ORGANISERS
Olga Kokshagina | 
Research Assistant, United Nations University Institute in Macau
| 
Visiting Research Assistant, United Nations University Institute in Macau | 
Computer Scientist and Head of Research, United Nations University Institute in Macau |
DESCRIPTION
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how we live, learn, and collaborate. Yet this transformation brings both opportunities and challenges—particularly in ensuring AI development is ethical, equitable, and aligned with human and planetary well-being. To fully unlock AI’s potential for inclusive and systemic transformation, we must actively build and nurture synergies across fields, disciplines, and technologies. But how do we do this in practice? How can we co-create meaningful frameworks that promote interdisciplinary innovation and support responsible, context-sensitive design?
This 2-hour co-design session, hosted in Macau in collaboration with UNU Macau, the Learning Planet Institute and the University of Sydney, invites diverse stakeholders—researchers, practitioners, technologists, students, policymakers, and community leaders—to engage in a participatory and human-centered exploration of these questions. The workshop will serve as an experimental space for mapping, sensemaking, and prototyping around AI’s role in shaping desirable futures.
We frame AI through the lens of “learning transitions”, which includes both: Learning about transitions—understanding the systemic changes reshaping our societies and ecosystems, and Transitions in learning—reimagining how education and work itself need to evolve to empower individuals and communities.
Participants will explore the intersection of AI and Collective Intelligence (CI)—focusing on how these forces can work together to enhance collaboration, amplify marginalized voices, and build democratic capacity in times of uncertainty. We draw inspiration from recent work (Rabello et al., 2023) that combines knowledge mapping, concept exploration, and research prototyping to surface areas of shared concern and potential innovation.
Using creative facilitation methods and visual mapping tools, participants will collaborate to identify leverage points, prototype ideas (e.g., learning accelerators or participatory research labs), and reflect on pathways for future collaboration. The session is grounded in a commitment to responsibility and trust—recognizing that AI innovation must not only be technically robust, but socially responsive and culturally situated.
This workshop is aligned with the mission of UNU Macau, which asks: How can we ensure AI serves humanity equitably and responsibly? By convening a transdisciplinary community around this question, we aim to spark the design of inclusive research agendas, experimental prototypes, and ethical infrastructures that support AI ecosystems rooted in care, equity, and long-term well-being.
Expected outcomes include:
- Prototype concepts for collaborative learning and innovation
- Strengthened relationships between local and international partners
- Foundations for follow-up projects, pilot labs, or joint proposals
By embracing a co-design approach, we seek to model how AI can augment—not replace—our collective intelligence, helping interdisciplinary communities navigate complexity and co-create futures worth living.
This event is part of the UNU Macau AI Education Day, which underscores the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of education, research, and social innovation. Focusing on the intersection of AI, education, and innovation, the event provides a platform for diverse discussions that inspire global collaboration, spark new ideas, and equip the next generation with essential skills. To view the full program, please visit the program page.
Celebrating #UN80 and #UNUat50 | Oct. 23-25, 2025 | Macau SAR, China
UNU Macau AI Conference 2025 | AI Education Day | AI for SDGs: Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition
