BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8ee73cf09a5 DTSTART:20250407T120000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20250407T130000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:28th CSTD side event: Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Develop ment CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping economies and societi es\, offering significant potential to accelerate sustainable development. However\, many developing countries face challenges in harnessing its ben efits due to insufficient digital infrastructure\, limited data access\, a nd a lack of necessary skills. To bridge the gap with leading economies\, developing countries should swiftly implement AI policies to overcome barr iers to AI diffusion consistent with their development strategies and goal s\, while addressing possible economic and social downsides of AI.The cros s-border impacts of AI further highlight the need for global collaboration to make it accessible and beneficial for all\, fostering inclusive innova tion to tackle global challenges. As AI development is highly concentrated in a few countries and companies\, stronger international cooperation is crucial to co-create inclusive governance mechanisms and to ensure AI will drive sustainable progress rather than deepening existing inequalities.Ob jectiveWith reference to UNCTAD’s Technology and Innovation Report 2025\ , the event aims to explore ways for countries to strategically position t hemselves to take advantage of the opportunities offered by AI. The discu ssion will center around the assessment and design of industrial and innov ation policies to support AI adoption\, adaptation and development\, as we ll as the importance of strengthened international collaboration to steer AI toward inclusive and equitable development.AgendaWelcoming remarksAnton io Vezzani\, Economic Affairs Officer\, Technology and Innovation Policy R esearch Section\, UNCTADPresentation of UNCTAD’s Technology and Innovati on Report 2025 (10 minutes)Wai Kit Si Tou\, Economic Affairs Officer\, Tec hnology and Innovation Policy Research Section\, UNCTADPanel discussion (2 5 minutes)Panellists:H.E. Muhammadou M.O. Kah\, Ambassador of Gambia and C hairman of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for DevelopmentAshu tosh Chadha\, Senior Director UN Affairs and International Organisations a t MicrosoftMarie Humeau\, First Secretary\, Permanent Mission of the Kingd om of the Netherlands to the Conference on DisarmamentLeandro Santos Texei ra\, First Secretary\, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the WTO and other Ec onomic Organizations (TBC)Interactive discussion (20 minutes)<\;p class= "\;text-align-justify paragraph"\; style="\;vertical-align:bas eline\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/28th-cst d-side-event-inclusive-artificial-intelligence-development DTSTAMP:20260826T131644Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR