Palestine youth AI hub

The first Global Dialogue on AI Governance will be successful if it sets a foundation for inclusive, actionable, and human-centered AI governance. Beyond agreements on principles, success lies in generating practical mechanisms for accountability, transparency, and interoperability that can be adopted across countries and sectors. A meaningful outcome would be the establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms that actively include governments, International Organisations, academia, civil society, and industry, ensuring that voices from developing countries, marginalized communities, and people with disabilities are not only heard but shape the dialogue. The dialogue should also promote capacity-building and knowledge sharing, enabling countries and institutions to deploy AI responsibly, safely, and innovatively. Encouraging the use of open-source AI models and datasets will further enhance equity, trust, and global collaboration. From my own experience in Palestine, developing the BioAI Integrated System for Monitoring and Treating Wastewater, I have witnessed firsthand how AI can address critical societal challenges when applied ethically and inclusively. This experience underscores the importance of policies that bridge technological innovation with social impact, especially in resource-limited or fragile contexts. Ultimately, success will be measured by the dialogue's ability to transform commitments into concrete, measurable actions, creating a globally coordinated AI ecosystem that safeguards human rights, fosters innovation, and serves humanity as a whole.

• Safe, secure and trustworthy AI
• AI capacity-building
• Transparency, accountability, and human oversight
• Protection and promotion of human rights

My priorities reflect a holistic and human-centric approach to AI governance, balancing technical innovation with ethical responsibility. Safe, secure, and trustworthy AI ensures that AI systems are resilient, reliable, and aligned with human values, preventing harm and fostering public trust. AI capacity-building is critical for empowering institutions, governments, and communities-especially in developing countries-to deploy AI responsibly and inclusively. My own work in Palestine, designing AI systems for public health monitoring, demonstrates the transformative impact of equipping local teams with AI expertise. Protection and promotion of human rights guarantees that AI development respects privacy, equality, accessibility, and freedom of expression, safeguarding vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities. Transparency, accountability, and human oversight create trust and ensure AI systems are explainable, auditable, and aligned with ethical standards, enabling corrective measures when unintended consequences occur. Together, these priorities establish a strategic framework for AI governance that integrates technical excellence with ethical, social, and human considerations, ensuring AI serves as a tool for sustainable, inclusive, and equitable development worldwide.

Several emerging and cross-cutting issues deserve urgent attention: AI and environmental sustainability: Large-scale AI models consume significant energy. Promoting green AI and energy-efficient technologies is essential for environmentally responsible innovation. Inclusive AI design: AI systems must account for diversity, accessibility, and socio-economic contexts, avoiding the reinforcement of existing inequalities. AI in fragile or conflict-affected regions: In my experience in Palestine, AI can address public health challenges in complex contexts, such as monitoring polio in wastewater. This demonstrates the need for ethical frameworks that protect vulnerable populations and ensure equitable deployment. Workforce adaptation and social impact: AI transforms economies and labor markets. Coordinated strategies for reskilling, upskilling, and social protection are necessary to ensure inclusive economic growth. Global regulatory cooperation: Rapid AI development demands harmonized, interoperable policies to prevent fragmented governance and unequal access to AI benefits. Addressing these issues alongside the existing thematic areas will ensure that AI governance is forward-looking, inclusive, and resilient, fostering innovation while safeguarding human rights and societal well-being.

In Palestine and the broader Arab region, AI adoption is accelerating in areas such as public health, digital services, and environmental monitoring, yet governance gaps remain a significant barrier to realizing AI's full potential. One major challenge is the lack of comprehensive policies and standards for safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. Without clear regulations, AI deployment can be inconsistent, raising concerns about reliability, accountability, and unintended societal consequences. Similarly, limited capacity-building initiatives hinder local institutions from effectively developing, managing, and overseeing AI systems, leading to a dependency on external expertise and technology. Another critical gap is the protection of human rights in AI applications, particularly in fragile contexts where vulnerable populations—such as children, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities—risk exclusion or harm. The absence of transparency and human oversight mechanisms further exacerbates this issue, making it difficult to monitor AI systems and ensure ethical compliance. Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities. AI can transform public health monitoring, education, and environmental management even in resource-constrained contexts. My experience developing the BioAI Integrated System for Monitoring and Treating Wastewater demonstrates how AI can proactively identify public health risks and guide evidence-based policy interventions, creating tangible societal impact. Addressing governance gaps through international collaboration, capacity-building, and adoption of ethical frameworks would enable Palestine and the region to leverage AI responsibly, equitably, and sustainably. Strengthening transparency, accountability, and inclusive design will not only enhance trust in AI but also empower local innovators and communities to actively participate in shaping a human-centric AI ecosystem.

The AI Dialogue can serve as a catalyst for global coordination, knowledge exchange, and inclusive policymaking in the field of AI governance. By bringing together governments, International Organisations, civil society, academia, and industry, it can create a shared understanding of ethical, technical, and social standards for AI, enabling alignment across regions and sectors. One critical role of the Dialogue is to bridge capacity gaps, particularly for developing countries and resource-constrained contexts. By facilitating training, technical assistance, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, the Dialogue can empower local actors to implement AI solutions safely, ethically, and inclusively. Moreover, the Dialogue can promote transparency, accountability, and interoperability by establishing global norms for responsible AI development and deployment. It can also provide a platform to address emerging challenges, such as AI in conflict zones, AI's environmental impact, and inclusivity for marginalized populations. From my personal experience leading the BioAI Integrated System for Monitoring and Treating Wastewater in Palestine, I have seen how international collaboration accelerates the adoption of AI solutions for critical societal challenges. The Dialogue could scale such impact by fostering partnerships that combine technical expertise with local knowledge, ensuring AI contributes to tangible social, economic, and environmental outcomes. In short, the AI Dialogue can advance international cooperation by transforming principles into actionable frameworks, promoting equitable access to AI technologies, and building a globally coordinated, human-centered AI ecosystem

The AI Dialogue should build upon and connect with existing international and multi-stakeholder initiatives, such as the OECD AI Principles, the UNESCO Recommendation on AI Ethics, the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), and the ITU AI for Good initiatives. Regional networks and capacity-building programs in the Arab world, as well as open-source and collaborative AI platforms, provide a foundation for dialogue and knowledge exchange. By linking with these mechanisms, the Dialogue can avoid duplication, harmonize standards, and foster interoperability, ensuring that international efforts are complementary and synergistic. It can also provide a global platform for underrepresented voices, including developing countries and marginalized groups, ensuring that AI governance is inclusive and contextually relevant. The added value of the AI Dialogue lies in its ability to translate high-level principles into actionable, measurable outcomes, fostering real-world implementation of ethical, safe, and equitable AI practices. It can create networks of practitioners, regulators, and innovators, facilitating cross-border collaboration on challenges such as human rights protection, AI safety, and capacity-building. Furthermore, the Dialogue can encourage sharing of best practices, data, and open-source AI models, promoting transparency, trust, and equitable access. By connecting policy, research, and practical implementation, it can accelerate the adoption of AI in ways that maximize societal benefit while minimizing risks, particularly in fragile or resource-constrained contexts. Ultimately, the Dialogue's value lies in its ability to unify global efforts, empower local actors, and shape a governance ecosystem where AI is developed and deployed responsibly, inclusively, and sustainably.

Different stakeholders—governments, International Organisations, academia, industry, civil society, and local communities—can contribute to the AI Dialogue by bringing diverse expertise, perspectives, and experiences. Governments can share regulatory approaches and national AI strategies, while industry actors provide insights on technological innovation, deployment challenges, and scalability. Academia contributes evidence-based research, and civil society ensures ethical, social, and human-rights considerations are prioritized. Local communities, particularly in resource-constrained or fragile regions, provide on-the-ground knowledge to ensure AI solutions are inclusive, culturally appropriate, and contextually relevant. To maximize stakeholder contributions, the AI Dialogue should adopt a structured, multi-layered format: Plenary sessions for setting global priorities and principles. Thematic working groups focused on specific areas such as AI safety, capacity-building, and human rights. Interactive labs or innovation hubs where stakeholders can co-create pilot projects or policy prototypes. Public consultations and digital platforms for broader engagement, including asynchronous participation from underrepresented regions. This format ensures that discussions are inclusive, action-oriented, and capable of producing tangible outcomes. From my experience in Palestine leading AI-based public health initiatives, I have observed that multi-stakeholder collaboration accelerates adoption and ethical implementation of AI solutions. A dialogue designed with these elements will ensure that the AI governance ecosystem is globally coordinated, locally informed, and human-centered.

Several voices remain underrepresented in AI governance discussions: Developing countries and fragile regions, which face unique social, economic, and infrastructural challenges. Marginalized communities, including women, people with disabilities, and minority ethnic or linguistic groups. Youth and grassroots innovators, who bring fresh perspectives on technology adoption and social impact. Inclusion of these voices can be achieved through targeted outreach, funding support, and capacity-building programs that enable meaningful participation. Providing translation services, accessible digital platforms, and flexible engagement formats ensures that participants from different linguistic, geographic, and physical accessibility contexts can contribute effectively. Drawing from my experience in Palestine, involving local communities in AI-driven public health projects demonstrated that context-specific knowledge significantly improves the relevance and ethical impact of AI solutions. The Dialogue should replicate such practices globally by actively engaging underrepresented stakeholders in policy design, pilot projects, and multi-stakeholder working groups. Ensuring representation also requires mechanisms for accountability, so that the perspectives of marginalized groups are not tokenistic but are integrated into the design, deployment, and governance of AI technologies.

To foster meaningful engagement, the AI Dialogue can adopt innovative, interactive, and hybrid formats: Co-creation labs and hackathons, allowing participants to collaboratively design AI policy prototypes or technological solutions in real-time. Scenario-based simulations, where stakeholders explore potential ethical, social, or security implications of AI decisions in controlled exercises. Digital platforms with asynchronous participation, enabling contributions from regions or stakeholders unable to attend in person, ensuring global inclusivity. Interactive roundtables and moderated debates, which encourage cross-sector dialogue between policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society representatives. Storytelling and experience-sharing sessions, where innovators from developing countries or marginalized communities showcase practical AI applications and lessons learned. Drawing from my experience implementing AI systems for public health in Palestine, hands-on, collaborative engagement proved far more effective than purely top-down discussions in generating actionable outcomes and building trust among stakeholders. By combining in-person, virtual, and experiential methods, the Dialogue can create a dynamic, participatory environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, and mutual learning. This approach ensures that the outcomes are not only strategically aligned with global priorities but also practically implementable and socially meaningful.

Different stakeholders-governments, International Organisations, civil society, academia, industry, and local communities-can contribute to the AI Dialogue by bringing diverse expertise, perspectives, and experiences. Governments can provide insight into regulatory frameworks and national AI strategies, industry can share technical innovations and deployment challenges, academia can contribute research and ethical guidance, and civil society ensures social, cultural, and human-rights perspectives are included. Local communities, particularly from fragile or underrepresented regions, offer context-specific knowledge that makes AI governance more inclusive and relevant. Based on my personal experience in Palestine, I have faced challenges due to the monopolization of key governmental positions, which limited equitable participation in shaping AI policies, ethics, and the national AI strategy. This experience demonstrates the importance of formally including diverse voices to ensure policies reflect societal needs rather than the interests of a few. To maximize contributions, the AI Dialogue should adopt a structured and multi-layered format: Plenary sessions to set global principles and priorities. Thematic working groups focusing on areas such as AI safety, human rights, and capacity-building. Interactive labs or co-creation workshops, where stakeholders collaboratively design pilot projects or policy prototypes. Digital platforms for public consultation and asynchronous participation, enabling those unable to attend physically to contribute meaningfully. This approach ensures that discussions are inclusive, actionable, and outcome-oriented, empowering stakeholders to collaborate effectively. Formally integrating experts from underrepresented regions, such as myself, will strengthen the human-centric and context-aware nature of AI governance, fostering equitable and sustainable development globally.