At a Glance
- The UNU Macau AI Conference 2026 takes place at MGM MACAU on 25–26 November 2026, under the theme AI × Education: AI for Learning, Learning for AI.
- The program has 16 thematic sessions, 16 workshops and training sessions, and the final of the AI for SDGs – Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition 2026, featuring 9 international finalist teams alongside Macau youth teams.
- The conference call drew 340 submissions from 74 countries and territories, nearly three-quarters of them from the Global South. The competition drew 306 proposals from 71 countries and regions, and 89% of them included Global South representation.
AI is reshaping teaching, learning and the skills needed for work. Yet its growing role in education raises fundamental questions: who benefits, who shapes the technology, and how can institutions ensure that innovation advances opportunity rather than deepens existing divides?
The UNU Macau AI Conference 2026 will bring together policymakers, educators, researchers, technologists and young innovators to address these questions, connecting global debate with practical approaches to more inclusive, AI-literate education systems.
The conference is organised by UNU Macau, in partnership with MGM, supported by the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).
25 November: Rethinking Education in the Age of AI
Across 16 thematic sessions, the Conference day will explore how AI is changing the purpose and practice of education. Discussions will examine the implications of generative AI for learning and employability, the challenges of AI education in low-resource settings, and how the Global South can help shape AI rather than simply adopt it.
Governance, trust and human agency will run throughout the program. Participants will consider the infrastructure and design choices behind AI systems, integrity in AI-mediated communication, the emergence of agentic AI, and accountability for AI-informed educational decisions. Discussions will also explore Macau’s role as a multilateral bridge for international AI cooperation.
26 November: From Ideas to Action
The second day will connect youth innovation with institutional capacity building. Finalists in the AI for SDGs – Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition 2026 will present their solutions to an international jury across three tracks: AI for Education, AI for Social Innovation, and AI for Less Developed Countries. A dedicated final will showcase Macau youth teams, followed by an award ceremony.
Alongside the competition, 16 workshops and training sessions will help policymakers, school leaders and educators translate ideas into practice. Covering AI literacy, critical thinking, institutional AI integration and global AI governance, these sessions will focus on tools and frameworks participants can apply in their own settings.
Beyond the Conference
Selected panellists will contribute to proceedings published in the UNU–Springer book series on AI and Sustainable Development, extending the conference’s contribution to research, policy and practice.
Further speakers and Program details will be announced in the coming weeks.