Participated in the UN AI and Human Development Global Dialogue on Embodied AI and Sustainable Development in Xi’an, August 20–21, 2026

The United Nations AI and Human Development Global Dialogue was held at Tang Paradise in Xi’an, China, on 20–21 August 2026. Convened under the leadership of United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, in collaboration with the Government of China and the United Nations Secretariat, the Xi’an gathering was the third convening in the global dialogue series, following earlier meetings in Cairo and Mexico City.

The series examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping human development, institutions, culture and the relationship between people and technology. The Xi’an programme placed particular emphasis on embodied AI and robotics, as AI systems increasingly move beyond digital interfaces and interact with people and physical environments.

Participants included representatives from the United Nations, government, academia, technology, culture and civil society. Opening remarks were delivered by Amina J. Mohammed, Liu Bin, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and Zhao Gang, Governor of Shaanxi Province. The participant group also included experts working across AI governance, education, robotics, culture, finance and sustainable development. The official participant book listed Karen Wang, Founder and CEO of Climind, among the invited participants.

Participation and Discussion Focus

Participation followed a formal invitation from the United Nations Office for Partnerships, issued on behalf of the UN Deputy Secretary-General. The invitation highlighted work at the intersection of technology, environmental change and decision-making as relevant to the dialogue on AI and human development.

The two-day programme included a special briefing on embodied AI, together with discussions on “AI and Human Civilization: From the Ancient Silk Road to Digital Civilization,” culture and creativity, and “Embodied AI and Human Development.” The programme combined invited presentations with open discussion among participants.

The discussions also incorporated a climate, sustainability and applied-AI perspective, including how artificial intelligence can support environmental and societal decision-making, how emerging technologies may affect sustainable-development priorities, and how technological systems can remain connected to human needs and long-term development objectives.

Key Discussion Areas

• Embodied AI and robotics: the potential effects of increasingly autonomous systems on education, work and everyday human interaction.

• AI and human development: implications for trust, social relationships, culture and human agency.

• AI and sustainability: applications of emerging technologies in addressing environmental and development challenges.

• Education and AI: changes in learning and education while maintaining critical thinking, creativity and human interaction.

• Responsible AI governance: access to technology, institutional capacity, ethical standards and international cooperation.

• Development beyond 2030: the role of rapid technological change in shaping future global development priorities.