WSF Meeting- Artificial Intelligence’s Global Impact, 28 August 2025

On 28 August 2025, the Women for a Sustainable Future (WSF) network convened online to discuss the mounting global challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). As AI continues to rapidly reshape societies across the globe, this meeting provided a timely opportunity to discuss the urgent need for inclusive, ethical, and regulated AI development with international experts and parliamentarians from the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region and Europe.

The discussion was led by Dr Elham Hassanain, Professor of Computer Science at Umm Al-Qura University and former member of the Saudi Shura Council. Participants included parliamentarians, former parliamentarians, senior diplomats, and experts from Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and the UK.

Dr Hassanain provided analysis of AI's role in national security and warfare, gender bias in AI technologies, AI-driven climate solutions, and regulatory challenges. She emphasised that AI is a borderless issue requiring international cooperation for safe and ethical development. Participants highlighted critical gaps in policy including non-binding frameworks, inadequate protection for marginalised groups, and the absence of an international AI governing body.

Key recommendations emerging from the discussion included establishing global AI literacy initiatives, mandating human rights impact assessments for AI technologies, embedding enforceable ethical standards including deepfake detection tools, creating public-private partnerships for equitable AI access, launching a global committee to monitor AI development with focus on conflict zones, and promoting digital equity frameworks at national and international levels.