On the evening of November 6 (local time), the award ceremony for the First UNESCO-Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize for Scientific Research on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University (I-AIIG) was named the first research institution laureate on the winners’ list.

Xue Lan accepts the medal and certificate on behalf of I-AIIG.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, presented the prize with Gayane Uemerova, Chairperson of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture and Development Foundation. Xue Lan, Dean of I-AIIG, along with Vice Deans Liang Zheng and Xiao Qian, attended the ceremony as invitees.

Ms. Azoulay emphasized in her speech that in a world transformed by the rapid rise of new technologies — whether artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, or now neurotechnology — we need an ethical compass. Not as a brake, but as a guiding star, to ensure that innovation is always directed toward the common good.

Ms. Uemerova pointed out that Biruniy’s legacy is more than his discoveries, it was about his relentless curiosity, his respect for other cultures and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. AI offers us the opportunity to advance science and medicine, but as ever some of the practitioners have warned about using it without ethics.

In his acceptance speech, Professor Xue emphasized that the true power to shape the future lies not in AI technology, but in our own hands. The social impact of AI, he noted, depends entirely on the design principles, governance models, and application approaches that we ourselves employ. He called on the international community to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to build a shared framework of responsibility for AI governance.

"The inaugural award being presented to a Chinese academic institution is a significant recognition of China's advances in AI technology and governance. It underscores our country's growing contributions and international influence in the field of AI ethics," said a Ministry of Education official.

The event concluded with a thought-leadership panel titled "Harnessing Frontier Technologies for the Benefit of All," which delved into the ethics and impacts of AI, as well as its integration into national and regional systems.

Panel Discussion

The UNESCO-Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize recognizes individuals, institutions, or organizations that have made significant contributions to the field of AI ethics research and applications. Established at the initiative of the Government of Uzbekistan, the prize is awarded biennially to three laureates worldwide. Since its establishment, I-AIIG has been engaged in AI governance practices, promoting global collaboration and win-win outcomes and spearheading the development of AI governance frameworks and multilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Editor: Li Han