The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) launched its DCO Ethical AI Guidebook for Policymakers during the UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in Geneva this week. The announcement was made during a session held in partnership with the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and the International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE).
Key Announcement and Context
Deemah Al-Yahya, secretary-general of the DCO, participated in a panel discussion alongside leaders from the AI industry and civil society, bringing the perspectives of the world’s digital majority to the global discussion on inclusive AI governance. Al-Yahya emphasized the urgency of equitable participation in shaping AI rules, stating: “The architecture of the AI age is being drawn right now, and more than half the world’s nations are not holding the pen. What we face is more than an implementation gap; it is a question of equity and of who shapes the rules of the AI age, and who must simply live by them.”
Purpose and Practical Tools
The guidebook aims to help policymakers, regulators, and national AI task forces translate ethical principles into practical national policies, strategies, legislation, and governance frameworks. Al-Yahya noted: “The world does not lack principles; we agree AI must be responsible, trustworthy, and inclusive. What the world lacks is the capacity to act on them. The DCO Ethical AI Guidebook for Policymakers exists to close that gap: to put practical tools in the hands of every government, so that AI becomes a trusted engine of digital prosperity for all.”
Foundation and Ecosystem
Grounded in the DCO Principles for Ethical AI and the Riyadh AI Call to Action Declaration, the guidebook forms part of the DCO’s broader AI governance ecosystem. This ecosystem also includes the DCO AI Ethics Evaluator, the AI-REAL Toolkit and Web Portal, and the Digital Economy Navigator. These tools support countries in strengthening AI readiness, institutional capacity, trust, and evidence-based policy and investment decisions.
Availability
The DCO Ethical AI Guidebook for Policymakers is now available and can be accessed at https://dco.org/the-dco-ethical-ai-guidebook-for-policymakers/.
