Samarkand Hosts First UNESCO–Uzbekistan Al-Biruni Prize Ceremony

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, the winners of the UNESCO–Uzbekistan Al-Biruni Prize in the field of Artificial Intelligence Ethics Research were formally announced, according to the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts.

The prize was established to support and encourage research in AI ethics, as well as the practical application of ethical principles at all levels.

The laureates include specialists whose scientific contributions, developments, and innovative approaches have had a significant impact on the advancement of ethical standards in artificial intelligence, promoting the implementation of the principles outlined in the “Recommendations on the Ethics of AI.”

“In a world transformed by the rapid development of new technologies—whether artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, or neurotechnology—we need an ethical compass. It is not a brake but a guiding star, ensuring that innovation always serves the common good,” emphasized Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

Prize winners received a cash award of $30,000, the Al-Biruni Medal, and a certificate. Among the honorees were Virgílio Augusto Fernandes de Almeida, Honorary Professor of Computer Science at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG); Professor and human rights expert Susan Perry; computer science specialist Claudia Roda; and the International Institute of AI Governance at Tsinghua University (China).

It is worth noting that by presidential decree of Uzbekistan on August 25, 2022, an international celebration of the 1,050th anniversary of the great thinker and polymath Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni was established.

Following this decree, on August 26, 2023, the UNESCO–Uzbekistan Al-Biruni International Prize was created, with the first award ceremony held on November 6, 2025, during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand.