“Artificial intelligence can be a great opportunity to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals. But any technological revolution leads to new imbalances that we must anticipate” said Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO. Therefore, UNESCO has committed to study and research involving different stakeholders to protect and safeguard the important human values along the development of AI and other advanced technologies. To guide the development and use of AI in a human-centred and ethical direction, UNESCO promotes the use of Internet Universality ROAM principles which are based on the respect for human Rights, Openness, Accessibility and Multi-stakeholder participation. On the occasion of Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2021, UNESCO Bangkok collaborates with Microsoft Thailand to organize 5 online sessions on AI for girls in Thailand. Girls from late secondary school to university will be introduced to the human centred principles that are important for AI development, as well as some technical practices and knowledge of AI and other ICT. UNESCO’s newly launched short AI animation series, interactive quizzes and materials and tools from Microsoft will be shown and introduced during the sessions. The “AI for Girls” series of online sessions aim to make women learners comfortable with AI and equip them with confidence to pursue studies or careers in AI related fields. The training modules seek to help switch the mindsets of girls from being passive consumers to active creators of technology and to reduce the gender gap in the field of AI. If it develops in way that benefits humanity, AI has great potential for promoting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Encouraging women especially young women to understand, learn and program AI is a first step and effective solution to tackle gender disparity in technology and in the whole society.

Agenda

– Session 1: Introduction and Ice-breaking; Thursday, 29 April 2021 at 14:00 – 15:00

– Session 2: Ethical and legal principles in the development of AI; Thursday, 6 May 2021 at 14:00 – 15:00

– Session 3: Participating in AI research and development; Thursday, 13 May 2021 at 14:00 – 15:00

– Session 4: AI knowledge sharing; Thursday, 20 May 2021 at 13:30 – 15:00

– Session 5: AI showcasing; Tuesday, 25 May 2021 at 13:30 – 15:00