The UNU Macau AI Conference is a global platform for shaping AI for All. Rooted in UNU Macau’s work on digital technologies for sustainable development, the conference brings together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, civil society, youth, and international organizations to explore how AI can advance the Sustainable Development Goals, bridge divides, and support an equitable digital future.
From early conversations on multistakeholder partnerships in 2021, to data governance in 2023, to the launch of the UNU Global AI Network in 2024, and the “AI for Humanity” milestone in 2025, UNU Macau has built a convening space where global expertise meets practical action.
Our Journey
2021 — Building the foundation: digital technologies for the SDGs
In 2021, UNU Macau convened government, academia, the private sector, NGOs, and UN partners in Macao to examine how digital technologies and multistakeholder partnerships could help advance the Sustainable Development Goals in Macao and the Greater Bay Area. The summit emphasized collaboration, innovation, and digital inclusion at a time when COVID-19 had intensified development challenges and widened digital divides.
2023 — From data dilemmas to human-centred digital development
The 2023 World Data Forum Macau Satellite Event, held on 25 April 2023, brought together academics, government agencies, private-sector professionals, civil society, and students to discuss data dilemmas and the role of a human-centred systems approach to data and digital technology development. The event was organized by UNU Macau in partnership with institutions including the University of Macau, Macau University of Science and Technology, and the University of Saint Joseph.
2024 — AI for All: bridging divides, building a sustainable future
The UNU Macau AI Conference 2024 took place in Macau SAR, China on 25 April 2024 as a contribution to the UN Summit of the Future. Under the theme “AI for All: Bridging Divides, Building a Sustainable Future,” the conference gathered nearly 500 participants from more than 30 countries, including ministers, senior officials, academics, private-sector leaders, international organizations, and civil society representatives.
Across 26 sessions and four side events, participants explored three thematic pillars: AI to Accelerate SDGs, AI Governance for the Future, and AI and Capacity Building. The conference also marked the official launch of the UNU Global AI Network, a platform designed to connect expertise from academia, industry, policymaking, and civil society to advance responsible AI for sustainable development.
2025 — AI for Humanity: building an equitable digital future
The UNU Macau AI Conference 2025 took place on 24 October 2025, UN Day, at the Galaxy International Convention Center. It was part of the UNU Macau Milestone Series, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 50th anniversary of United Nations University. The conference theme was “AI for Humanity: Building an Equitable Digital Future.”
The 2025 conference brought together over 500 participants from more than 30 countries and convened more than 150 speakers from academia, government, industry, and civil society. The programme featured 30 sessions selected from nearly 300 global submissions, with a focus on communities in the Global South and the need for AI systems that serve all of humanity.
The conference was organized around three pillars: AI Research for Narrowing the Digital Divide, Inclusiveness and Capacity Building in the AI Era, and Navigating the AI Ecosystem through Synergies and Interdisciplinary Innovation. A major highlight was the launch of the UNU Book Series on Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development, published in collaboration with Springer.
Toward AI for All
Since 2021, UNU Macau’s convenings have evolved from SDG partnerships and digital transformation to data governance and global AI cooperation. The 2024 AI Conference gathered nearly 500 participants from more than 30 countries and launched the UNU Global AI Network. In 2025, the UNU Macau Milestone Series brought together more than 800 participants from over 30 countries across the AI Conference, Global Youth AI Innovation Competition, and AI Education Day.
The UNU Macau AI Conference is more than an annual event. It is a growing global platform for research, dialogue, policy exchange, youth engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. As AI continues to transform societies, UNU Macau remains committed to advancing a digital future that is human-centred, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.
Join us in building AI for humanity.
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