Dubai to convene great AI thinkers for AI@70 global summit
Dubai to shape future of AI at 70th anniversary summit in 2026
#UAE #conferences – Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) will host a landmark global gathering in 2026 titled AI@70 - Towards a Global Humanity, marking the 70th anniversary of the birth of artificial intelligence. The new global event was announced today by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation.
Backed by Dubai Future Foundation and supported by US Ivy League institution Dartmouth College, the event will bring together top thinkers from science, technology, philosophy, and the arts to shape a long-term vision for AI's role in society. The summit will launch the ‘Humanity Lab’ incubator, fusing art, ethics, and tech to prototype AI solutions rooted in human values.
SO WHAT? – As Dubai works to position itself at the centre of the global AI conversation on ethics, identity, and societal transformation, AI@70 supports that goal by demonstrating that the city is more than a commercial hub for AI. The speed with which the emirate has moved to both embrace AI and provide world-class forums to discuss the issues, already differentiates it from many other technology hubs. By aligning breakthrough innovation with philosophical foresight, Dubai aims to shape not just the next frontier of AI, but how it serves humanity.
A few key points about this announcement.
As Dubai AI Week 2025 draws to a successful close, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, has announced a new global event to take place in the emirate during Dubai AI Week 2026.
AI@70: Towards a Global Humanity will be held during Dubai AI Week in 2026 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Dartmouth Workshop, regarded by many researchers as the founding moment of AI.
The event is officially supported by Dartmouth College, where AI as a field was first conceptualised.
It will convene leading minds across academia, business, art, science, and philosophy to explore AI’s long-term impact.
Topics include the ethical, philosophical, and societal implications of AI alongside emerging technical breakthroughs.
The event will launch an eight-week ‘Humanity Lab’ incubator at Dubai AI Campus in DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), blending art, ethics, and AI product design.
The incubator aims to prototype new categories of AI tools that reflect the evolving human-AI relationship.
Dubai Future Foundation and DIFC are key organisers, with support from advisory firm APCO.
The initiative underlines Dubai’s ambition to become a thought leader in AI’s human-centric evolution.
AI@70 is designed to create a global research agenda that mirrors the original Dartmouth Conference’s pioneering spirit.
The event is part of Dubai AI Week 2026, reinforcing the emirate’s role in global AI discourse and innovation.
ZOOM OUT – Dubai AI Week 2025 shone the spotlight on Dubai’s ambition to lead in global AI innovation. The week-long programme not only attracted AI leaders and specialists from tech, government, and academia to attend world-class events, but also brought together energy and enthusiasm by the bucket load. Beyond the global expert speakers, cutting edge demos, big deals and knowledge sharing opportunities, those who attended Dubai AI Week this year will remember the buzz! That alone will bring the AI industry running back for more in 2026.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]