International Symposium on Global AI Governance in the Public and Planetary Interest at University of Helsinki
This symposium examines critical perspectives on global AI governance, responsible AI policies and ethical practices, alongside meaningful and effective regulations to support innovation, equity, inclusion, civic agency and environmental sustainability in the development and use of AI-based systems, platforms and services globally today. It examines the risks and implications of the use of AI in societal domains where the public interest for civil society and planetary concerns are most crucially relevant.
The hybrid symposium held at Think Corner will be recorded and livestreamed, and is free to attend.
The day-long event brings together AI researchers, scholars, industry practitioners, public sector actors, and civil society to offer critical insights on governance, responsible policies and ethical approaches on how AI should be leveraged in the public and planetary interest.
One of the opening keynotes includes ππ ππ¨π₯π’ππ² π’π§ 2026: πππππ π¨π ππ‘π (ππ’π¬)ππ§π’π¨π§ by Virginia Dignum, Professor in Responsible Artificial Intelligence and Director, AI Policy Lab @UmeΓ₯ University.
We plan to host sessions on Global AI Governance and Policy, Governing AI for Planetary Health, Responsible AI in Defense Tech, Security and Warfare?, Future of Civic AI, Public Interest and Democracy, and Leveraging AI for Social and Humanitarian Action.
We are still finalizing the invited speakers and panelists for the symposium. If you would like to suggest anyone with relevant expertise from academia, industry or civil society, please let us know.
Hosted by Dr. Nitin Sawhney, Docent in Computer Science, University of Helsinki and Prof. Laura Ruotsalainen, Professor of Spatiotemporal Data Analysis for Sustainability Science, Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki. Event coordinator: Katri Karhunen (FCAI).
Co-organized in cooperation with Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence, University of Helsinki, Embassy of France in Helsinki and United Nations Global Pulse.
Held in conjunction with FCAI AI Day 2026 hosted at Aalto University the day before on October 20, 2026.
The symposium is associated with The Global AI Policy Research Network (GlobAIpol), an international community of practice led by the AI Policy Lab at UmeΓ₯ University that serves as a platform for policy researchers and professionals to advance responsible AI policy research, evidence-based insights and actionable strategies for stakeholders across academia, industry, public sector, and civil society. It builds on Global AI Policy Research Summits organized in Stockholm in 2024 and TU Delft in 2025 (images featured here), with the next summit hosted online in mid-November.