Bangkok, Thailand – June 24–27, 2025: Dr. Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, participated as a featured speaker at the 3rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence held in Bangkok. This landmark event—the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region—brought together global thought leaders, policymakers, and experts to assess progress and reinforce commitments made under UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
Championing Inclusivity and Human-Centered AI
Speaking in the high-profile session titled “Women Leaders at the Forefront of AI Policy and Technology,” powered by UNESCO’s Women4Ethical AI platform, Dr. Rao underscored the critical need for inclusive, human-centered, and experiential approaches in AI development and governance.
“Inclusivity is essential,” she emphasized. “Billions of women around the world lack digital access. If their voices are not part of the AI discourse, then technology risks deepening existing inequalities rather than solving them.”
Dr. Rao also raised urgent ethical questions:
Who controls access to AI?
What are the environmental costs of advanced technologies?
Why is accountability so easily shifted to machines, even when they err?
She stressed that human learning is rooted in experience, and that technology must not disconnect us from reflection, humility, and our shared humanity.
South Asia Leadership and Global Collaboration
Alongside Dr. Rao, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham was represented by Ms. Claire Moleon, Dr. Srividya Sheshadri, and Dr. Victoria Ustenko, who participated in various sessions and working groups. Dr. Rao also contributed to sessions under the AI Experts Without Borders platform—where she is an active member—and advanced discussions for the South Asia Chapter of Women4EthicalAI. This chapter is chaired by Amrita University in partnership with the UNESCO New Delhi Office, reinforcing Amrita’s regional leadership in AI ethics.
A Milestone for Ethical AI in Asia-Pacific
Co-hosted by the Royal Thai Government and UNESCO, the forum served as a platform to evaluate global progress on AI ethics while calling for concrete, inclusive action. With voices like Dr. Rao’s at the forefront, the event marked a significant step toward building AI systems that are not only technologically advanced, but also ethically sound and socially responsible.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s continued participation in these global platforms signals its strong commitment to ensuring that voices from South Asia—and especially women—remain central to shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
