Symposium on Cross-Cultural Artificial Intelligence

The Divan Centre is pleased to welcome you to the Symposium on Cross-Cultural Artificial Intelligence, organised in cooperation with the Center for Humans & Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar.

We invite you to join us for two days of interdisciplinary exchange, exploring one of today’s most significant questions: How do different cultures perceive AI, and how can we design technology that honours and reflects the cultural diversity of our world?

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, building AI technologies that are culturally aware, respectful, and inclusive has become increasingly vital. The Symposium stands at this critical juncture, seeking to address this challenge and rethink the foundations of AI through a cross-cultural lens. It will bring together experts in computer science, behavioural science, ethics, law, and cultural studies to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and the deep, often unspoken ethical and cultural dimensions that underpin our societies. Our goal is not only to discuss how AI can be developed to be culturally sensitive and uphold diverse systems of value, languages, and religious principles but also to address the technical, conceptual, legal, and ethical challenges inherent in this endeavor.

The program will cover a wide range of topics, including:

● Cultural Sensitivity in AI Design: How can AI systems be designed to respect and reflect diverse cultural norms and values?

● Ethical AI Across Cultures: What ethical frameworks can guide AI development in ways that honour different cultural, religious and philosophical traditions?

● Language and Representation: How can we overcome linguistic barriers and biases in AI, ensuring all cultures and languages are represented?

● Legal and Governance Challenges: How do international legal frameworks shape AI development and deployment?

● AI and Cultural Heritage: Can AI help preserve endangered languages and cultural practices while respecting the rights and wishes of indigenous communities?

● Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogues: How can AI facilitate understanding and dialogue between different religious and cultural communities?

● Technical Challenges: What are the limitations and possibilities of developing culturally sensitive AI?

● AI and Culture Wars: How are AI models becoming contested spaces of cultural influence?

Speakers:

Prof. Iyad Rahwan (Max Planck Institute of Human Development)

Prof. Mohammed Ghaly (Hamad Bin Khalifa University)

Prof. Ingmar Webber (Saarland University)

(Google DeepMind)

Prof. Mona Diab (Carnegie Mellon University)

(Hamad Bin Khalifa University & Birzeit University)

Dr. Mohamed Eltabakh (Hamad Bin Khalifa University)

(NVIDIA)

(University of Zurich)

When: October 10, 2025

Where: Der Divan – Das Arabische Kulturhaus, Schützallee 27, 14169 Berlin

Language: English

Host or Publisher Der Divan