Library - Riyadh

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Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2026

Artificial Intelligence and the Question of Ethics

Technology has accelerated intellectual, industrial, and societal change, offering faster, more precise, and more comprehensive solutions that now reach almost every part of life. Artificial intelligence stands at the center of this shift, bringing a major and unprecedented transformation in both scale and impact. At the same time, AI raises important ethical questions that require deep philosophical reflection. In its sixth edition, the Riyadh International Philosophy Conference explores the main developments, questions, and challenges AI presents across life, knowledge, and production, through critical and forward-looking perspectives.

The conference also aligns with the Saudi Council of Ministers’ designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, reflecting the Kingdom’s vision to become a global hub for advanced technologies.

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Speakers

Intellectual minds engaged in a shared philosophical dialogue

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Dialogue Sessions

In-depth discussions on central philosophical issues

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Partners

Partnerships that strengthened the conference’s academic and intellectual dimension

Conference Objectives

Building global bridges of collaboration among institutions and thinkers shaping the future of philosophy
Supporting access to rich, multidimensional philosophical content designed to engage diverse audiences across society
Advancing academic and intellectual inquiry to support the growth and impact of philosophical research
Creating an annual forum for dialogue to explore the evolving questions of philosophy and its contemporary relevance
Building global bridges of collaboration among institutions and thinkers shaping the future of philosophy
Supporting access to rich, multidimensional philosophical content designed to engage diverse audiences across society
Advancing academic and intellectual inquiry to support the growth and impact of philosophical research
Creating an annual forum for dialogue to explore the evolving questions of philosophy and its contemporary relevance

Themes of the Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2026

Global AI Ethics Frameworks: Philosophical Foundations and Cultural Perspectives

AI and the Challenges of Content Creation, Research, and Authorship

AI Systems and Ethical Responsibility

AI and Decision-Making

AI, Privacy, and Data Ownership

Bias and Algorithmic Prediction in AI Contexts

Thoughtful Spaces

Dialogue Sessions

The conference hosted academic sessions that brought together scholars and specialists to address major philosophical questions and examine concepts, origins, and mutual influences between East and West

Workshops

Workshops were conducted to deepen philosophical understanding and strengthen critical thinking through approaches connecting theory and practice

Accompanying Activities

Cultural and artistic activities related to philosophical themes were organized alongside the conference

Philosophy 101

Introductory workshops delivered in Arabic for the general public, explaining the fundamental approaches and core concepts of philosophy

Philosophers of Tomorrow

Introductory programs were offered to develop questioning and analytical skills among younger participants

Philosophical Debates

Structured debates highlighted diverse perspectives and supported a culture of reasoned dialogue

Key Questions of the Riyadh International Philosophy Conference 2026

To what extent are global AI ethics documents grounded in a universal human horizon, and to what extent do they express normative conceptions formed within the modern Western context?
How are the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, and explainability understood within global documents, and what philosophical assumptions organize them?
How can ethical concepts such as justice, the removal of harm, trustworthiness, responsibility, and the protection of human dignity be brought to bear in shaping a contemporary Arab-Islamic normative horizon for this field?
What are the ethical and epistemic limits of using AI models in research, writing, editing, drafting, and generation, and how does such use affect credibility, scholarly integrity, originality, authorship attribution, and intellectual property rights?
How should the individual's right to privacy and protection from unwarranted exposure, during life and after death, be understood in the context of sharing sensitive data with AI systems?
How do patterns of algorithmic bias arise in AI applications within the health and judicial sectors, and what effects do they have on procedural justice, fairness, and equality of opportunity?
How does the responsibility gap take shape in cases where AI systems lead to unforeseen or unintended harm? What are the limits of moral blame and the fair attribution of responsibility in high-risk contexts, especially in the judicial and health sectors, for example in cases involving theft, homicide, loss of limbs, paralysis, death, and the like?

Enriching Partnerships