LG and UNESCO Launch Global "AI Ethics" MOOC Project

Free Global Access for All
Harvard and Other Research Institutions Join the Project
Leading the Way in Building a Responsible AI Development and Utilization Ecosystem

LG AI Research Institute and UNESCO have developed an educational program aimed at strengthening ethical competence in artificial intelligence (AI).

On July 20, LG AI Research Institute and UNESCO held a global launch event for the "AI Ethics MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) Project" at the UNESCO Korea Committee in Myeongdong, Seoul, releasing a curriculum that anyone around the world can access free of charge.

The event was attended by Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, who is currently visiting Korea; Kyung-Hoon Bae, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT; Hyun-Ik Hong, Secretary-General of the UNESCO Korea Committee; and Woohyung Im, Co-Research Director of LG AI Research Institute.

Director-General Khaled El-Enany stated, "Ethical AI cannot be realized by principles alone," adding, "By converting UNESCO’s ‘Recommendation on the Ethics of AI’ into practical training, UNESCO is taking a further step toward solidifying its leadership in guiding the implementation of these declarative agreements across the full AI lifecycle."

The LG AI Research Institute and UNESCO held a global launch event for the AI Ethics MOOC project on the 20th at the UNESCO Korea Committee located in Myeongdong, Seoul. From the left in the photo are Hyun-Ik Hong, Secretary General of the UNESCO Korea Committee; Khaled El-Anani, Director-General of UNESCO; Kyunghoon Bae, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT; and Woohyeong Lim, Co-Research Director of the LG AI Research Institute. (LG Corporation)

Deputy Prime Minister Kyung-Hoon Bae said, "AI provides humanity with innovative opportunities while also raising new ethical and social challenges." He emphasized, "To create a safe and trustworthy AI ecosystem, it is important for the international community to establish and put into practice common principles and standards. The Republic of Korea will work closely with UNESCO to actively contribute to the spread of AI ethics and digital inclusion."

LG AI Research Institute and UNESCO achieved the first outcome of their partnership with the "AI Ethics MOOC Project," just two years after signing an agreement following the 2024 AI Seoul Summit. This project aims to strengthen AI ethics across both the public and private sectors by identifying exemplary cases of responsible AI development and usage and by developing and offering educational programs for AI experts, researchers, and policymakers worldwide.

This is the first time that a private Korean AI research institution and a United Nations specialized agency have jointly taken the lead in every stage—from planning to content development—to build a global educational program.

The program is based on the "Recommendation on the Ethics of AI," unanimously adopted by UNESCO’s 193 member states in 2021 and focuses on practical skills for developers, researchers, and policymakers that can be directly applied in real-world settings. LG AI Research Institute and UNESCO collaborated with Coursera, the online open course platform founded by distinguished AI expert Andrew Ng, to provide a globally accessible AI ethics education program.

The curriculum consists of 10 modules, led by leading global institutions at the forefront of AI ethics research—including Carnegie Mellon University, the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society at Stanford University, the Oxford Internet Institute, the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, and the Alan Turing Institute. Field experts from organizations such as the Francophone AI organization (AFRIA, Africa) and the Asia Internet Coalition (AIC, Singapore) are also involved. Additionally, an international advisory group features experts from 15 institutions including Harvard University, New York University, and the University of Toronto.

The conference, held under the theme "Ethics by Design: Industry & Innovation," included contributions from Georgina Curto-Rex, PhD at United Nations University and a key contributor to the UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendation; Professor Shion Guha of the University of Toronto; Maha Jouini, Head of Digital Communications at the African Union; and representatives from the AI Safety Research Institute, Naver, and Kakao, as well as AI scholars involved in the project.

LG AI Research Institute and UNESCO plan to expand the "AI Ethics MOOC Project" into a broader training program that fosters AI ethics competence through case-based learning and practical assignments. As a first step, LG AI Research Institute and the UNESCO Korea Committee will pilot AI ethics training for AI developers and researchers in the second half of this year.

Based on the results of this year’s pilot, LG AI Research Institute and the UNESCO Korea Committee plan to expand the AI ethics training curriculum to 5 to 10 university hubs nationwide next year.

Secretary-General Hyun-Ik Hong said, "UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI represents a set of principles agreed upon by the international community, but its true value is only realized when they are used as practical guidelines in technology development, research, industry, and policy." He continued, "I hope that the launch of this global MOOC will empower practitioners with the competence to make responsible decisions and serve as an important catalyst for translating global AI norms into practices within Korean society."

Co-Research Director Woohyung Im stated, "AI ethics is about ensuring that technology operates in a transparent and responsible manner, preventing harm or discrimination against people. Beyond a global consensus on AI ethics, it is time for a practical transition in which these principles are applied throughout the entire cycle of product development and service operation." He added, "We hope that this newly released global MOOC course will offer a practical foundation for developers and researchers to build a trustworthy AI ecosystem and accelerate responsible innovation across the industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.